Stan & Joyce Orchard

Last Of The Peppers

A good year for sweet bell peppers on The Orchard Compound. They aren't the biggest, but they are tasty.

A few years ago this plant was thrown into plastic bag then into a pot. It has since tripled in size, the latest bloom down low. While the tops of both big stems are filled with blooms, this lowest one is WAY more fragrant. Just amazing. Wish we could bottle it.

Amphibious Friend

While humans continue to go absolutely bonkers, this little guy seems content. Happy he allows me to share his space for a little while.

First Tomato

We always try to harvest our first tomatoes on the 4th of July or before. We seldom achieve that. The 7th of July is close enough.

Bearish On The 4th

While we were out grilling salmon and steak, this critter wandered in looking for a snack. Happy Independence Day everyone.

Fuzzy Antler Time

Love this time of year. Never tire of watching them with their summer coats and those awesome antlers.

Lovely Lupin

Spring has become our favorite season around here. The Orchard Compound and surrounding area is alive with new growth. Ya, the cottonwood are filling the sky with their seed and pollen covers everything. But the lupin are blooming along with other wildflowers and those we’ve planted. For the moment at least, life is good.

Tremendous Trillium

King County sent our one of their awesome brush hogs on our road this spring. They really cut back the foliage. Today on our walk we spotted a bunch of trillium. Apparently, all the cutting of brush resulted in a bumper crop this spring. We normally see one or two. This year, many. Quick trillium trivia: one of the alternate names for the plant is toadshade. LOVE that!

The Rock

Everyone on The Orchard Compound is sick right now, except for our five year old granddaughter and me. So, it was just the two of us and their dog Bella on our walk today. She had to stop and play on the same rock in the same place her dad did when he was her age. Many things have changed over the years, some things remain the same.

Spring Firewood

Took advantage of the nice weather this Easter weekend to harvest some of next season’s firewood. Our youngest grandchild is the same age her father was when we moved here 39 years ago. The tradition continues.