Sunshine, Snow, and Blossoms

Ahhh.....spring in the Pacific NW.  It's when my outdoor interests start to seriously conflict.  Do I go up to the mountain for a day of skiing?  But wait, there's wildflowers blooming in the eastern Gorge.  The nicer weather has me hankering to lace up my hiking boots once again.  However....ski season is going to be over soon.  I really should get in a few more days while the resort is still open.  Oh, what to do?

Sunny ski day!

A week ago last Sunday had me pondering these very questions.  It was supposed to be a sunny day on the mountain, and a day of spring skiing sounded wonderful.  But I'd also heard the fruit trees were blooming in the Hood River Valley.  Having missed the big bloom for the last few springs, I really wanted to see it this year.

Dean and Kathy make a cute couple

So I did what someone with multiple interests would do - and compromised.  I spent a fun morning on the slopes with my friends Dean and Kathy.  The skies were blue and the snow was soft.  I had a great time skiing from the resort's very top lift.

Dean riding Outer Limits

The views were so spectacular!  I could see the surrounding hills with foggy clouds hanging in the valleys between.

Foggy valleys below

By early afternoon, endless solar energy beaming down began turning the firm, slick snow into a soupy, sticky mess.  Time to quit skiing - and pay a visit to the Hood River Valley.

Mt. Hood and pear orchard

Yes, a trip home via the Hood River Valley is a bit longer than the standard direct route down highway 26.  But this time of year, the fabulous scenery from thousands of blooming fruit trees makes it well worth the extra minutes.

Blossom time!

The Hood River Valley is known for producing lots of fruit, specifically apples and pears.  It's one of the world's largest pear growing areas.

Found a pollinator

A drive down US Highway 35 is particularly scenic in spring when huge blooming orchards line the nearby hillsides.

Rows of trees

I started my quest for blossoms outside the tiny town of Parkdale.  It didn't take long for me to pass by a large field of pear trees in full flower mode.  Not only was I able to capture the full height of bloom, Mt. Hood anchored the nearby skyline.  What could be better?

Blossom macro

After several photo stops around Parkdale, I drove further down the valley towards the city of Hood River.  Although the trees at these lower elevations were starting to shed their petals, I still was able to capture some great shots of an orchard with perfect views of Mt. Adams down it's rows.

Mt Adams anchors this row

Oh it was a glorious afternoon!  Clear blue skies and acres of trees decked out in frilly white pear blossoms.

The Hood River Valley is gorgeous!

Only in Oregon - Where else can you ski all morning and tour blooming orchards on your way home!

(Have I told you how much I love living here?)

April Flowers

I'm sure everyone is getting tired of seeing my endless posts of white (especially those of you in the eastern US and Canada who are still getting snow).  So to brighten your day, here's a glimpse of what's blooming right now in Northwestern Oregon.

First rhodie bloom!

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a bright pink rhododendron flower bursting out of it's bud.  Time to get the camera!

Blossoms from neighbor's tree

One of the trees across the street was abloom in frilly pink blossoms.

More pinkness

Not sure exactly what these are (I told you I'm not a botanist) but I know what I like to photograph.

Our cherry trees are blooming

We have two tiny cherry trees in our backyard that give about a handful of cherries every summer.  But in the spring they sure produce a bumper crop of blossoms.

View over my backyard fence

This is by far my favorite springtime view.  It's over my backyard fence at our neighbor's flowering pink tree (sorry - again I have no clue the species).  The white blossoms are from our Asian pear tree.  The combination of white blossoms and pink flowers is simply gorgeous.  This sight never lasts long enough, so I try to enjoy it while I can.

Asian pear blossoms

And here's some of the white flowers from our Asian pear tree.

Tulip time!

Another great thing about spring is when the tulips bloom.  I love, love, love tulips!  South of Portland there's a huge tulip farm that is very popular to visit this time of year.  But I've been so busy with other outdoor activities I've yet to go.

