Travels with George and Marta – Page 5 – Journeys in the Botanical World

Favorite Winter Walks in Seattle Area: Seattle Waterfront

Posted on February 8, 2015 by martaFebruary 19, 2015

View over Elliott Bay from Centennial Park

I have been wanting to walk along the waterfront. It is great walk no matter what time of the year but winter has its own magic. This walk is also a great way to sightsee along the more natural and artistic part of the waterfront.

We like to start the walk next to Amgen headquarters. There is a small hidden parking area and access to Centennial Park. It is also next to the Amgen Helix Bridge and I love the spiral design.

From here we walk south along Elliott Bay under the tall spires of the grain elevators. The rail tracks and cars separate us from the high tech office buildings along Elliott Way.

Centennial Park merges into Myrtle Edwards Park. Along the way there are several art pieces along with views of the old Seattle Post Intelligence Newspaper Globe.

Myrtle Edwards Park ends at Alaska Way and Broad next to the outstanding Olympic Sculpture Garden. From Pier 70 and continuing along Alaska Way, this is now the traditional tourist waterfront with restaurants, stores, Victoria Clipper, Edgewater Hotel where the Beatles fished from the rooms and is now a high end hotel. We went as far as Pier 66 where you can climb up to the top of the meeting rooms and one of the best views of Seattle over Bell Harbor.

We returned back the way we came spending a bit more in the Olympic Sculpture Garden. The Neukom Vivarium was open which is a interesting art piece for a nature lover. It is a Western Hemlock tree that fell and was moved to the building to be a nurse log. The live changing log is installed into the beautiful tiled building for visitors to explore.

Overall the walk is about 3.3 miles round trip. You can extend it by walking further along the waterfront and exploring other Seattle sites such as the Seattle Wheel, Ferry Dock and Ye Olde Curiosity Shop.

Centennial Park and Elliott Bay Grain Elevators next to Amgen

Amgen Patio – there was just something about the pattern of the metal chairs and tables

Seattle Skyline from Amgen

Amgen Helix Bridge

Mt Rainier from Centennial Park

The path is wide and paved. There is a separate trail for bike riders which separates the trail from the walkers and joggers.

The Seattle PI Globe

Myrtle Edwards Park

Myrtle Edwards Park – excellent place to jog, walk or just take in the views

One of the art pieces in Olympic Sculpture Garden along the trail from Myrtle Edwards Park

Vivarium at Olympic Sculpture Garden

Tile detail in the Vivariam at the Olympic Sculpture Garden

I love these crazy eye benches at the corner of Broad and Alaska Way near Pier 70

Pronto! Bike Sharing station on Alaska Way

Edgewater Hotel – Fish from your window!

View from Bell Harbor overview – Pier 66 – One of the best views of Seattle

Washington Park Arboretum

Posted on January 25, 2015 by martaFebruary 19, 2015

Helleborus x ballardiae “HGC Cinnamon Snow”

Alas, I have been remiss at posting some of our walks and winter sightseeing. We did this several weeks ago and I’m post dating it for future reference.

Late January has turned warm. It does always seem to have a week around the 20th that turns nice but this is really nice. It reached a high of 63 degrees which is more like California than Washington.

It was time to check out the Washington Park Witt Winter Garden. Always a favorite because it is one of the earliest blooming areas and a good reminder that Spring is on its way.

There are several updated trails in the park. We are starting to make a route from the Witt Gardens to the Lookout Loop which runs between the road and Azalea Way. From there we usually loop through the New Zealand Garden and on to Pacific Connections garden. We love seeing how the Monkey Puzzle and Chilean blue palms are growing.

This time we tried to find a trail on the west side of Azalea Way but it was pretty muddy. We did get a chance to explore beautiful Wilcox Footbridge over Lake Washington Blvd which was built in 1911. The mossy railing and lovely long shadows were spectacular on the sunny day. We also realized there is another side to explore. Here is a link to the Arboretum map

We are always interested in how the different gardens overwinter Gunnera especially since we have lost ours three times. This group is planted near the parking lot which probably helps. They cut the leaves in the fall and use them to cover the plans along with a lot of leaf litter.

