Winter Colors
Heatherwood Winter
Heatherwood provides a little winter oasis to the drab Eastern Washington landscape in early February. Even in the middle of winter, color and interest abounds in our garden. Our unseasonable warm weather entices me to get out and stroll through the winter garden. At the same time the East coast is encountering extreme cold temperatures and heavy snow. How lucky we are!
Joshua Tree Forest
Joshua Tree National Monument
I’ve spent the month of January away from our Heatherwood Eden. We missed our garden so we took a jaunt out into the natural garden of the Joshua Tree National Monument. Joshua Tree is in the southern portion of the Mohave desert in California. It is a land of its own with cactus-like forests and strange rock formations in a desert landscape. It is a wonderful place to just walk and explore. As I wander about, each turn of my head opens up my eyes to new visions. The Joshua trees look like stick figures in all different forms. The rock formations look like faces, animals, architectural structures, and even monsters here and there. My imagination wanders from scene to scene. A simple one hour walk turns into a 2-3 hour adventure through a land of wonder.
Winter Blanket on Kotoji and Stream
Heatherwood Japanese Garden
Yesterday, the forecast was for rain. We were surprised as the light rain turned to a full snowfall by mid morning. After about four hours of snowing, it warmed up a bit and started to rain again. It quickly began to melt.
During the transition between the snow and rain, I grabbed my camera and took a jaunt through the garden. Everything was so very quiet. There was not any vehicle action through the neighborhood. No one was out shoveling at the time. Even the birds were not out! Everything was so very peaceful. I enjoyed the quiet and peace as I wandered through the snow covered landscape. What a beautiful stroll!
This morning the skies are bright blue without a cloud. The ground is still covered with snow but the trees have lost their snow blanket. It’s time to take another stroll through our Heatherwood landscape before all the snow melts.
Kotoji and Waterfall
Heatherwood Japanese Garden
I enjoy the sound of the rushing water as it moves through the main hillside stream past the Kotoji lantern. The visual impact is stunning as well. Alas, it is the time to make the annual decision to turn off the water, or not. I delay day after day … should I turn it off now or wait one more day? If the stream freezes it may flow over the sides and wash out some of the surrounding ground. Should I be safe and turn it off now, or can I wait a day or two more? Later this week the temperature is forecast to drop below freezing for a period of time. I will turn it off today before I forget.
Not all is lost, I will still be able to keep the small side waterfall flowing throughout the winter. The sides are steep enough to keep the water flowing into the pond.
December Color
Heatherwood Rock Garden
Color persists as Heatherwood moves into winter. The Wintersonne mugo pine is turning into its brilliant yellow winter color. The bright red berries of the evergreen cotoneaster highlight the hillside and provide treats for the wintering birds. The ice plants are turning from their summer green into their winter orange. The green of the Valley Cushion mugo pine and the gray-green of the thyme provide additional contrast. The color will last throughout the coming winter providing interest through the season.
Col Solare Winery
Red Mountain, SE Washington
Col Solare sits at the top of the Red Mountain hillside vineyards. The winery started out as a joint venture of Italy’s Antinori wine family and Washington’s St. Michelle winery. The Antinori family has recently bought out St. Michelle’s interest and now own and manage Col Solare.
Col Solare’s estate vineyards extend in a fan shape from the winery down the slopes of Red Mountain. This image is from their vineyard looking up the hill to the winery and tasting room. In addition to their estate vineyards, they select grapes from several of the other vineyards on the Red Mountain hill side.
Looking East from Col Solare
Red Mountain, SE Washington
Some of the best Cabernet Sauvignons in Washington are from Red Mountain near Benton City in SE Washington. The Col Solare winery and tasting room sits on the top of the mountain. Several other great boutique wineries lay in the valley below.
The fall is a beautiful time to visit with all the various shades of the vineyards throughout the area. Mary and I frequently take the 1.5 hour drive down to enjoy the scenery, taste the excellent wine, and pick up our quarterly allocations. It is a great way to spend a sunny day!
Sunrise
Heatherwood, Late Fall
Late fall and winter sunrises at Heatherwood are frequently spectacular. Many times I arise early in the morning when it is pitch dark. After a bit, a slight hint of light rises in the east. I see a trace of orange on the horizon. Soon the light spreads across the sky in pastel shades orange and pink. The hills and valley below are still pitch dark. Gradually, I can see dark shadows of hillsides and trees emerge. Then the sky bursts out in glorious brilliance of yellows, oranges, pinks, and purples. Mother Nature shouts out GOOD MORNING!!! Quickly the light spreads over the valley and the brilliant sky colors start to fade. It is a wonderful way to start the day!
Woodland Edge
Heatherwood Fall
As our neighbors walk along the neighborhood road, they come across this view into our woodland garden. Fall color is everywhere. As I write this, the red leaves of the background maples are rapidly falling. Soon the neighborhood walkers will be able to see the bluff rising above the garden. Even after the leaves have all fallen, there will be plenty of color with the green conifers, red/purple barberry, white birches, and red and yellow dogwood shrub branches. In addition, the interesting textures and tones of the grasses and perennials will continue to provide winter interest.
As we developed our Heatherwood garden, one of our design criteria was to provide interesting views and vignettes from the road into the garden. Sharing nature’s beauty is an important gift that we can give. Visitors can enjoy Heatherwood’s beauty looking in as we enjoy its beauty looking out.
Fall Colors
Heatherwood Japanese Garden
I begin each day in my office writing in my journal. The sun was not up when I started writing today. When I was finished I turned around and saw the early morning light on the garden outside my office window. My mind quickly shifted from scattered daily thoughts to just enjoying the beauty of nature in front of me. What a great way to begin the day ahead!