Most people these days seem to accept that Climate Change/Global Warming is, in fact, a real thing. Even concerned citizens, unless they live on a tiny island in the South Pacific or in the shadow of a glacier, have a hard time picturing the actual effects of Climate Change.
For me the results are right out in the backyard. The last two years have been hard ones here in the Pacific Northwest. There have been stretches of extremely hot and extremely cold weather and the rain the last few years has lasted forever. Although this could just be a natural flux in the weather patterns plants in the garden are starting to show signs of this new weather trend.
Many reliable, even hard to kill plants are dying or just struggling along. Some examples are: Phormium (New Zealand Flax,) yes, only marginally hardy any time, but for the most part most of the grand Phormiums in the Seattle area are now gone. In my own yard I have lost both my Evergreen Clematis (Clematis armandii,) these were large plants that covered the entire backside of my deck. Also, the hedge of Wax Myrtle (Myrica californica,) are really showing signs of stress, with lots of brown leaves and dying branches.
As a gardener it is always disappointing to lose plants, but it is especially difficult losing tried and true, common plants, to the harsh weather. Does this mean we will need to start re-thinking our garden plans? Will our native plants have to be ousted to make way for new, hardier "native" plants?
Monday, June 13, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Summer starts with...
The first best weekend in Seattle, started with a trip on Saturday to El Camion, a taco truck in Ballard (just off 15th, in the Mud Bay parking lot.) We got yummy fish tacos and Mexican Coke (with real sugar.)
Saturday we went to see the U2 360 tour, with tickets we bought 2 years ago. The original tour was canceled when Bono had to have back surgery. The wait was totally worth it. What a spectacle! Supposedly, this is the largest touring show ever, it takes 100 semi trucks to move it from place to place (I am still wondering if those trucks are bio-diesel or not, since U2 seems so environmentally concerned.)
The show was amazing! They really deliver. So often you here about big bands phoning it in, because people are willing to pay anything just to say they went to see them. The show really was incredible, it's hard to describe in words and blurry cell phone photos.
The fun continued on Sunday with a hike up to the Lime Kiln in Granite Falls. We left late and got there about 11:30 and there were several other cars on the trail. We did meet several other folks on the trail and one couple really freaked out Tim Tim and he managed to get out of his harness, but he came right back as soon as the people continued up the trail.
The weather was perfect, maybe a little too warm, at least out in the sun. There was one area where there has been a slide in the recent past that was a little tricky to navigate, especially with a dog hooked to your waistbelt. The lime kiln itself was really interesting, it's strange to think there was a thriving town out there in the middle of nowhere, and now you can only get there on a foot path.
Saturday we went to see the U2 360 tour, with tickets we bought 2 years ago. The original tour was canceled when Bono had to have back surgery. The wait was totally worth it. What a spectacle! Supposedly, this is the largest touring show ever, it takes 100 semi trucks to move it from place to place (I am still wondering if those trucks are bio-diesel or not, since U2 seems so environmentally concerned.)
The show was amazing! They really deliver. So often you here about big bands phoning it in, because people are willing to pay anything just to say they went to see them. The show really was incredible, it's hard to describe in words and blurry cell phone photos.
The fun continued on Sunday with a hike up to the Lime Kiln in Granite Falls. We left late and got there about 11:30 and there were several other cars on the trail. We did meet several other folks on the trail and one couple really freaked out Tim Tim and he managed to get out of his harness, but he came right back as soon as the people continued up the trail.
The weather was perfect, maybe a little too warm, at least out in the sun. There was one area where there has been a slide in the recent past that was a little tricky to navigate, especially with a dog hooked to your waistbelt. The lime kiln itself was really interesting, it's strange to think there was a thriving town out there in the middle of nowhere, and now you can only get there on a foot path.
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