Enough taking pictures from the moving car. Time to get to this park that my pal Vicki told me about. Although I'd been to the much larger Clark's Creek Park nearby, Decoursey was a new experience for me. Nice parking lot, lawns, picnic areas, sports courts, big toy, park stuff. Rhododendrons still look exotic and wonderful to me no matter how common and gaudy they may be here.
Spring brings out some of the brightest colors in the paint box!
And some more subtle ones as well.
One of the nicest features of the park, in my opinion, is the trail around a little lake and traveling by part of a creek.
How wonderful it would be to live across the creek from the park!
Hard choice, enclosure of your back garden for privacy or view of the creek and park beyond.
Having a watch cow must be a compromise that works for these folks.
Catching my nose before my eye was the scent of this Rosa rugosa.
One of the few roses that would grow in my Alaska garden, we called them Sitka roses for some reason. Perhaps they were brought to Sitka, the former capital of Russian America, by the Russian people and were propagated from those original bushes. It's a fun theory. (You'll recall that the U.S. bought Alaska from the Russian Empire in 1867 for 7.2 million dollars.)
There were some duck doing fun duck things on the lake. Something was jumping out of the water repeatedly and I didn't know if the fish were jumping or frogs were dancing around.
Part of the lake was covered with downy white fluff courtesy of the cottonwood trees and the maturing willow blossoms. It makes it hard to see momma duck and all of her ducklings which were adorable. This drake was very protective and chased off other ducks that came too close to the brood.
Spring is in full swing now and the unusual warmth (85 F) felt wonderful. Glad I took some time to soak it in before the cold rains started again just a couple days later.
As the sun got lower in the sky, it was time to head home for the night.
What are those trees growing in front of the house? At first I thought it was a vine on an arbor until I looked closer.
ReplyDeleteOrnamental cherries. Pretty double pink flowers in the spring.
DeleteWhat a lovely place, Peter! And practically in our backyard. I should check out this park, as well as Clark's Creek Park. Have you ever been to the Meeker Mansion? I should do that some day too.
ReplyDeleteI've wanted to visit the Meeker Mansion but have never done it. Silly really since I live so close.
DeleteThanks for the walk! The water looks so tranquil.
ReplyDeleteAlways fun to have you along!
DeleteI can't believe you haven't been there, because the first year Casey was here we had picnic in the park at that location. I guess that was before you were hired. Lovely blog post.
ReplyDeleteThose trees out in front of the house are well-maintained Weeping Cherries, they have a nice showing of color in the early Spring.
I think they are, anyway, I looked closer and may be wrong. I just remember the color, but I could be thinking about the azaleas. I drive by this house all the time, but am doubting my recollection.
DeleteThe choir never did anything for the picnic so I didn't go until Soul Purpose which happened a year or two after Casey got there. You're right those are cherries!
DeleteA great park to relax and and take all this beauty in. I could see myself living across from it, especially with the protection of a watch cow. You crack me up Peter.
ReplyDeleteIt might be a little odd having random strangers looking at your back yard as they walk through the park. Sort of takes away any semblance of privacy.
DeleteThat looks like a really nice place!
ReplyDeleteIt was a pretty place for an afternoon stroll!
DeleteWhile I love having a park at the end of our block I would love it even more if there were a lake or stream like this...
ReplyDeleteThat would be sweet! The water and the wildlife it attracts adds so much to the park.
DeleteLooks like a magical stroll through the park. I love the guard cow. I think that's the perfect compromise. We are really lucky to have a huge park and walkway like that right by our house. It's magical!
ReplyDeleteVery lucky for you indeed! There is a nice park close to our house as well but it's very much a city park and doesn't seem at all like walking in nature. On the positive side, there is a conservatory there which has great displays year round.
DeleteView of the creek wins, it looks so serene!
ReplyDeleteIt would be a beautiful view indeed!
DeleteA lovely place for a walk.
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
DeleteLovely photos - I particularly like the ones of the ducks with the interesting water reflections. Rhododendrons always appear exotic to me too because I cannot grow them on my soil - they like acidic and I have alkaline.
ReplyDeleteOur soil in this part of the state is acidic so acid loving plants grow with abandon here.
DeleteThank you for the superb photos, Peter. So serene, and at the golden hour besides. Very blessed to live there, to visit, and to share with you. Yes, Phillip, the trees look like cherries from an east coast perspective at least. There are several varieties around here that leaf out so mightily that you need a machete to pierce the view through them.
ReplyDeleteGlad you liked the pictures and came along on this little stroll with me. You're right, those trees are cherries!
DeleteI DID enjoy "coming along"! There's nothing quite as relaxing to me as water....especially when it reflects the beauty of the shoreline.
ReplyDeleteSo glad to have such wonderful company. I also find watching water very relaxing!
DeleteIt looks like a very peaceful place to spend an afternoon. And we who cannot grow rhododendrons would be impressed by their beauty, no matter how gaudy they might appear to those who live with them.
ReplyDeleteBecause this is an area where they grow easily, builders often plant small plants destined to become huge under windows as foundation plantings in new developments. They give quick greenery and nice blooms. Unfortunately, most people are then stuck with having to trim the plant back each year or live behind a curtain of rhododendron trunks and evergreen foliage that keeps all light from coming through the window. This is slowly changing. They are also used here in lots of municipal/industrial plantings so some varieties are shunned by tasteful gardeners. Thank goodness I'm not one of those.
DeleteTom grew up in Puyallup but he has no idea where these parks are. I guess we'd better go find them!
ReplyDeleteThey're just off Pioneer, the same road that goes by Vassey and Watsons nurseries! Decoursey is very close to the corner of Pioneer and Fruitland. They're calling you!
DeleteGorgeous flowers! And I like the watch cow -- wonder if my husband would mind if I got one for our yard?
ReplyDeleteDon't ask him, just get one and see if he notices. If so you can say something like "Oh honey, that's been there for ages. Are you just noticing it now?"
DeleteNotice in the last photo, the ducks are swimming towards you? Maybe they're hoping for a little snack. :) What a beautiful place on a beautiful day.
ReplyDeleteIt was a sweet way to end the gorgeous day!
Delete