Front Yard Vegetable Gardens in My Neighborhood

I don’t know how many Seattle residents have front yard gardens, but they are definitely common in my neighborhood. I love to see people growing some of their own food.

I visited the neighbors that live across the street from me yesterday. It is always such a treat to see their gardens. They have turned their yard into property that is magical. Even though the photos don’t capture it, know that this front yard garden is tiered on a steep slope. Eiric weaves branches to create the structure for the beds and remakes them every two years. When I asked him the correct terminology to describe this process he responded: “They are ‘wattled’ beds of Apple ‘air shoot’ branches.”

(To enlarge photos click on the individual galleries.)

Other nearby gardens:

And mine!

There are many other front yard vegetable gardens in this neighborhood but I think I’ve shown you enough to give you a good idea of what they are like. I wonder how many people have back yard gardens too!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Curve

Weekly Photo Challenge: Curve

Wordless Wednesday

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Numbers

This challenge reminded me of a fun thing that happened on my last trip to Amma’s ashram in Amritapuri, India.

When I left my room to go to breakfast, I took the back stairs, as is my normal practice. I looked down at the stairs as I started to descend them. By my foot there was

one green bug

It reminded me of a bug I’ve seen in Seattle. Its color was brilliantly green, almost fluorescent. I passed it by but was afraid it would get stepped on so I came back and pushed it to the side of the stairs. I walked away but then realized how hot it was in the sun. The bug had looked like it was dying. It occurred to me that it would certainly die if I left it sitting in the sun so I went up the stairs again, got something to pick the bug up with, and took it to a part of the landing that had some shade. I placed the bug in a crevice and continued on my way. At the next landing there were

two black crows

sitting on the railing. We looked at each other for a moment. One cawed and then they both flew away. One green bug followed by two black crows; that was an interesting “co-incidence.” I looked over the railing and the first thing I saw were

three Indian girls

Okay, this feels like no co-incidence. I think I will play the game. I wonder what will be next. Now I’m on the first floor (which in India is one floor above the ground). I look ahead in the distance and at the far part of the hall I see a doormat with shoes on it. As I get closer I see there are

four thongs scattered on the mat

Going down the last set of stairs, I’m now on the ground floor. I turn the corner and pass the supply office where

five Indian family members are getting bedding

As I make may way to the cafe, I pass a bush with

six hibiscus flowers which are being picked by an Indian woman

Once I arrive at the café I see there are

five people ahead of me in the breakfast line

I order my food and take it to the table where

four friends eat breakfast together

I finish my food, wash my dishes and take them to the drying station where there are

three towels for drying dishes

I take my empty water bottle to the drinking water station where I find

two are filling water bottles

I fill my water bottle and then head back to my room. I push the elevator button. Soon there is

one person on elevator

Me!

I wish I had pictures to go with the experience but I was busy living it! I decided to be to content using a shot of one of the Amritapuri hibiscus bushes.

Weekly Photo Challenge: Numbers

Wordless Wednesday

Roses in My Neighborhood

I have been more aware of the roses in my neighborhood than ever before. This year they started blooming in April. I saw this one on April 24.

In May, I found these beauties.

Yesterday, June 1, most of the roses were dead or dying but there were many still in their glory.

Wordless Wednesday

Weekly Photo Challenge: Spare

Sometimes I feel like I spend my life looking for things. Having spares is a necessity for keeping myself sane. These are the items for which I most often need to find a spare.

And these are ones where I often can’t find my spares no matter how many of them I buy!

I have a long way to go in mastering the virtue of being mindful.

Written for Weekly Photo Challenge: Spare

The Circle of Life

Sreejit at The Seeker’s Dungeon has been hosting an event called On Living and Dying. I participated early in the challenge (Am I Contributing to My Living or My Dying?) but I find myself continuing to ponder the subject. I realized that I have lots of photos of birthing and living and some that could probably be considered rebirth, but I had none of dying. Yesterday I remedied that situation.

As I was writing this post, it occurred to me that I might be able to find evidence of rebirth already, and I did! Rebirth is occurring amidst the dying. What a good example of the circle of life.