Corvallis, Oregon and Oregon State University

We spent a whole lot of time in Olympia getting our Spanish visa ducks in a row.  It might work... or might not, but we've done what we can for now.

Hours later, we arrived in Corvallis, the sweet little town where my parents met and married 69 years ago.  Dad was a very young ex-GI, studying Engineering on the GI bill, and Mom was a senior in high school about to graduate.  They fell in love and I think of them as "lovebirds" to this day.  They seem to have a simple secret - love and forgiveness - it's gotten them through many tribulations for almost 70 years.  These days, that is quite a feat.  We are headed to the Phoenix area to visit them before flying to Europe.  They are living on their own (Dad 90, Mom 87), which is also quite a feat.  

I have some very happy memories of visiting my maternal grandparents in Corvallis, home of the Oregon State University Beavers.  My two younger brothers and I played Hide and Seek on the campus, dreamed under the canopy of the low-hanging fir boughs, and were spoiled rotten by Grandma and Grandpa when we visited.  There is a lovely park here that I want to see again.  We had some great picnics and play times there.  The high point, though, for me as a child was the day my middle brother (about 6 years old) opened the car door as we slowly drove across the creek bridge to the park and actually fell out of the car while it was moving.  My little 9 year old self thought that was the most amazing and funniest thing I had ever seen.  Of course, he landed well and wasn't hurt except for a small scrape and a bruise or two.  My 60+ self says, "what the heck did he think he was doing?  He could have been killed."  But, somewhere inside I'm still giggling.

So, here we are in our second AirBnb near Corvallis, watching the sun go down on the deck of a cute little house in a very beautiful place.  

A fateful injury, 4th of July, and the beginning of our adventure

Okay... a little snag - a little, tiny one.  Bright and early the morning of July 4, I celebrated by dropping my laptop directly on middle toe of my right foot, breaking it in a couple places and making a deep cut in the skin.  Photos are available, but I don't recommend them without a stiff drink.  Urgent Care confirms that the bone is broken and I will henceforth have my toe taped to the one next to it, soak the wounds 2 times a day, and sport that elegant, basic black color for a few days (changing, I'm sure, to the many colors of the rainbow as it heals and sheds its toenail.)  Yes, this happened the day before we drive off into the sunset.

[Lessons - 1. make sure your padded computer sleeve is completely zipped before I pick it up (so the laptop doesn't slip out AGAIN), 2. Always call the Nurseline to see if you need to go to the doctor, 3. Never use hydrogen peroxide on an open wound (it will break down the healing that your body is doing and make the healing take so much longer), and 4. When starting a journey, know that something WILL go wrong, and prepare to be flexible, especially if you are a klutz like me.]

The Fourth was wonderful, even with a mangled toe.  We spent it at a cookout and 4th of July party at our daughter's house.  The people were friendly and there were fairy lights strung across the yard, giving it a happy glow.  The hamburgers tasted so good and it was great to spend just a little more time with Meghan, Aram, their friends, and Aram's family.

My youngest, Meghan, blowing bubbles instead of fireworks.  It was gorgeous!

So, today, the first day of our journey, we drove an entire 40 miles to Lacey, Washington and I am now ensconced on a BnB bed with my foot propped up.  The camping will wait for a few days so the scrapes can scab over and infection is less likely.  (I will bring out the horrendous pix to display whenever it is suggested that I carry my own suitcase or walk more than 20 feet.  So, it's all good.)

Here is a pic of the final visit to the storage unit to drop off what we don't need and pick up what we did need before leaving.  We actually got everything else in the car, believe it or not, including camping gear and two suitcases each.  This and the contents of our car are all our worldly possessions (except for most of the art (stored with the kids), the family jewels (stored with Meghan) and the important papers in the safe deposit box).  Steve is an incredible packer, exhibit A below.

Everything in it's place. Jenga - pull one thing out and it all falls.

Himself across from the rose garden he tended at Mary Bridge/Tacoma General Hospital in Tacoma.