Weeding is a big job in any garden but it must take a lot of volunteers to keep the arboretum somewhat weeded. Here they were taking out those pesky creeping buttercup.

Witchhazel and Hellebore

Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Pallida’

Daphne bholua

Helleborus niger

Camellia sasanqua

Garrya x issaquahensis

Lookout at edge of New Zealand Garden

New Zealand Garden

Wilcox Footbridge

Shadows

Witt Garden and Arboretum from previous winters

Winter in the Arboretum – February 18, 2013
Taste of Spring – January 19, 2010
Seattle Arboretum – January 25, 2008
Winter Witt Garden – March 2, 2007

Low clouds – Richmond Beach

Posted on January 11, 2015 by martaJanuary 11, 2015

We are trying to get out and exercise more to get in shape. One of the best places is Richmond Beach Saltwater Park. It is an old quarry and has a great set of stairs for conditioning. We love the park. Typically in the sun – you have beautiful blues.

In the winter it is very different but still beautiful. On a low cloud misty day, it is gray with low hill hugging clouds. Even the ships look like ghosts.

But stairs are a good workout and the path along the top provides vistas that reminds you why you love this area.

First Day Hike – Rattlesnake Ledge

Posted on January 1, 2015 by martaJanuary 4, 2015

We are starting to hike more. Of course, it just depends upon the weather. The first of January was clear and cold but that did not stop us from getting out and doing a trail.

I was not certain how much ice and snow was in the foothills. It had snowed down to 500ft over the weekend but had been sunny and cold since that time. I debated whether to do Poo-Poo Point, a low down hike on Tiger Mountain or Rattlesnake. Rattlesnake is father towards the pass but it is a bit more open and potentially had gotten more sunlight – so Rattlesnake it was.

We had breakfast of a Spanish omelet and then left around 9:30am. There was not a lot of traffic (New Years Day) and the roads were in good condition even around High Point which is in the shadow of Tiger Mountain and the part of the road I was the most worried.

There were 4 other cars that got off at the same time heading and they also headed for Rattlesnake. There was also a lot of traffic coming down so we were a little worried about the crowds but even though there was a line of cars parked on the road there were lots of places in the parking lot.

It was a little before 11 o’clock when we started up. Rattlesnake Lake recreational area is owned by Seattle Metro and is part of the city watershed. The trail was rebuilt about 10 years ago and is a great conditioning hike. It is just a bit under 2 miles round trip and 1100 ft elevation gain. The trail does a couple of large switchbacks through the forest before you get to the short spur to the rocky ledge. The trail was lined in horey frost and only one or two areas where it was icy from water. I took it easy and was passed a lot. It was pretty busy.

The ledge was busy as usual. Some people were afraid to jump between the rocks so there was a little bit of a jam. The views were very good especially to the North Bend in the west. There was a bit of haze to the east.

It took us about as long to get down because of the large amount of people coming up. It was now after 12:00 and a lot of other people, families and dogs had the same idea. We had to stop several times for large parties to go by.

We got down by 1:30pm and had our lunch before heading home. A great start to the New Year.

Icy sides of the trail

Icicles along the trailside rocks

North Bend and Mt Si

On top of the Ledge

Looking down at Rattlesnake Lake where the trail started and the parking lot

New Years Selfie

Up on top at the start of a new year

Christmas in Seattle – Part 2

Posted on December 22, 2014 by martaDecember 22, 2014

Westlake Center

After our lunch and walk around Pike Place Market, we headed up Pike Street to the new Starbucks Reserve Roastery and Tasting Room. It just opened earlier this month and I expected it to be crowded but no at all like what we found. There was a line out the door at 2pm. They had a security guard that would allow people in as soon as others left. We did appreciate that they were controlling the entry. We waited about 10 minutes.

