Tomorrow is the solstice, when summer officially begins. The garden is filling in and, the traffic noise from Stevens Way excepted, it feels like a little bit of paradise. After 15 years of growth, the sacahuista is flowering for the first time and in slow motion. First the spike emerged and grew until it topped out at about 8 feet, and now the little white flowers are starting to open, a few at a time. If you can get here to see it, you should.
Nolina microcarpa (sacahuista, beargrass) section C.
Sundrops are in full bloom and the wood rose has finally flowered for the first time.
Oenothera fruticosa (sundrops) section E
Rosa gymnocarpa (dwarf rose, wood rose) Cascara Circle
A pair of gadwalls, shy cousins of the mallards, stopped by for a visit to section B recently. A few days later the crows discovered their nest, hidden in one of the beds in section C. It was a bounteous feast of fresh eggs for the crows, but a setback for the gadwalls.
Anas strepera (gadwall) If they’re looking for slugs, they have my vote.
Promenading through section B
The tian men dong is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to treat lung, kidney and heart conditions and it is flowering for the first time.
Asparagus cochinchinensis (tian men dong) section E
Asafoetida root resin is sometimes referred to as Devil’s dung because of its odor. The powdered resin is just the right spice for just the right meal, but its scent lingers stubbornly and unpleasantly. It is used medicinally to treat respiratory, digestive and nervous conditions and other complaints.
Ferula assafoetida (asafoetida) section A
It’s cheating because I took these in the mountains of eastern Washington, but I have grown both species in the Medicinal Herb Garden. Scarlet gilia has been used medicinally and bitterroot has been used as food and medicine by Native Americans. Neither species ever looked as good here at the garden. Right plants, wrong place.
Lewisia rediviva (bitterroot) east slope, Washington Cascades, Iron Bear trail.
Ipomopsis aggregata (scarlet gilia) east slope Washington Cascades, Iron Bear trail
scarlet gilia
following the melting snow
a hint of summer
See you in the garden.