Saying goodbye to our friends, children and the Pacific Northwest

It's amazing how much has to change when you leave an address, a city, work, friends, and family.  Steve and I have spent most of today going from place to place to get our lives disengaged so that we can travel for a few months to a year.

Yesterday, we had a gathering of us and all our children (3 natural, 1 "adopted").  It was wonderful to share a meal with them, talk and hug, but it still hasn't quite connected in my head that I will be thousands of miles away from the people that I love most in the world soon.  We met at Six Arms, a lovely little restaurant near Pine and Minor in Seattle and then crossed the street to go to the roof-top garden in the building where my oldest lives.  The city view was magnificent.  You can certainly tell that Seattle is currently booming; there were at least 10-15 cranes all across the city.

The family on the roof of my oldest's apt bldg.

Today, we took care of business: the bank, the School District, the phone company, the mail, and  Steve turned in his Volunteer badge at Multicare Tacoma General Hospital.  He's worked as an official volunteer there, among other things trimming the roses in the Mary Bridge Children's Hospital rose gardens.  It has been a commitment that he has enjoyed for many years.  While he turned in his "shears", I walked among the gardens that he so carefully tended and took some photos to share.  The care that the Multicare groundskeeping crew puts into making these gardens a quiet place to sit for hurting little patients, friends and relatives is inspiring.  I mean, look at these gardens.  The topiary are so easily recognized as playful animals and the roses have such heavenly scents.  There is a fountain, with the musical sounds of water dancing, and a statue of a child dancing right in the middle of the pool.  Steve kept these roses fresh and beautiful and I'm sure they have comforted thousands of people at a time when they needed it most.  He and the rest of the groundskeepers really make a difference in people's lives.

Packing and planning to move

Our journey has begun.  With the help of two of our children (one is an honorary child and Meghan's boyfriend), we crammed almost ever last piece of our belongings into a small storage unit in Tacoma.

Aram and Nick were amazing and amazed that it all fit, sort of.

We passed the cleaning inspection on the apartment with flying colors, sold Steve's car for asking price, and even sold his bicycle - all on the same day; certainly a sign of good things to come.  So... no more apartment, no home, and we are currently sitting in the bedroom of an AirBnb room in Lakewood/Tacoma - effectively Homeless. 

Guess whose feet are whose.  Boy, it's hot today.  Do I really want to go to Arizona?

Tomorrow, we go to Seattle for a gathering of the clan at Six Arms restaurant on Capitol Hill.  We won't see our children for a couple months.  It will be happy/sad; the downside of "following your dream".  Both our older sons, Roarke and Nicholas, are living and working in Seattle now.  Our daughter, Meghan, and partner Aram ,live and work in the Tacoma area.  We will miss them all terribly - when we aren't having the time of our lives on the road :).

But, 4th of July is coming and our daughter is having some people over to watch the Ruston fireworks near her apartment overlooking Commencement Bay.  I haven't done that for many, many years and it sounds like fun!  (I always worry about people blowing parts of their bodies off at the neighborhood fireworks shows. It will be great to see a professional, bloodless presentation.)

We leave for Arizona on July 5.  More photographs to come and information on the places we go next.  Fortunately, our daughter and Aram, have recently broken the trail for us.  They have lots of information about good places to go and things to see in California.  We will be heading down I-5, possibly stopping to see a garden in Portland, and going all the way to the turnoff for Corvallis, Oregon (a place where my parents met and married 69 years ago and where I lived when I was very young).  Then, it's off to the Oregon Coast, a stop to see relatives in the San Francisco area and "straight" down the California Coast. 

We have 11 days until July 17, when we have to be in Glendale, Arizona near Phoenix for our next BnB reservation.  And, there is so much to see in Arizona when the recycle bins are not melting from the heat.  We can't wait to see my parents again and are wondering how much exploring we can actually do between 7am and 11am, which appears to be the only time humans should venture out in mid-July/early-August in Phoenix.  I hear it's monsoon season, too.  Better and better.

