Tag Archives: Spring

A Place to Sit and Enjoy the Day

A Chair in the Woodland
Heatherwood Spring

My last post showed a view of our Heatherwood woodland. We have placed a sitting view point in the middle of the woodland at the corner of a garden pathway. Looking to our right (east) we see a row of redbuds in the foreground and the Selah Ridge beyond. Looking straight ahead (north) we see a curving path into the heart of our woodland area. Looking to the right we see Japanese maples, dogwoods, and a double row of buckthorns. Soon the buckthorns will grow to hide our secret hideaway. It is a great place to enjoy a morning cup of coffee, afternoon glass of wine, or just to enjoy the garden around us.

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Looking to the Woodland

West Lawn and Woodland
Heatherwood Spring

It has been almost a month since I last posted an image. Where did the time go? This spring we were very busy planting a large number of trees, shrubs, perennials and ground covers. It took us about six weeks to transplant existing trees and shrubs and then plant the new ones. I keep saying that this year is the last one for major planting. But when we got near to the end, we still had a lot of ground that we needed to cover. So we went out and bought more. We still have about a week worth of planting to do before the end of spring.

As we continue to add to Heatherwood, it is fun to look back and reflect on what this area use to be. Five years ago it was just an unruly pasture full of weeds. We are trying to establish a little woodland along the road on the left side of the image. The trees are getting taller creating a little shade. The understory plants are filling in. We even planted some shade-loving hostas. It is starting to take shape.

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Who’s Watching

Oribe Lantern Peeking Through
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

I was walking through our Heatherwood Japanese garden and stopped to admire the emerging leaves of one of the Japanese maples. Moving my camera around to find a nice leaf macro image, I noticed the Oribe lantern behind the maple. I paused as I felt that the little lantern was watching me with his single big eye. It is amazing what a person can see by taking his/her time and letting their imagination freely flow.

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Time to Paint

Framed Waterfall
Heatherwood Spring

This vignette of Heatherwood’s waterfall framed by a Shin Deshojo Japanese maple and a Norway Spruce is one of my favorites. Most every time I walk by with my camera (or iPhone), I stop and create an image. A little side path provides a little peak from the main pathway. In spring and fall the scene is the most dramatic with the contrasting colors of the Japanese maple.

When I was editing this image, I felt like doing something a little different. I thought I would take the opportunity to practice a little photographic painting. Topaz Impression software and my imagination merged together to create this image.

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It Doesn’t Get Much Better

Japanese Garden Entry
Heatherwood Spring

Our spring weather has been beautiful in Eastern Washington. With the warm spring weather, the trees have been blooming and leafing out. The late afternoon sunshine brings out the warm colors along the entry path to our Japanese garden area. The brilliant red Bloodgood Japanese maple and the bright pink Don Egolf redbud frame the Hokkeji lantern and the Bosnian pine. Like a magnet, they pull a visitor into the garden.

On evenings like this we frequently stroll through or just sit in the garden reflecting on what a wonderful day it has been and what new experiences tomorrow will bring. It just doesn’t get much better.

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Tax Day …

Sester’s Dwarf Blue Spruce & Chief Joseph Lodgepole Pine
Heaterwood Spring

Many people experience April 15, tax day, as a rather gloomy day. I choose to view it as a day of opportunity. An early spring day is always an opportunity to step back and appreciate the wonderful world around us. Spring is a time of emerging life, new growth, bursting color and new opportunities to experience the wonders of life.

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Scolopendrifolium

Fingerleaf Japanese Maple and Yukimi Lantern
Heatherwood Japanese Garden

Scolopendrifolium … that is a mouthful! I would just rather call it a ‘Fingerleaf’ Japanese maple. This is one of my favorite little scenes in Heatherwood. It is what we see as we relax in our Adirondack chairs by the pond. It is a great place to have a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, or just sit and enjoy nature and the sound of the falling water.

Tiny leaves are just emerging on the Scolopendrifolium as it starts to reach over the Yukimi lantern. We are training the maple to provide a gentle canopy over the lantern. Just give us 3-4 more years.

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Spring Blooms

Akebono Cherry in Spring Glory
Heatherwood Spring

As the weeping cherries fade the Akebono cherries reach their peak. This is the first year that we have had a full bloom on our Akebono cherries. We planted them three years ago. They are already making their presence known in our garden.

Leaves are just starting to emerge on the maple, tulip treee, and plum ash in the background. This year we are planning on planting several additional trees to fill in the empty spots.

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It Is the Time of the Year…

Path of Learning
Heatherwood Spring

It is the time of the year when something is changing every day. I have a difficult time keeping up with all the changes. This week, the pink ground phlox is reaching its peak as the blossoms of our weeping cherry are fading. Each year the plants cover more and more of the ground and the shrubs and trees grow. Just 5 years ago this was a grass hillside.

Our garden path curves up around the stepping stones of the path to never-ending learning.

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Remnants of Winter Color

Midwinter Fire Dogwoods
Heatherwood Early Spring

Even in early April, the bright winter colors of our Midwinter Fire, Red-twig, and Yellow-twig dogwoods highlight our garden. Soon, leaves will be sprouting and subdue the bright colors of the twig bark. Before too much new grow starts, I will need to do selective pruning to trim out the older faded branches and make room for the bright new stems. This will keep me busy until we start planting later this month.

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