What we didn’t expect was another 30 minute wait to order our coffee. The experience is very different from your standard Starbucks. You have your choice of an espress or drip and then the type of bean. You can also order pastry or sandwich.

Once ordered, it was about an other 10 minutes to finally get our drinks and then find a place to sit. The coffees were very good. I like that they served them with a small glass of mineral water and a small cookie. We both had cappuccinos – G had a roast from Nicaragua and I had a roast from Sumatra. We both really like the smooth rich taste of the beans from Nicaragua.

We also had a chance to walk around the roastery. It is definitely like a Willy Wonka Factory. We got a chance to sit at the bar where you could order a coffee made using a siphon-vaccum method. It was very cool watching the water heat via light. Once it heated into the upper chamber, coffee was stirred into it and then the vacuum created by the bottom chamber cooling would pull it through the filter. It was fun to watch. There were several other bars where you could watch other methods of making coffee.

After our coffee we walked to the Pine Box – one of the premium bars for craft beers. It was originally a mortuary (get it – pine box!). Excellent list of beers from Washington, West Coast and Europe. I love sours so I had a Le Terroir a hopped Sour from New Belgium – Loved it; Wild Devil – an IPA with funky brettanomyces which G really liked and a Rodenbach Grand Cru – a classic sour. G also had a Ruud Awakening IPA from Old Schoolhouse in Winthrop.

By now the sun was setting and we walked back down Pine towards downtown – enjoying the lights reflecting off the wet streets. One last item – the carousel at Westlake and Macy’s star before heading home.

Waiting to get in Starbucks Roastery

Two cappuccinos

Hand drip

Siphon coffee in the making

Siphon Coffee almost ready

Roasting machines

Pine Box

Taps at the Pine Box

Pine Street lights

Carousel and Star

Christmas in Seattle

Posted on December 21, 2014 by martaDecember 21, 2014

Pacific Place

We have an annual tradition – to go downtown Seattle to enjoy the Christmas decorations, crowds and lights. We usually go earlier in the year but I wasn’t able to get away until this weekend.

We started by stopping by to see the decorated gingerbread houses at the Sheraton. This year’s theme was Christmas songs. There were several items that really made us laugh. We loved the Seattle skyline along with the cutaway for Bertha and the tunnel – they had money flowing out – yep definitely a money pit. The other one was the Little Town of Bethlehem – There was ‘no room’ at the Westin so Joseph and Mary had to go to the Sheraton.

Next we walked up to Pacific Place to do some window shopping. We really enjoyed the large nutcrackers on the different levels – especially the ‘Jimi Hendrix’ nutcracker. G noticed the attention to detail and he had the left-handed guitar.

Next we went to Matt’s in the Market – our favorite lunch spot. G had a St Jude’s tuna sandwich and I had the braised beef cheek sandwich. Oooh.. so tender. We followed it with a yummy Candy Bar square for dessert.

We took a stroll through the market which is always fun especially on the gray day with all the seasonal lights. It always gets us in the Christmas mood.

Mele Kalikimaka

Loved the Santa

Detail on the Feliz Navidad

No room at the Westin

Mary at the Sheraton

Jimi Hendrix Nutcracker

There is something about the symbols of the 60’s being done as art work that just doesn’t sit right with me.

Festive Pacific Place

Waiting for Matt’s in the Market to open

View from our table

Tasty glass of sparkling Cabernet Franc from Samur

The kitchen in action

Waiting for lunch

Braised Beef Cheek Sandwich

Candy Bar Square for dessert

Pierogi’s in progress – Pike Place Market

Pike Place Market

Cheese cases at DeLaurentis Italian Deli

Italian goodies at DeLaurentis

Garden d’Lights

Posted on December 20, 2014 by martaDecember 21, 2014

This is the second year that we have viewed the Garden d’Lights at Bellevue Botanical Garden. Actually, the third although I almost do not count viewing them back before 2000. Back in those days they had postcards and no one had a digital camera. G used to sell at the plant sale and I remember going down to the basement of the Shorts house to see all the stored wrapped lights. Those days it was mostly grape/wisteria arbors and delphiniums.

