Whorled Peas and Other Botanical Musings: 2006 Favorites

2006 was a BUSY year! It started as every year does: Yard work. We put in the irrigation system in the front yard (and fixed the back).

Here's Opella. I got my new camera for Bauksing Day and I was experimenting.

And David in B&W on a trip to Seattle in January

Trip to Silverfalls in April. This is Southfalls.

Trip to Red's Rhodies in April. Pleione.

Trip to Bovee's in April. Rhododendron konori.

Our second annual trip to Southern Oregon. Our first trip was very haphazard, but this time, we were ready. This was an amzingly life changing trip. I think we read "A Brave New World" in the evenings out in the wilderness that spring. Very mind bending. Cypripedium californicum.

A weird double Cyp cal...

First time seeing Lilium bolanderi. 4 years later I still haven't ever seen a flower open :-(

Damsel with Damselfly.

First time seeing Cypripedium fasciculatum.

Here's Lisa strolling through the forest.

A butterfly from Southern Oregon.

In May, we finished the backyard and soon after the front. It was an excellent learning experience!

Bletilla formosana.

A trip to Red's Rhodies in June. Cypripedium tibeticum.

Cypripedium kentuckiense.

In Late June, we finished the back patio with a little help ;-)

In Early July, some sort of gathering occurred. Party favors.

My favorite picture of Cait from said gathering.

And of David.

While everyone is in town, let's go hiking... and also seed collecting. At Mt Hood.

Close-up of Veratrum viride. Headache from too much poisonous pollen!

Ducks!

First and only time I've seen Lilium washingtonianum in bloom. Next year...

Clintonia uniflora.

Day after said gathering, I caught this quick guy. Lightning is good luck.

In the Olympic Peninsula in July. Opella on our car.

Closest I've been to Elk.

Botanical fail.

Corallorhiza mertensiana near Elwha.

August 4, our neighbor's electric box exploded...

... all over our house!

In the Late August, we took a trip to Southern Oregon. The stars are unimaginable.

Early September, Cyp montanum on Mount Hood are crispy.

One of the last things we did was take a trip to Seattle for another family gathering. As always, plants were involved. Tropical Aristolochia get big! UW greenhouse.

Maybe I'll try growing one of these... Welwitschia mirabilis. Neat bulby type thing from the Namib desert. The UW greenhouse is pretty extensive. I've you plan on being in Seattle, give them a ring.