This morning, after reveling in a gorgeous sunrise accompanied by the dawn chorus, we caught an early ferry to Whidbey Island. Fabulously clear day, not hot, just blue skies and breeze. First stop was Bayview Nursery to pick up our tickets for the island garden tour. Adjacent to the nursery, which is small but charming, the local Farmer’s Market was about to open. In search of cappucino, we stopped and chatted with a number of the vendors, acquiring handmade chocolate, scallion and cheddar scones and apple raisin pizza along the way. Oh, dear.
We then toured four local gardens, which were honestly a bit of a mixed bag. We most enjoyed The Farmhouse, a B & B with sweeping views of Puget Sound and the Olympics. The owner was delighted we were taking photos intended for future publication and gave us full permission and property release, even making sure D got into the roped off areas. He and his wife have spent a few decades building the garden into a cute and whimsical place with surprises around every corner. A bit too cute for our tastes but well done and very popular with the other people touring. Lots of painted birdhouses, china pots and cups, reclaimed and reused items incorporated into the grounds. Lovely beds of poppies and foxglove. Here’s a little mosaic from The Farmhouse gardens:
Lunch in the also cute, but in a good way, town of Langley, overlooking the water, where we finally got coffee and some really outstanding whole wheat pesto pizza. Then a quick stop by Meerkirk Gardens, and we were in time for the 2:30 ferry home so we could nap in our own, and favorite, garden.
The badminton tourney has resumed. Current score: D: 6 matches G: 5 matches
Meanwhile, nest building is in full force. A few of our darling female robins have taken to digging up little bits of D’s lawn. Whoops. I told him I think they need the mud for their nests. Tonight I took the top of one of the unused small bird baths, mixed up some dirt, water and dried grasses and left it for them near where they have been digging the lawn. I hope they can use it!
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