It’s Little I Care

 

Path through Washington Park Arboretum, Seattle

Azalea bush along Azalea Way, Washington Park Arboretum

The siren call of spring . . .

“It’s little I care what path I take
And where it leads it’s little I care,
But out of this house, lest my heart break,
I must go, and off somewhere.”
—  Edna St. Vincent Millay

 

 

 

The Perfect Time to Go a Budding

“In winter when there are no flowers, and leaves are rare, even larger buds are interesting and somewhat exciting. I go a budding like a partridge.”
— Henry David Thoreau, from Winter: The Writings of Henry David Thoreau, vol. 8, January 31, 1854

Azalea buds, Arboretum

Many trees and bushes are actively budding right now.  I saw these azalea buds along the Azalea Way path at the arboretum.

Azalea buds

And the magnolias are simply profligate with their showy, soft-as-mouse-fur, perky, candle-flame buds.

Magnolia buds

Watercolor sketches of magnolia buds

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Walk in the Park (Volunteer Park in Seattle)

Old trees, Volunteer Park, Seattle

One of the pleasures of having out-of-town guests is that you get to re-visit your favorite spots while you give them an insider’s view of your home town.  Volunteer Park in Seattle is one such place.  The rhododendrons were in bloom on this most recent visit, and the stately old trees stood in green grandeur.

The rhododendron is the official state flower for Washington

Old cedar tree

Under the canopy of a horse chestnut tree

My niece in the donut hole of Isamu Noguchi’s sculpture, “Black Sun,” in Volunteer Park

A Seattle Spring Destination: Washington Park Arboretum’s Azalea Way

Azalea Way, Washington Park Arboretum

The azaleas at the Washington Park Arboretum are just now starting to bloom and will likely be in full splendor by Mother’s Day.  Azalea Way is the main walking thoroughfare in the park, a grassy expanse dotted with park benches and lined with trees and flowers.  It’s a relaxing place for a stroll or a picnic.

Bench tucked in by azalea bush, Washington Park Arboretum

One of several viewpoints, Washington Park Arboretum

Azaleas in the morning sunlight

Azalea buds and blooms

These azalea buds will be opening in the next couple of weeks.

Azalea buds

Azalea bud, unopened

Azalea in bloom

Azalea Way in late April

Purple azaleas

More buds

Another view of Azalea Way

Southern end of Azalea Way

Azaleas, Washington Park Arboretum

 

 

 

 

 

Azaleas in Bloom at the Volunteer Park Conservatory

Seasonal room at Volunteer Park Conservatory reflected in a mirrored ball

The seasonal room at the Volunteer Park Conservatory currently features azaleas.  The conservatory is a colorful and warm destination for a winter’s day.

Azaleas splash red and pink in the seasonal room

Azaleas at the Volunteer Park Conservatory

Pretty in pink

I was also captivated by the staghorn ferns, carnivorous plants, and cacti on this visit.

The staghorn fern resembles antlers!

Staghorn fern, Volunteer Park Conservatory

Carnivorous plant

This plant resembled a giant bird in flight.

Lovely patterned leaves of a cactus

Azalea Way

The azaleas are in bloom at the Washington Park Arboretum.  My husband and I took a walk along Azalea Way on Sunday morning.  There are many more woodland trails throughout the arboretum.  We’ll have to save exploring them for another day.

Azaleas in bloom at the Washington Park Arboretum

My favorite azaleas, yellow and blushing pink

Azalea buds -- some azaleas will bloom in the coming weeks

Bench along Azalea Way

White with fuchsia stripes

I sometimes have difficulty telling azaleas from rhododendrons.

“And in the woods a fragrance rare
Of wild azaleas fills the air
And richly tangled overhead
We see their blossoms sweet and red.”
     — Dora Read Goodale, from “Spring Scatters Far and Wide”

Azalea blossoms, sweet and red

Playing Tourist in Seattle: Washington Park Arboretum

One of the items on my “To-Do List” this year is to visit Seattle’s Washington Park Arboretum when the azaleas are in bloom.  In a more normal year, this might be a Mother’s Day outing.  But this year I suspect that the azaleas will bloom early.  I have already been seeing some rhododendrons in bloom in sunny spots around the city.

I made a visit to the Arboretum this week to see what was blooming.  It’s still too early for much color on Azalea Way, but I did see one bush in bloom.

Azalea bud on a mossy bush

Azalea flower, an early bloom

Fat robin at the Arboretum

Bench and blooming forsythia, Washington Park Arboretum

Mossy limbs frame the budding trees