Reflections in a Koi Pond

Yesterday for lunch I met an old friend at Alexa’s Garden Cafe located in Ballard’s Swansons Nursery.  Our table was next to the koi pond, so we could enjoy watching the well-fed and friendly fish as we ate our sandwiches and salad.  (My Reuben sandwich was excellent!)  I was especially taken with the reflections of the foliage in the water.  Here are some photos:

Reflections of palm fronds in the water of a koi pond

Reflections with tail fin

Undulating tail fin of white koi

Lovely reflections with iridescence

This reminds me of the northern lights, which I'd like to see one day.

Koi pond at Swansons Nursery in Ballard

 

Seattle on a Sunny Mid-December Day

View of the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle with Olympic Mountains in distance

Yesterday was one of those clear, sunny, cold winter days that make me appreciate living in Seattle.  All of the heavy rains of recent days meant lots of snow in the mountains, and their snowy white peaks were finally visible in all their glory.  Looking to the east, we see the snow-capped peaks of the Cascade range.  Looking west, we see the Olympic mountains.  Unbeatable scenery.

I took advantage of the sun to walk through my neighborhood.  Here are some photos of the mid-December landscape.  I can’t identify all of the plants, unfortunately.

Dried seed pod

Red and green ground cover

Christmas-y looking reds and greens

Dried hydrangea flower

Lacecap hydrangea

Hanging seed pods

Seattle Day Trip: Swanson’s Nursery

The local nurseries are especially festive this time of year.  Here are some photos taken at Swanson’s Nursery in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle:

Shopping for a wreath

Live reindeer at Swanson's Nursery

Camel at Swanson's Nursery

Pink poinsettias

White poinsettias

Red poinsettia

Santa ornaments

Red ribbon

Young shopper at Swanson's Nursery

Season's greeting sign