Oh how it has changed.

I think we always decide to go on the coldest day in December. Last year we went December 7th when it set a record for the coldest temperatures – I think it was about 24 degrees. It wasn’t much warmer this year when we went on November 30th and it was just below freezing.

I really like the new route starting at the visitors center. I can’t wait to see next year because I’m certain there is lots of room for more displays

Miscanthus?

Come into my web said the spider to the fly

Working in the garden

Poinsetta Christmas Tree

Hyacinth?

Potting Shed

Rabbit and vegetable garden

Sunflowers

Weeping Cherry

Over Wintering Hoop House Greenhouse

Posted on December 6, 2014 by martaJanuary 25, 2015

I have enjoyed reading about the greenhouses run by local garden bloggers. I thought I would share a post on our greenhouses. We have two greenhouses. First some information about our over wintering hoop house.

In 1997, my husband started a small backyard nursery specializing in salvias. Salvia is one of the largest plant genus with over 1000 different species worldwide. We have traveled throughout the world to see salvias in the wild. We made annual trips to the Salvia plant sale at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz and trips to hear plant talks by other Salvia enthusiasts. We did not open to the public but instead sold at many of the local plant sales.

Propagation took several months to be ready for the Spring sales. Cuttings were taken in July-August and needed to be wintered over. The first couple of years, he had cold frames which did okay but he needed better protection.

In 1999, he purchased a 16’x21′ double poly hoop house from Steuber Distributing in Snohomish. It is built with galvanized steel pipe hoops covered with double plastic which has an inflator that creates an insulation layer by blowing air between the two plastic layers. It also came with the framing for the end-walls, doors and vents. He used corrugated fiberglass sheeting for the end-walls and added winter insulation by covering the end-walls with two layers of bubble wrap covered with plastic. There are removable plywood sidewalls at the bottom of the hoops which are removed in the summer for venting. At the time, it cost only about $1000.00 and he assembled it himself.

He closed the nursery in 2007. Today, it is mainly over an wintering greenhouse.

He learned a lot over the years. He heated it at first with just an electrical heater supplemented with kerosene which was pretty smelly. He bought a Mr Heater Big Buddy about 7 years ago which has worked out much better. The heater is attached to a 20lb propane tank which sits outside the greenhouse.

He keeps it above freezing or optimally 37 degrees. Most of the time, it can be heated only with the electric heater. He uses a separate thermostat which is more accurate than the thermostat built into the heater. He also has a wireless remote thermometer to monitor the temperature from the house. An alarm can be set to alert him if the temperature gets too low. These were both purchased from AFC Greenhouse Supply. He really likes AFC Greenhouse website. It has a Greenhouse Resource Center with information guides on running greenhouses and calculators for computing the BTUs needed to heat a greenhouse based upon size and type.

If the temperature is forecast to be below 25 degrees, then he will run the propane heaters during the night along with the electric heater. He will turn them on usually around 6pm depending upon how fast the temperature is dropping and turn them off around 8am when the sun comes up. He can run the propane heaters for about 4-5 nights on the 20lb tank. We found the best price for filling the propane tank is at your local U-Haul.

The benches were home built using either cinder blocks or wood boxes set on folding table legs. The floor is gravel covered with landscape cloth.

Botrytis has been the toughest issue during in the winter. The temperature is usually around 37 degrees at night. The enclosed greenhouse is like a plastic bag and it is quite humid during the winter. Botrytis will grow on anything that is moist. He runs four fans to keep the plants dry and opens the doors and vents during the day if it is above freezing. It is also important to clean up any leaf or flower debris to reduce the mildew.

