Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Far Vistas and Farm Flowers

Hi!  How is your summer going?  We're having quite possibly the best weather in my life!  On Sunday Dayle and I decided to take a drive up to Cascade Locks, cross the Bridge of the Gods, then have dinner at a Mexican restaurant we'd heard was good - El Rio - in Stevenson, WA.  After dinner we decided to keep adventuring and drove up the Washington side of the Columbia River to Hood River where we crossed the bridge there.  I spied this out of the window and pulled off the road and snapped this shot of a sailboat on the river with Mt. Hood behind it.  


The railroad was busy and hubby snapped this photo of a Burlington Northern engine heading towards us.



Although fuzzy I like this shot of the engine roaring past us.


We snapped this of an outcropping on the river with two old abandoned Indian fishing platforms.  It was probably difficult to get out to them!


Washington is on the left of the river and Oregon is on the right.


A shot of Oregon from the WA side.. 



This is a zoom of Mt. Hood from the same spot as the one with the sailboat.



We drove over the Hood River Bridge and drove up to Panorama Point for some nice views of the mountain.  What you see in the valley are many fruit farms, the crop is mainly pears.


Closer...


Closest!


Do you see that guy waving at us?  :-)  JUST kidding!


Sorry if I'm posting too many of these.. but goodness, it's pretty.



We were just cruising around looking for the road down the hill and the sun was shining through these grasses and it was so pretty.


And then we came around a corner and WOW.. one of the farmers had a beautiful flag flying over his orchard!  I would call this "the money shot".  I love this!



Then we found the road to head back down the hill to Hood River and I go..  What mountain is THAT?  It was over in Washington.. Dayle checks a map and found that it's Mt. Adams, and it's taller than Mt. Hood!  


OK, if you're tired of mountains.. lol.. here are some of the flowers blooming in the farm yard.  I'm very excited about this Crocosmia - I've loved these and admired them in other gardens for years and finally we have some blooming in our yard!  


The 4th of July rose keeps on blooming!  



The Streptocarpus or Streptocarpella continues to amaze me with how full the flowers are.  I just googled this and it's common name is "Nodding Violet".


The nickname fits it as the long stems with the flower on the end catch the breeze and they move up and down.  Sweet.


Million bell petunias are happy.


The other color variety of million bells petunias -- I just love these!


Well, time to pack up my swim bag for lap-swimming with Gracie!  What a gorgeous day!  I hope you're having fun and "make hay while the sun shines"!  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

28 comments:

  1. How gorgeous Mt. Hood looks right now! Loved your photos from across the river! I haven't been over to the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge in like forever and it's been years since I've been to Panorama Point too---soooo beautiful!
    And now, I am off to see if our crocosmia is blooming...
    Blessings,
    Aimee

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  2. Teresa you do take the most amazing photographs. Absolutely stunning scenery and the flowers are so pretty. Hugs Anne x

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  3. Hi Teresa, you trip out was wonderful such gorgeous photos. Our summer is a bit of a mixed bag so far, some very pleasant sunshine but then the odd day of cool and rain. Tomorrow is looking a bit of a damp squib which is a shame as we're off to the Hampton Court flower show, fingers crossed the forecast has got it wrong. Enjoy your swim, it's nearly bedtime here in the UK x

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  4. I never tire of seeing Mt. Hood and all the glorious scenery of Oregon, you Blooms are always soo very pretty. Hugs Judy

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  5. WOW, that streptocarpus is amazing. And so are your photos of Mt Hood, it's so beautiful. I'm guessing it's permanently snow-capped. What a sensational place you live in. Such dramatic scenery, it's wonderful. Glad you're enjoying the summer Teresa, I hope you had a good swim. CJ xx

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  6. Great photos of Mt. Hood, Teresa. I'm so glad I get to see them now, since I grew up reading about it in the Ramona Quimby books. :) The Burlington Northern passes not too far from where I live too.

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  7. Oh I never tire of seeing the beautiful mountains. I adore your photos and always find that they inspire me. Thanks for taking us along on your journey sweet friend. ((hugs))

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  8. Absolutely stunning photos, Teresa! Now I want to take that drive and borrow your green thumb to grow more pretty flowers :) I came home from swimming and did some gardening, but have more weeds to pull. Why do weeds grow so well and my flowers not so much? xx

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  9. Wow, wow, wow, these are girgeous pictures of Both mountains ... I absolutely love living in such a gorgeous place... And your flowers are unbelievable my dear friend . Can't wait to see you :)

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  10. What a lovely trip just to go and have supper!!!!! Your garden looks magnificent, I especially love the yellow million bell pansies!!!! (they look very similar to what I know as petunias) Wow, they sun is still shining quite late in the evening there!!!! Wonderful!!!! Have a fab fun filled and happy week!!!
    Love
    AMarie xxx

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    1. You caught my error - you're right, the million bells are a variety of petunia, not pansy.

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  11. I can't seem to get my head around the fact that its summer for you yet there appears to be lots of snow on those mountains ???? Lovely photos again Teresa. xox

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    1. Dorothy, the mountains are very high and it stays cold up there.. and there are glaciers, too -- but the mountain does get a bit bare in the late summer.

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  12. I'm chuckling to myself right now. I was just thinking-I think you can see people waving, that photo is so zoomed in on Mt. Hood. And then I scrolled down and you said the same thing. Great minds and all.... Your pictures are stunning as usual Teresa. I think you should enter the one with the flag in a contest. You'd be sure to win! I love your flowers too. Mine aren't doing so well this year, I think it's just plain too hot. We're having fires over here on this side of the state with all of the dry weather and heat. I hope to see you and the girls soon. Keep your fingers crossed, lots of house showings for Mandy tomorrow.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  13. We could never be tired of the pictures of your beautiful mountains, your beautiful river or flowers. You lived in a gorgeous place and I thank you for sharing with us.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  14. It's all go with you Teresa.
    Beautiful photo's - mountain, flowers & train - oh my!

    My air conditioner arrived today - Michael DH installed it and oh it is so nice. Just in time for the blazing hot weekend in store for all of us Portlander's!

    Stay cool & keep on posting! ((hugs))

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  15. Your million bell flowers are AMAZING. I have never seen pansies in that colorstripe

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    1. I made an error - they aren't pansies, but are petunias! Oopsie!

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  16. Teresa - I don't have a blog of my own but love reading your blog and seeing your wonderful pictures. My husband and I are going to be seeing the Columbia River for the 1st time this fall on our vacation and these photos make me even more excited about being there! Thanks for sharing.

    Barbara

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    2. I hope you have good weather when you come to the Columbia River Gorge!
      ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  17. Beautiful photos, Teresa. Gorgeous!

    xo
    Claudia

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  18. L-o-v-e the photo of Mt. Hood, Old Glory, and the orchard. Makes me wish I was there!

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  19. I have been reading your blog for several years now and I must say it is so inspiring to me as a fledgling blogger! Your photography is amazing. It's as if we are right there with you! Hugs, Sue

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  20. Beautiful photos Teresa, as always! I've never seen petunias in two tones like that, incredible! x

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  21. Doing a blog catchup as read none while away.....Always love your mt hood pic's and
    all your others, it is great experimenting with our cameras. love my canon xoxo

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  22. Your photos of Oregon are just amazing!! I can't wait to visit your beautiful state some day!

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