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.

Red and "Blue"

Astoria, Oregon ~ June 13, 2011

Here's another shot of the purple (lavender?) rhododendron bush outside the post office. Yesterday's photo was the "art shot," today's photo shows the brilliant red flowers on the adjacent bush. I think the sceme is supposed to be vaguely red, white, and blue. The nearly-white rhodies at the other end of the building were falling apart as of yesterday, but here is my shot of them from last year. If I remember, the pink were still looking OK, but the white ones are about gone.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Purple Rhodies at the Post Office

Astoria, Oregon ~ June 13, 2011

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Plenty of Snow on Mt. Hood

Mt. Hood from Government Camp, Oregon ~ June 4, 2011

About 3 hours' drive from Astoria

On June 4th, I drove up to the high desert, and was surprised by how cold it still was over the pass. It was cold even in a sweatshirt when I got out of the car, and snow was still piled maybe 8 or so feet deep where it had been plowed into drifts near some of the buildings. With the zoom, you can see how much snow is waiting to melt among Mt. Hood's crags. There has already been a lot of flooding along Oregon's rivers. I don't know if there's any noticeable rise here in Astoria for those who observe these things more carefully than I do. I haven't noticed whether the river has been higher or not, as it isn't noticeable from my perspective. Does anyone know if it's a fraction of an inch, or maybe even inches this far downriver?

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

KMUN Building with Rhodies

Astoria, Oregon ~ June 3, 2011

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Rigging

Astoria, Oregon ~ May 21, 2011

Photo copyright Parker Ivanoff

My ten-year-old friend Parker got a chance to take a sail on one of the tall ships on the Columbia River during Astoria's bicentennial celebration. He brought back this wonderful photo of the adventure taken with his mom's cell phone. I think it came out spectacularly well. Maybe when Parker sees this, he'll fill us in on the event and I will update the post or upload another photo from his day "at sea" (in quotes because it's really the river - a huge one, at that!). I also hope to find out which ship this is. There were two of them on the river that day.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.

Church Flowers

Astoria, Oregon ~ May 31, 2011

Rhododendrons are blooming everywhere, globe-shaped colorful bushes from small to huge to the size of trees. This rhododendron bush, not in full bloom yet, can be found in the garden behind the First Presbyterian Church and this building at the corner of 11th and Harrison.

This blog is sponsored by Tapir and Friends Animal Store.