Spring in my Garden - Quail

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Some people I know have herds of wild turkeys roam through their yards.  Me, I've got quail. A bevy of them. A covey of them. They stay year-round, chittering and flying away as one unit with a huge whirrr of wings if I get too close.

This small portion of the flock (covey?) was just outside one of my windows yesterday, unaware that I was watching, clicking, hoping they would hold still enough for their 15 seconds of fame.

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday - Sunny Tuscan Colors at Brick & Fire Bistro

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I've been struggling to find a shadow, any shadow, to put here for my favorite meme in the whole world, Shadot Shot Sunday, but shadows are sadly not to be found.

You're probably tired of hearing me say, rain, rain, rain - I"M tired of hearing me say it.

But, it's still raining. And it's still cold. And it's still grey. All. Day. Long.

So I've pulled a photo out of my archives to cheer me up.  This is one of my favorite local restaurants, Brick and Fire. With a sunny Tuscan-Mediterranean feel and delightful, locally-sourced fare, it will lift my spirits even on days weeks like these, when the sun just won't shine.

Tracy has got more shadow links for you over at Hey Harriet.

A shout out for our intrepid Tracy who was sick last week but is now recovered,

and we are so glad for that! 

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Ruby Tuesday - Milk Crates

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I know they're not flowers, nor critters, but they were such a stark contrast to the white walls, grey cement, and the odd blue crate, I couldn't help myself.

It's time once again for Ruby Tuesday photo viewing at Work of the Poet.

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Hope Springs Eternal - Vernal Equinox 2011

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Bronze Freesia in the greenhouse

Garden bloggers throughout the northern hemisphere

have been waiting for this day to arrive after a  long, often harsh, winter.



Japanese Red Maple leaf buds



And even though the weather may not be all that spring-like in some places,



Tulip buds

it surely is in others and at least today



Unfurling fern #1



 we can all sing



 Happy Spring!



Unfurling fern #2



and know that new growth and the nurturing sun will soon be ours.

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.





Shadow Shot Sunday - Vinca with Tea Mug

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 Rain mixed with snow greeted us on this chilly morning before the vernal equinox, the grey sky, occasionally breaking up, presented a patch of blue through which, for about 2 minutes, the sun shone.

I say catch a shadow shot when the opportunity presents itself.

Take a look at what other shadow photographers are displaying at Tracy's blog Hey Harriet.

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

A Rose of Love for the People of Japan

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To the people of Japan: My heart grieves for you.

To my fellow bloggers and readers:  I have put a live donation bar at the top of my page, above the title header.  The link will take you to the Google Crisis Response Portland-based Mercy Corps donation page for survivors of the Japan earthquake/tsunami.  I encourage everyone to make a donation, no matter how small, earmarked for the Japanese people who are suffering so greatly.

Another donation bar may be found at the top of my cooking blog:  Christine Cooks.

Thank you.

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday - Trees on Wall, Last Fall

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These shots, taken back in November specifically with the intention of using them for Shadow Shot Sunday,   somehow got trumped by ensuing shadow photos.  This happens.

I found them recently and, with no shadows currently available for Tracy's wonderful and weekly blog event, decided to bring them to the fore.

See those ominous dark clouds?  If memory serves me, they dumped on us within 10 minutes of me snapping the photos and safely tucking away my camera.

More shadow shots and shadow shot photographers

may be found each and every Sunday at Hey Harriet.

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Happy Spring! The Swallows are Back!

Pin It Been watching the skies for swallows these past few days. Too cloudy and rainy to catch a glimpse, if they were there at all.

But today turned sunny and actually warm and, as always, something made me look up and there they were.  Just two of them.  We call them the scouts.

Of course I didn't get a photo of them - they're swallows.  They just don't hold still enough.  Hopefully I'll get some baby shots later in the year.  Meantime . . .

Muscari



Yellow Primrose




Wood Violet



Lilac buds



Dicentra - Bleeding Heart

I was able to root around close to the ground in a few of my garden beds and capture some tiny early spring bloomers.

In no particular order, here are some previous swallow posts you might enjoy:
Fledglings
First Rose
Baby Swallows
Chow Time
Spring Has Arrived!
The Swallows Have Arrived!



On a sadder note: My heart goes out to the people of Japan who have lost so much due to the devastating earthquake yesterday and ensuing tsunami.  I am thinking of you and wishing you solace during this terrible time.

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.





Late Winter in my Garden - Mini-Daffodils

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Mini-daffodils are among the first bulbs to bloom in my garden as winter wanes.

They grow to be about 5-inches tall, barely clearing the top of the large pot they are planted in.

I have to keep chicken wire over them (you can see it in the background) because the chickens love to see if the petals are edible.  You'd think they learn.  But nooo - they're chickens.

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Ruby Tuesday - Another Ruby Red Hellebore

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Yes, another Hellebore.

Fixated on Hellebores, you say?  Maybe so - they're fun to photograph. And light plays so well with them.

And also, they are the only red in town, or rather, in my garden, right now and it's time for a Ruby Tuesday post.

Check out the rest of the ruby red photos over at Mary's place.

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Today's Flowers - Sultry Hellebore

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I started snapping photos of my hellebores the other day, their heads now turned up a bit more toward the sun, and just can't resist posting a few more of them. (More will be posted another day.)

Un-retouched photo, taken late afternoon, pointed into the shady planter box.

This is my offering to Today's Flowers, a beautiful and floriferous site from which I've been gone too long.
Have a great week and ...

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

Shadow Shot Sunday - Tree Reflections

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Believe it or not, what I was trying to capture when I took this photo was the sun slipping down between the houses across the street. As I got out of my car, I caught a golden flash out of the corner of my eye and whipped out my camera, too late, it turns out, to get that golden flash. Bummed, I put my camera away.

Later, when viewing the photos on my computer, I saw that although I hadn't caught the setting sun, I had caught the reflections of numerous tree tops on the roofs of the cars in front of me. And although they're not actually shadows, I think they come pretty close.

Tracy's got more shadow shots for you down under at Hey Harriet. When you get there, leave her a nice comment would you?

Not a lot of gardening going on around here. As in none.  The wonderful sunny weather we had back in January had turned back into winter. March certainly can live up to the whole lion and lamb thing.

I hope there is more going on in your garden.

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.

In Celebration of March - Freesias and Stock

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A vase of bronze freesias and pink stock graced my friend Erika's table while I was visiting her recently.

Sure they're forced; it's still winter. But they told me quite clearly that spring is just days away.

I've been watching the sky for swallows. Don't want them to arrive too early, but still ...

© Copyright 2006-2011, Raven Ridge Gardens. All rights reserved.