Longest Day Dogwoods

Because this year is a leap year, the summer equinox (June 20th) came a day earlier than normal.

Sunday was not only Father's Day but also the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere. Being it was such an auspicious day, I went for a walk in the afternoon after the rain stopped. As I walked I noted that the dogwoods were still in bloom.

Interestingly enough, the "flowers" we admire on dogwoods aren't actually flowers at all. They are a special leaf (bract) that protects the true flower and only unfurls after that flower is formed. These colorful bracts have another purpose in attracting pollinators. For ease of writing, henceforth I'll refer to them as flowers.

Flowering Dogwoods are native to the East Coast area of North America but other varieties are found in China, Korea and Japan. Those I admired on my walk are flowering dogwoods and often hybrids cultivated for their beautiful and long lasting flowers.

This fine specimen is just across the street from our condo. I noticed its blooms in early May during my walks and it's the one that got me thinking about the longevity of the dogwood flowers.

As the white dogwood's blossoms age they sometimes become tinged with pink. Note there are only four petals instead of the usual five found on flowers. Maybe it's because these aren't true flowers but beautiful leaves instead.

I saw this red dogwood about three miles into my walk, not far from our Edmonds waterfront. If you look closely, you can see three of the four that were growing along the property line. The hydrangea in the foreground will burst into bloom before long. It also has long lasting blooms. I've seen some amazing hydrangeas already in full bloom.

This angle shows all four of the red dogwoods above, screened by the flowering hedge in the foreground.

I've read that the wood of the dogwood is hard, durable and crack resistant. It is still used for making custom golf clubs, spindles, forks and similar tools requiring special wood. I'm thinking of making a cane so will look for a choice peace of dogwood raw material.

Although dogwoods prefer partial or even full shade, I've noticed that many varieties thrive in full sun. Of course, full sun in our part of the country only occurs about 15% of the time. We are the cloudiest city in the country with 226 days of heavy cloud and another 82 days when clouds cover at least one-quarter of the sky. This according to the NOAA National Climactic Data Center. Humans might not like the clouds but the dogwood prefers that kind of weather.

This pink dogwood has a good combination of flowers and foliage. I also noted that it might have good raw material for making a cane. Although, I must admit the owner might feel differently.

This vacant lot is on Main Street, two blocks from the ferry terminal and just south of our post office. It has been vacant since we moved to Edmonds and has sported various odd sculptures and whimsical art displays. Last year on the Fourth of July, what must have been the family of the owner set up a BBQ inside the fence and had a party. Today after I left the post office I noticed this Holstein cow placidly gazing out at the passing scene. I decided that would be a good recipe for contentment in today's crazy world. Placid serenity is worth a lot. 

Edmonds Flag Day Walk

Today is Flag Day so thought I would keep an eye out for flags as I walked around Edmonds.

Because of the virus and social distancing, I try to walk on streets that are not so attractive to pedestrians. We live in what they call the "Edmonds bowl" with hills on three sides. On the fourth side is Puget Sound. The waterfront is about four blocks to our west but has lots of walkers so I don't often go that way.

To our north and northeast lies Lynnwood, to the east is Mountlake Terrace, to the southeast is Shoreline, and to the south is Woodway. If you're curious or don't know the local geography, Seattle is on the other side of Shoreline and Everett is north of Lynnwood. So no matter which way I walk away from the water, outbound is uphill, return is downhill.

Today I chose to walk southeast up the long slow hill about one and a half miles to Westgate and then up and down the smaller hills, north on 9th, thinking I would make my way to Caspers Street where I'd turn west down the hill to 3rd thence south through downtown to our place.

Just before sunset a few days ago.

Early this morning I replaced my usual American Flag with the POW/MIA Flag. According to the General Services Administration (GSA Bulletin FMR 2008-B6), this flag is flown on the following six days: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Flag Day, Independence Day, National POW/MIA Recognition Day (designated by Presidential Proclamation, historically, the third Friday of September), and Veterans Day. Today being Flag Day, I flew it as a reminder about our missing in action and prisoners of war.