Point Defiance Rose Garden, Tacoma, Washington

Point Defiance Rose Garden - Tacoma, Washington (maintained by the Tacoma Rose Society)

The Point Defiance Rose Garden is very large and very lush.  The roses are planted in concentric circles around a lovely pergola.  Of course, the whole garden is also surrounded by fencing to keep the deer from eating it all up.  Besides the gorgeous rose garden, there is a miniature rose garden, a climbing rose arbor (a rather long one with gates on each end, a dahlia garden, and a beautiful walk with hydrangeas and lots of hug big-leafed jungle looking plants.  Below are some phones of the Rose Garden, including an image of a painting done by my beautiful daughter.  I'll try to post more pictures later.
http://www.metroparkstacoma.org/point-defiance-rose-garden/

Pt. Defiance Rose Garden by Meghan Mitchell

Port Gamble, Washington

Port Gamble, Washington

Port Gamble is a restored village on Hood Canal; a National Historic site that dates back to the 1850s. [ http://www.visitkitsap.com/cities.asp?ID=3]  There are beautiful New England-style houses and businesses and a wide-open expanse of grass have made this the site of many fairs, celebrations, and weddings. One could shop for unique gifts and nautical items, but it is a wonderful place to walk for exercise, too.  I visited in mid-August and the gardens were just beautiful.  See for yourself:

Opulent neighborhood garden (that is no more)

Opulent Garden

This outrageously opulent garden is in Tacoma, Washington.  Even though there is no walking involve (it is private property, after all), I had to share this garden. It made me feel uncomfortable as I drove by this house for years.  It seemed like such an embarrassing overindulgence. There are so many plants in pots and so much flowering that I guess I felt overwhelmed just looking at it, too.  The gardener has been doing this for at least a decade and I'm starting to really enjoy driving slowly by this house now and then on a beautiful Pacific Northwest summer day.  There is a joy and a wild exuberance about this garden that is starting to rub off on me.  Although I don't believe that I'm inspired to do this myself, I am content to be an enthralled observer and I believe this gardener truly enjoys sharing with us all.
 

The majority of these plants are in pots.  The owner probably overwinters many of them.  I'm sure that keeping them in pots makes that process a lot easier. 

[Update 4/4/2020: Unfortunately, this home no longer puts on a show each spring and summer in Tacoma.  Either the wonderful gentleman who planted this every year died, or he had to move.  The house was sold and the new owners were not inclined to continue this over-the-top tradition.  I, for one, will miss it.]

Lakewood Gardens (goodbye)

Lakewold Gardens is set on beautiful Gravelly Lake in Lakewood, a suburb of Tacoma, Washington.  It's only a few acres, but this estate, run by a non-profit foundation, is packed with gorgeous scenery.  I love that it is so close to where I live and I visit quite often.  In fact, on a Mother's Day visit with my daughter this year, I sprang for the family membership (only $10 more for a year than the cost for two individuals for one visit - Mother's Day special).  

This garden is a mini-Butchart Gardens, in my opinion.  There are multiple garden rooms to explore here, too, including manicured and finely designed gardens around the house.  But, there are also pleasingly chaotic, British-style gardens and wild forest tumbling off to the edges of the property and down to the lake shore behind.

This is the back of the building that used to be a family home.  It is used for conferences, weddings, and other meetings now.  There is a covered patio at the back.  You can see the wisteria growing over the patio arbor, with room for many chairs and tables.

The swimming pool is a beautiful trefoil design; small, but it does not dominate the landscape and it serves as a lovely pond now.  (Although, I imagine some of the staff use it for swimming.  The water looks sparkling clean.)

There are some very impressive topiary sculptures at Lakewold Gardens, including this duck or swan and a lovely nesting hen behind it.

At the end of this wide walkway is a serene arbor with vines growing down the front of the structure.  It is built of beautiful wood and inside sits a statue and a small shade garden with comfortable benches all around the inside walls.  (The pool is to the left after the hedge.)

Plants for sale at gift shop

If you go to Lakewold Gardens, make sure you leave time to look through the gift shop.  There are some wonderfully eclectic gardening items, including used (many out-of-print, I imagine) gardening books that have been donated for sale.  And, as you can see in the photo, there are many (MANY) plants for sale; some appear to be very hard to find legacy-type plants from the Gardens. 

