These are 4  of the 5 Garry Oaks I have planted in the last 3 years. They are all on a hillside facing west. I ground is mostly sand so they have excellent drainage. The largest tree was purchased from a tree nursery about 2…

Planted five different fruit on our property. The location seems excellent, full sun for a majority of the day. The soil has good drainage mostly sand with some organic content, I added a half bag of compost to each tree. Akane Apple, Cosmic Crisp Apple,…

Night = Magic The poetry of light is dramatic in the night, especially in the gloaming hour. These photos were taken around Lisbon, I will be adding more as they appear to me . My camera often has a mind of it’s own, I help…

Today we drove 90 minutes south of Lisbon across the Vasco da Gama Bridge (the longest bridge in Europe) to the Arrabida coast, high mountains line the water making for dramatic views. We went to a beach side restaurant for lunch and relaxed on the…

It rained on my first day here, I was riding the 18E Tram home. Our house is far up a very large hill, I prefer to take the tram up as opposed to walking. The weather had changed and so had the type of people…

Having come to Lisbon every few years, I have been able to track the modernization and gentrification taking place. BElow is a set of photos the older one is 2017 the new 2019. The building was a wreck and ready to be replaced. In the…

Planting native plants and other perennials that will strengthen the local environment  give a pleasing appearance and offer habitat and sustenance to local wildlife. Listed below are links to guides, blog posts and other sources of information. Guide for Western Washington Prairies  pdf Xeric Prairies…

The Battle of White Bird Canyon was fought on June 17, 1877 in Idaho Territory. White Bird Canyon was the opening battle of the Nez Perce War between the Nez Perce Indians and the United States. The battle was a significant defeat of the U.S.…

Living in the country on an island requires a different approach to gardening. When you are surrounded by native trees, shrubs, weeds and grasses the choices you make for your landscaping should take the local plants into consideration. What follows is a list or assemblage…

Living on the edge of a 500 acre lagoon and wetland puts me in the middle of a massive wildlife refuge. I am trying to identify all the birds I see, in the course of a week, but it is tough. I see many of…