What's Blooming, January 1, 2012

Years ago we read about a gardener in England who went out into his garden every New Years Day to see what he could find in bloom.  We began that tradition here in our own garden.


Last year there was nothing in bloom, as we had suffered a deep, lasting freeze, ice and snow in mid November.  But this year we have so far had only mild frosts, and so, once again, I found some blooms on New Years Day; bedraggled, some of them, but blooms none-the-less.


                                                Bacopa from the porch planter.

                                                       Pansy

                                                     Primrose

                                                            Dead-nettle

                                                              Kafir lily

                                                             Fox glove

                                                              The Fairy rose

                                                            Fuzzy magnolia bud

                                                            Winter jasmine

                                                                  Primrose

                                                                 Roses

                                                                          Daisy fleabane

                                        This abutilon bloom is actually in the greenhouse

                                                                Skimmia

                                                                  Basket of gold

Day One of the New Year

 What a great way to start the new year, with a beautiful, sunny day!


Jozy was not interested in leaving her perch to go play outside, but I was!

We drove over to Renton to the Cedar River Park to walk the Cedar River Trail.

 The river was running full.

 We have walked up river several times, but today we were headed down river to it's mouth.

 If they let any more water over the dam, we're going to need boots!

Crab apples still hanging on added wonderful color to the winterscape.

 The Mallards we encountered were all in pairs today.

The trail follows the river, but on the other side is the Boeing Renton Plant, where they're turning out 737's as fast as they can.

 The airplanes have their own bridge to cross over to the Renton Airport, where the new planes will take their first flights.

 Winter blooms.

 Water fowl.  This is noted to be a good birding area, and I had my camera along.

 It's time to change to the telephoto lens.  Ah, an old coot.

 OK, I don't know what this is, and I can't find it in my bird book.  Anyone know?

 We also saw lots of dog walkers.

 The river's mouth, where it empties into Lake Washington.

 That is definitely a Hooded Merganser, and also an example of why we shouldn't release balloons. 

 A Bufflehead.

 Somebody's very noisy toy, throwing up a big rooster tail.

 Golden Eyes.

 Across the mouth of the river you can see birds of a different feather.

 Here's one landing now!

 Mallards are so common we forget how beautiful they are.

 There were various gulls, but I have not learned to determine the different kinds.

 I think these just might be Ruddy Ducks, with blue bills.  (Correction: Greater or Lesser Scaups) Even with my big lens, many birds were too far away for good photos.  I'm looking them in my book up as I go, because I have to study my photos to see what I saw. 

 The lake, the city, and the Olympic Mountains, and a kayaker enjoying it all. 

 A cormorant.

 A Grebe?

 A mixed breed/Mallard

 And I believe this beauty is a Teal. (Correction: a Gadwall)

 Tom took advantage of the benches along the way as I dawdled along taking photos.

 As we headed back we enjoyed the sunshine on our faces.

 I loved this sculpture found along the river.

It's titled "We Are All in This Boat Together".
So true.  Words to remember as we enter this year full of partisan politics.  We've got to keep this boat afloat.