 Interested in going to Lakewold Gardens?  Here is their website: http://www.lakewoldgardens.org/    And, if you want to see all of my Lakewold Gardens photos, you can visit my Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/donnielouise/

Statue inside the pergola

Butchart Gardens, British Columbia

Butchart Gardens, near Victoria, B. C., was my inspiration for these garden walks.  I visited the Gardens for the first time in July 2011,  It was an overcast and often rainy day, but this seemed to make the colors that much more lush and the scent that much more heavenly.  The overcast seemed to make the photos really pop, too.

Until this visit, I had not realized how spectacular it could be to walk through a large garden in full bloom.  Butchart is massive and has many garden "rooms". The quarry garden is particularly impressive, with its meandering walkways and so many different flowering plants.  It is almost completely unrecognizable as a quarry.  In 1906, Robert Butchart's limestone quarry was exhausted and his wife, Jennie, created this beautiful sunken garden out of it by trucking in huge amounts of topsoil.  Using a harness contraption, she even hung hundreds of feet in the air to set plants into the quarry walls.
 

 The fountain, close to the quarry, is truly beautiful with its changing patterns of spray and the sunken setting surrounded by greenery.  There is a wonderful viewing area here and there are benches to sit and enjoy the view, as there seem to be all over the Gardens.

The Italian Garden is brilliantly beautiful and much more minutely designed.  There are ivy and window boxes of trailing flowers covering the front of snack shops along one side of this garden.  Gellato is available in one of them.  Of course, you can get some lunch and shop for gifts in the main building area behind this garden, at the front gate.  Check out the Butchart webside: http://www.butchartgardens.com/

 This is an orchard of lovely trees (not sure what kind) surrounded by colorful impatiens.  The orchard edges a lovely amphitheater area (to the right of these trees) where concerts are often held and concert goers can sit on the grass to enjoy the music.

This is my favorite fountain, of which there are many.  It's a sculpture of entwined, jumping fish, as you can see, with water shooting up from inside.  The surrounding shrubbery, the fountain edging of beautiful plantings, and the surrounding benches make this a really relaxing place to rest after walking for hours.

The Butchart Gardens Rose Garden is huge, so incredibly colorful, and the scent is wonderful. One could spend hours just walking or sitting and enjoying the evening in this setting.

There is, also, a wonderful Japanese Garden that slopes down to the water and a boat dock.  That garden has mostly overarching greenery and many quiet rooms with a variety of water features.  

Introduction - why I blog

My work is fascinating.  I catalog library books for the second (or perhaps, third) largest school district in my State.  55 librarians send me the items they purchase for their libraries.  I love looking at all those books ( DVDs, audiobooks, pieces of equipment, etc.) and entering the information in our library system.  I love the symmetry of organizing the information and putting it in the right places in a MARC record.  I love troubleshooting the library system, finding errors and correcting them, all with the overarching goal of making it easy for students and staff to find the library resources they need in order to succeed. 

However, all this fascinating work is done sitting down, in front of a computer (with two monitors).  I sit, researching and typing, for almost 8 hours per day. My exercise is literally turning my head from screen to screen and walking a cart full of books to my coworker a couple times per day.

I realized that fitness is going to be necessary, if I wish to enjoy my grandchildren, assuming there will be some  So, I wracked my brain for exercise ideas.  I needed something that would require walking, but I needed a purpose, an interesting purpose.  Walking for the sake of walking is just plain boring, especially walking-in-place on a gym machine. 

My new exercise purpose: collecting gardens.  I research and locate interesting public gardens.  There is a great deal of fun, as it happens, in finding gardens; driving to them, walking all over them, taking photographs, smelling the perfume of the blooms and growing things, and enjoying the spectrum of colors. 

Currently, I am collecting gardens of the Pacific Northwest (U.S. and Canada, since it is so close). When the time is right, I plan to expand my collection to gardens much farther afield.

Here you will see photographs of the many gardens I visit and my observations of each.