I was near North Bend this weekend and spotted this Salmonberry in bloom. Until I looked up the flower, I thought it was one of shrubs from our tree & shrub seedling order (from King Co. Conservation District sale). It's not, but I'll have other flowers from the seedlings I planted. 
Yeah! They are all planted now. They've gone into a hedgerow in the making and other spots around the place. So what did we plant?
It's time to order seeds and seedlings and I don't have my list finalized, as usual. I'm going to have some busy weeks coming up and if I don't get it done now, it won't happen.
In addition to Petunia's Garden vegetables, we are continuing to plant assorted tree and shrub seedlings on a hillside and have plans for a hedgerow effect in a few other places.
For seedlings, there are some nice opportunities coming up:
King County Conservation District has an annual Native Bareroot Plant sale. Pre-orders must be placed by Jan. 31 for pickup on March 5 & 6. Any plants not sold through the pre-orders will be for sale on March 5 & 6 also. See the website: http://kingcd.org for plants and more information.
Weyerhaeuser public seedling sale is Feb. 15 and March 20. See this link for more information: Western WA Public Sales Event .
Above, more to ripen. Looking back at prior year posts, they may be ripening a little early this year. It has been warm and dry. 
Not to worry. There is another refrigerator that actually has food.
Two dozen Douglas fir and red cedars, now planted in our hillside pasture (after lots of trips and down that hill, yesterday).
The maples seem especially golden this year. And it has been in this last week that the trees have really started turning colors. I also think every tree/plant that missed its normal pollination schedule is making up for it now. I hope this is an exceptional year and not a trend for me. Something is giving me an allergy-like reaction. Really hard to stay out of it when the days turn nice and sunny. 
The nice weather Saturday FINALLY coaxed open the blossoms on the cherry trees around the patio.
It is difficult to capture in a photo, but there is a magic feeling being underneath them. I like the pink against the blue sky and green pine tree. They look a little weathered from the snow and hail at the end of March (when they've already been blooming in earlier years). I suspect I should enjoy the show while I have it, as may not last too long this year.
March is finishing up with a bang. We hope to see more of these bloomers in April, even with this little pause for snow. From my many postings in the past, you know I enjoy the ornamental cherries. Since the buds are still closed up tightly, unlike prior years at this time, I have hope for blossoms. See March 29, 2006 and March 21, 2007 and March 31, 2007
The Star Magnolia, above, is getting close. It is very cheery when full of blooms so I hope it will still put on a show this year. I see it was blooming already in March 2007. See this link for the photo. 
While I did have one of these Camellias open in time for March Bloom Day, there are many not yet open. 
The snow is gone, but I'm hanging on to it just a little longer. This contorted filbert outside my dining room window caught my attention late Satureday afternoon. The tree is too close to the house and too large for its space, but it is an interesting view out the window in the winter (even without snow). 
Here is a wider view. 
The Year 'Round Rose has added another season to its portfolio. Winter! We had a light snow overnight. The skies are turning blue now so there might not be much more added today.
Along with the rosehips, these hawthorn berries are decorating the hillside now. I just realized this little tree has something to offer across the seasons. 
This wild rose growns on our hillside (remember visiting our hillside retreat?). It is my kind of rose. Pretty pink blossoms, long arching canes and these lovely rosehips in the winter. It is also the home of Petunia's cousin. We have a path through this hillside pasture that goes by this rose bush. Often, a sunning garter snake would dart back in the brambles just as we walked by. DH doesn't like this, so I have to take the lead on this part of the path.
Wow! Look at all of that green too!
The hawthorn tree that protects our little hillside retreat is blooming. With no sheep or other creatures eating the seedlings, one day there will be a hedge of these trees. Being on this hillside, that is just fine by me. 
I must not have looked at them very closely in the past. Very pretty and with a light fragrance, I think. Here is the same tree, decorated for the fall.
A younger ornamental cherry tree in the yard is now blooming. Its flowers are very fluffy! Very different than the earlier blooming cherries.
Petunia's Hummingbird Cafe - Ornamental Cherry Blossom Breakfast
Petunia's Gardener Cafe - The best Saturday morning spot (view above)! Errr...sorry we didn't wait for you (coffee below).
While we're not sitting outside today, we have the same nice view of the trees from our inside table (the trees you can see behind the chairs in this summer shot, above, are the cherry trees).
A shot from the side in the sun with a little blue sky too. The rains have been hard on the blossoms this year. You can compare to last year, here.
These are the Cherry Tree clippings I brought inside on Wednesday. Go here to see the limbs that I cut them from, laying on the ground where they have been laying for about a month. This is great! Blossoms in the house and I don't have to cut the living trees to have them. I'll be bringing in some fresh clippings tomorrow.
Here at Petunia's Garden, we'll welcome Spring soon, but not just yet. A little cool and gray today. The cherry trees out the kitchen window have a few early blossoms open but most are still wrapped up. Even the robin I can see sitting on the gate to the garden looks like (s)he's not ready for the party yet either.
More blossoms here, but there is something special about these.
They are on limbs cut from the trees a month ago! I clipped some branches and brought them inside to see if they'll open.
First bloom of the Star Magnolia (hope that's right).
Of course, Emily kept me company too. This picture is late in the afternoon when she was hoping to convince me that we were done.