Looking NE in this photo, a person would never think we were in the heart of Edmonds. The flat ground just beyond the outbuilding is part of the Edmonds Marsh, a wetlands preserve that extends about 150 yards to the left (south) of the building. The much larger portion of the Marsh extends to the west out of sight in this photo. The fruit trees, and beyond, the Alder, Maple and fir trees are on the western portion of two under-developed lots. On the eastern part of each of the lots is a single family residence facing Third Avenue, but the remainder of the lots show signs of once being gardens and orchards. Now they are prime real estate waiting for a buyer to develop them into condominiums. I hope that doesn't happen for a few years. 

Not far (1/4 mile +/-) beyond the trees on the right lies the Edmonds ferry terminal. Due north three blocks is Main Street with all its businesses. To the east and south are condos and apartment buildings with the occasional house scattered here and there. This marks the start of my walk today.

Two blocks away at 4th and Howell, I saw these two flags. The one in the foreground is flying every day but the one on the deck is flown only on holidays.

As I slogged my way up the hill toward Westgate, I found myself thinking of the current demonstrations and rallies for Black Lives Matter. This led me to reflect on my long-time friend Dave Z, deceased five years now. I wrote about him earlier in this blog HERE. He and others of our generation have lived through vast changes in America. Changes that have brought great progress in our society, but which still leave changes to be made.

As usual, the demonstrators want change to happen immediately. That seldom happens and meaningful change requires cultural adjustments that take time. As an example, in 1967, when I was assigned to duty in South Carolina, my wife and I were in violation of that state's miscegenation laws. Today, interracial marriage is not uncommon and most Americans approve. That's a huge change which took time, but change it did.

 Turning west on 9th at Westgate, I soon came upon our local cemetery.

As I've grown older, cemeteries remind me that, just as we are born and live our lives, so we must die, to complete the cycle. When I was young, like most younger people, I had an immortality complex. Our current battle with the corona virus pandemic should reinforce the idea that we all face death sooner or later.

I think it's important to remember that our neighbors in whichever cemetery we choose won't care if we wore the latest fashions, drove the best car or were the CEO or janitor of the company. Looking the cemetery in the eye, I've come to realize there are important parts of life that involve things like attitude, personal time and service to others.

A little north of the cemetery, I passed the two-mile mark and continued up and down the more gentle hills on 9th Avenue. At the three-mile mark, I decided to forego the longer route via Caspers Street and head on down the hill on Alder Street toward home.

 On holidays in Edmonds, some of the service organizations such as Kiwanis and Rotary place flags in specially drilled holes in the sidewalks throughout the business districts. This shot is looking north along 5th Avenue, a couple blocks south of Main Street.

From here, I turned down the hill on Walnut and walked the final two blocks to home. My Pacer app said I walked 3.67 miles in one hour, one minute and 33 seconds at a pace of 3.6 mph. I guess I didn't waste much time shooting photos.

It feels good to write a blog entry after a little more than six months away. It's the longest I've taken a break from the blog. I think part of the reason is the impact of the corona virus, but mostly it was inertia. I've also been studying Japanese on line which takes anywhere from 30 minutes to two hours per day. But maybe that's just an excuse since I studied today yet found time to write this.

I resolve to be more diligent in the future.

Yost Park

Yost Park is a small (48 acres) park in the heart of Edmonds, not far from our place. It has about 1 1/2 miles of trails and is not busy at this time of year. When I was there, there were three cars in the large parking lot. That day I took a walk in the park.

Nearest the road that leads to the large parking lot there is a tennis/pickle ball court. The day I was there, there were two players just getting organized.

Moving down the hill from the courts there is a small playground for children.

The pool is closed this time of year but in the summer months it enjoys good crowds. It is the only outdoor pool in Edmonds so is popular during the warm season.