Mid to late October, the succulents, cuttings, South African bulbs and many of the tender perennials are moved into the hoop house. Some of the perennials such as Brugmansia, fuchsias, cannas and geraniums are kept in the garage where it is darker. These plants will hibernate in the dark cool garage without a problem.

Propane and electric heat

More accurate thermostat for electric heat

External sensor

View out towards tropical house

Filled for the winter. He added two purlin rails across the top to hang pots

The endwalls are corrugated fiberglass panels which are insulated with bubblewrap

Salvia cuttings for next year

Different style benches. The green containers hold water. We save off the water we run to heat our taps before dishes and cleaning and save in these jugs that were originally cat litter

Agaves protected from the cold

This shows the end walls along with the propane tank for the heater.

Thermometer in house

Favorite Winter Walks in Seattle Area: Frink Park

Posted on November 23, 2014 by martaMarch 8, 2015

I have a new walk to add to my list of urban and winter walks – Frink Park. I have known of it for a long time but it is in an area – Leschi – that we rarely go. It is actually pretty easy and interesting to get to. Several of the write ups on the park recommended starting at either the intersection of Jackson and 31st or Yesler and 32nd. Frink Park from the Seattle Times. Frink and Leschi Park from Seattle Times. You can reach it easily by either by going east on Yesler or east on Jackson. We decided to go east on Jackson.

Jackson is an interesting street. It starts in the heart of the International district passing the older Chinese and Japanese businesses and then the Vietnamese and SE Asian stores on the western edge. From here it travels through the Central District with African ethnic stores until just before the park when it gets very upscale in the Mt. Baker area.

We parked on 31st and put on our boots. The write ups had said that the trails could be muddy and they were. It was great to see work being done on some of the more muddy area. The park was originally suggested by Olmstead Associates in 1903. It is a steep ravine leading down to the Leschi marina which was the ferry terminal to Mercer and Bellevue. The trail descends steeply switching back and forth over the ravine crossing a charming bridge and small waterfall. Continuing down through Leschi park to the marina with views across Lake Washington to Bellevue and the I-90 bridge. We walked a couple of blocks and took a set up stairs up Jackson back to the center of the park. A short detour to check out the Rhododendron trail along the stream. We need to come back in the spring to see them in bloom and then up up up back to 31st.

Next we headed for a couple of beer tastings and lunch. First was a stop at Two Beers Brewery – Pilner and IPA. Then over to Jules Maes for lunch; Ahi Burger for G with a Fort George Vortex IPA and Lamb Burger for me with a yummy King Street Brown from Schooner Exact. We made one last stop at Schooner Exact for small tasting – Saison for me and Black IPA for G.

Sun was setting and time to return home. We’ll be back to do this walk again. The steep stairs will be good training.

View of Lake Washington from near the start off 31st and Jackson

Lots of leaves from the maples

Small waterfall in the main ravine

Road bridge in the center of the ravine

This section is lined with Rhododendrons

Leschi Marina and Bellevue in distance

Schooner Exact

San Juan Sunset and return

Posted on November 18, 2014 by martaNovember 25, 2014

Mt Baker over the Salish Sea

We returned to the cottage after our hike. The day had cleared but there were a few interesting clouds so I knew it would be a great sunset. I walked out to the shoreline and watched the sun set to the west over Vancouver Island.

The two days went quickly and it was time to leave. We decided to catch the 11:05 ferry so we cleaned up and left the cottage with the goal of getting to the ferry about 1 or so before the sailing. Of course, it took much less so we took one more drive through the farm land before getting to the ferry about 1:15 minutes early. It was Monday and the ferry didn’t fill so we could have waited a bit – but I would have stressed over it.

What a glorious day! It was crystal clear and we had a gorgeous view of Mt. Baker and the northern cascades. We got into Anacortes about noon and headed for Skagit Brewery for lunch and a brew. The perfect end to a great fall/winter getaway.

The golden rays of the sunset on the shore and the sun setting over Vancouver Island to the west

Departure back to the mainland on Monday

Friday Harbor

Leaving the island