Country Roads, Take Me Home

 The Willamette Valley was my home until I went away to college in Seattle. We lived on a small farm between the towns of Canby and Molalla. Molalla was where we went to school. It was our home town. 

On Wednesday afternoon we drove across the valley from Woodburn to Molalla to find a small nursery and display garden we read about in our Open Garden Book.

Driving around in the valley I loved seeing the crops that are still flourishing  in this fertile valley. Some are more recent types of crops and some are the same as they were 60 years ago.

Everybody loves  Marion berries.

Mt Hood is "the Mountain" in this valley.

The nursery just on the edge of Molalla was small but with nice plants. The display garden was lovely.

What to do with old plates. 

Spice bush, with wonderful blooms. 

What I loved most was being able to be up close and personal with these magnificant oak trees. These Oregon oaks dot the valley with single sentinals in the fields and in wonderful groves like this.

When we left this garden we were just a short drive away from The Pioneer Cemetery, where my parents rest. We paid them a visit. 

Then we began the long drive back to Seattle.

It was a great little trip. 

Willamette Valley Nurseries and Gardens

On Tuesday of this week we traveled to Oregon to help Tom's sister-in-law Vicki celebrate her 80th birthday at a hotel in McMinnville, Oregon.  There were about 15 of us mostly nearly or well established octogenarians present for a lovely catered lunch and lots of visiting. 

After the party we drove to Woodburn to our hotel, one we have used often, especially when my mother was still alive and living in Molalla. After a rest and dinner we found a local shady park to walk in.

Wednesday Tom and I spent the day enjoying a day in the Willamette Valley.There were several nurseries and gardens on our list, of course.

French Prairie Gardens is a small rural nursery out in the valley. They have exceptional annuals and hanging baskets. 

Al's Garden Center in Woodburn is always a must stop. It's big, bright, and beautiful.

Then we drove out of town to Seabright Gardens, a beautiful big display garden and Hosta nursery.

Then we discovered a nursery new to us. It was overflowing with color, containers and hanging baskets,  and with annuals I have never seen or heard of.

Now I was tired and hungry. We drove back to Woodburn for a Subway lunch, and then a coffee dessert at Safeway, not exotic, but easy and predictable. That sustained us for our afternoon wanderings.

Usually a hot latte consumer myself, Tom might just get me hooked on his style mocha frappe with caramel drip and whipped cream. Yum!

Catching Up

I guess I've been busy, and still am, so I'll do a few posts as I have time. Last Saturday, I know, a while ago now, we went to a local open garden and then for a walk at the Des Moines Marina and for a short ways on the Des Moines Creek trail.

Looks like my photos are in reverse order, but, Oh well. Blogger is weird lately.

 

We have to leave soon for an appointment to get our windshield replaced. Another event in the ongoing car saga.

We just got back last night from an overnight in Oregon. More on that later. 

I hope to catch up with your posts soon.