 The trails range from a wide abandoned street that runs from the parking lot to the east. It is great for wheelchair and stroller users. Other trails seem to be pretty well maintained but some are steep and most are narrow.

 Shell Creek runs through the park down the hill from the east. One trail (Shell Creek Trail) wanders along and back and forth across the creek. Others circumnavigate the park or crisscross it at various points.

 There are several good bridges, although I noticed some with handrails that had been smashed by falling limbs or small trees. There is also a boardwalk that comprises part of the Shell Creek Trail.

In the early part (1902?) of the last century the Yost family dammed the creek and ran a pipe down to Edmonds, furnishing clean fresh water to the new town. Several times I saw remnants of the concrete dams and pools left over from the old water works.

It was interesting to explore the park in the fall. I'll go back to observe the changes brought by the other seasons.

Edmonds Kingston Ferry

Please join me on a sunny day, riding the ferry from Edmonds to Kingston.  

As you come down the hill toward the ferry terminal, the ferry traffic lines up on the right. There is one lane on the shoulder until it splits into two lanes about a quarter mile from Dayton Ave, just in front of the toll booths. Usually there is only one lane open but when traffic is heavy they open the curb lane (where I'm standing to take this photo) as well. During heavy travel days I've seen the line backed up all the way to West Gate, a little over two miles.

Here the two lanes feed across Dayton Avenue to the toll booths and parking lot. 

During busy times all the toll booths are usually open. The parking lot behind the booths (where
the white car is) holds enough cars to fill one of the two super ferries that serve this route.

This is the ticket booth for motorcycles and bicycles. The cycles load first and debark first.

Entrance for foot passengers.

These two ticket machines are on the right just inside the passenger entrance door. Most people use ORCA
Cards so these don't get much use.

This enclosed ramp leads from the ticket office to the drawbridge onto the ferry. You can just see the drawbridge
raised in the distance to the left of the ferry berth.

These turnstiles allow passengers using ORCA Cards or other digital fare holders to pass through.

Here the drawbridge is lowered onto the ferry upper deck.

Wheelhouse of the Walla Walla. The Spokane is the other Jumbo Class ferry on the Edmonds route. Each of them
can carry approx 2,000 passengers. The Walla Walla carries 188 vehicles, the Spokane 206.

Passenger seating areas like this are on both ends. Along the windows there are booths, many with tables.

The galley serves finger food, drinks, etc.

Mt Baker off to the north just before we sailed.

Temperature was about 42 degrees but the north wind plus apparent wind from our forward motion
made it cold out on the forward decks.

Approaching the Kingston terminal, our trip is almost finished, about 20 minutes after departing Edmonds.

Colors Around Town

When we returned from Japan last Friday, the difference in latitude really hit home. I first noticed the cold, then the short days and long nights. Guess I shouldn't have been surprised since Tokyo is on latitude 35.67, about midway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. Edmonds is on latitude 47.81, or 838 miles farther north than Tokyo.

With the dark and cold days here in Edmonds, I thought I'd walk around town and see what color I could find. Pleasantly surprised to find quite a few bright spots, I took too many photos and decided to share some with you. I'll test my blogging platform and see if they will publish all of them. If you don't like fall colors and flowers, better tune out now. ;-)

There were small trees and tall trees, green trees and multi-hued trees and even a cedar (family) tree with cones.

Many houses had nice flowers in their yards.

Some flowers were continuing to bloom even after their plant set seed pods.

I saw chrysanthemums and roses.

Roses with hips soon ready to make tea.

This hydrangea looked a little tired.

There were dahlias in a few yards.

Saw a couple of hardy fuchsias.

This lonely camellia bloom is a little out of season.

Prime dahlia specimens.

California poppies decorating our Washington grounds.

This eager Azalea seems to be anticipating its normal season by a few months.

Snapdragon begging to have a photo taken.