More tulips

Luckily, we have a few pretty red tulips in our front flower bed that return every year.  So I get my tulip fix satisfied.

My rhodie bush in full bloom

But my most favorite spring flowers by far are the rhododendrons.  They grow in abundance here in the PNW, and by mid-April most of them in town are starting to bloom.

These are my faves

Two weeks after the first photo in this post was taken, our little rhodie bush erupted in lovely pink flowers.  Isn't it gorgeous?

So those of you who are still suffering under winter's icy grip, enjoy some colorful spring scenes on me.  And hang in there - spring is on it's way.  Really! 



Sharing with:  52 Photos Project. and Weekly Top Shot.

Suddenly Spring

Winters in the Pacific Northwest can be downright dreary.  No, we normally don't get the cold and snow like many northern climates, but the endless gray cloudy days get old.  Combine lack of sunshine, lots of rain, and overall grayness, and the months from November to February can seem long and gloomy indeed.

Our first daffodil!

But then, in early March, something wonderful happens.  First, the daffodils rear their sunny yellow heads out of the cold soil.  Then, bright purple crocuses arrive on the scene.

The neighbor's crocuses about to open

And...the next week all the flowering trees erupt in frilly pink blossoms.  BAM!  Before you know it, everything is in bloom.

Water droplet dangles from a daffodil

Spring really snuck up on me this year.  The week after I spotted our daffodils sprouting flowers, every tree in the neighborhood burst into color.  I swear it all happened overnight.

Raindrops bead on daffodil leaves

There's a flowering pear tree in our front yard.  The tree isn't anything special 11 months out of the year.  But in March it decorates itself with lovely white blooms and pink-tinged buds.

Our floweriing pear tree is in bloom

The neighbors on our cross street also have some nice flowering trees.  This past sunny Saturday morning, I ran over with my camera to capture morning light on the blooms.

More lovely blossoms

Right now these bright yellow flowering trees can be found all over town.  Not sure what they are called (not much of an arborist, sorry!) but I know what I like to photograph.

Bright yellow flowers brighten a neighbor's tree

Our next-door neighbors have a giant weeping willow tree, that dangles over the fence into our yard.

Blossoms cascade down our neighbor's weeping willow

It was chock-full of cute little white flowers. 

Blossom close-up

The flowers began dropping from the tree's branches, decorating the ground below.  Even lying on the sidewalk, they're mighty pretty.

Fallen blooms decorate the sidewalk

Remember the photo of the closed crocus flowers at the beginning of this post?  Well, later that day I was delighted to pass by and discover their petals had opened.  And they were indeed lovely.

The crocuses are open!

Spring in Portland is colorful and glorious.  Bursting onto the scene like a delightful surprise, it's our reward for enduring the long, dark, gray months of winter.


Sharing with:  Our World Tuesday.

A Bit of Color....

Finally, a post that's not about skiing!  (some of you must be breathing a sigh of relief).  With working all week, and skiing all weekend, I've neglected to notice what's been happening in my front yard the past couple of weeks.

The torrential rains of March have given way to an explosion of spring color.  Trees and flowers are blooming all over the place.  Our daffodils have pushed themselves up from beneath the soil and begun exhibiting cheery yellow blooms.

The flowering pear tree in our front yard is doing what its name implies - sprouting frilly white blossoms.

And delicate little purple and pink flowers are blooming beside our neighbor's fence.

With crummy weather forecast for the mountains (wind+rain=no skiing!), my daughter home on spring break, and my hubby finally back after three long weeks in China, I decided to stay put this weekend. Being home in the daylight, I finally noticed our now-colorful front yard.

Between rain showers, I had time to grab my camera and capture some of the spring's colorful floral display.

March was so drab and gray.  The Portland area received 7.75 inches of rain - in just this month!  When everything started blooming and greening up, it was most a welcome sight. 

 

It's a sure sign that spring is finally here!

Although I'll still be traveling up to the mountain to play in the snow, it's nice to see everything blooming again in town.  There isn't a more beautiful place than Portland in the spring.