Checkerboard Tulips

Astoria, Oregon ~ April 6, 2011

One of my favorite flower finds this spring was this pot in the parking area outside the Astoria Co-op (Exchange and 14th Streets) containing checkerboard tulips.

The rest of the flowers and vegetables in the pot were a welcome sight as well.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Purple on the Water Front

Astoria, Oregon ~ July 18, 2011

Can anyone tell me the name of these purple flowers? If I ever knew it, it escapes me today. (Hmmm, maybe some variety of lilac?) [Thanks to everyone who said it was a BUTTERFLY BUSH.] I've been noticing flowers and color all season, and when my photos aren't of ships, they usually include flora. I'm sure many of you will recognize the location as being right next to the interesting dumpsters on the 12th Street pier showing the Sears building in the background (right side of the photo). I think our cold, wet spring and late-blooming summer has given us gorgeous blossoms well into summer.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Where Does the Time Go?

Astoria, Oregon ~ Summer 2011

Guest Photographer: J Schu

Hello, Everyone! The title of today's post could be a theme for this photo, and it's also a theme for me right now. Contrary to possible conclusions, I have not decided to give up on this blog, but I have (by default) taken a break from all of my blogs. I think about posting, I still take photos, and I really, really appreciate the interest all of you have shown. Rather than lack of interest, I can sum up my disappearance as "other things coming to the foreground," and everthing simply takes time.

We'll see what happens going forward, but for now I would like to thank J for sending in this charming photo of a view that was not available until very recently, and to pass along a question from the photographer: Can anyone tell us more about this old building? It was revealed recently along the River Walk when the weathered old white Darigold building was taken down.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Design under the Awning

Astoria, Oregon ~ July 1, 2011

Copyright 2011 Parker Ivanoff

My friend Parker took this photo while walking downtown this morning. Most of us might not think to look up into the awning in front of the Liberty Theatre, but if we did, we'd be greeted with this decorative detail from an earlier era. You might remember Parker's photo of the rigging on one of the tall ships from about a month ago. 

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.