Category: flora

Three Things Thursday

Once again it’s time for the blog challenge Three Things Thursday, the purpose of which is to “share three things from the previous week that made you smile or laugh or appreciate the awesome of your life.”

Spring in Tacoma, WA

The record-breaking warm temperatures we had a few days back induced an early spring. Early-blooming trees, shrubs, and flowers are on display all over.

Here are a few examples. Once again, thanks to my husband and his telephoto lens for these photos.

1. Rhododendron

rhododendron

 

This is the Washington State Flower. Soon these will be abloom in fantastic colors everywhere. This light-colored one seems to be one of the earliest.

2. Daffodil

Daffodil

I never get tired of these, probably because they’re one of the first truly colorful displays each spring.

3. Salmonberry ?

salmonberry

We think this might be salmonberry, but we’re not sure. Do you know what it is?

Bonus: Some Kind of Weed

weed

We’re also not sure what this is, but it’s just too interesting to leave out.

Since we’re new to the area, there’s a lot we don’t know about the local flora. If you have more information about any of these plants, please let us know in the comments.

Happy spring!

State Flower: Rhodendrom

rhododendron

 

Here’s what the Washington State website has to say about the official state flower:

State Flower
Coast Rhododendron
In 1892, before they had the right to vote, Washington women selected the coast rhododendron as the state flower. They wanted an official flower to enter in a floral exhibit at the 1893 World’s Fair in Chicago. Six flowers were considered, but the final decision was narrowed to clover and the “rhodie,” and voting booths were set up for ladies throughout the state. When the ballots were counted, the rhododendron had been chosen as the Washington state flower. In 1959, the Legislature designated the native species, Rhododendron macrophyllum, as the official flower of the state of Washington.

These flowers are gorgeous, with their huge blooms. Colors include pale pink, magenta, red, salmon, and violet, with different varieties blooming at slightly different times.

Rhododendron bushes are nearly ubiquitous in landscaping around here—so much so that lots of people say they’re sick of seeing them. But I’m still enough of a newcomer that I love to see these bursts of color all over during the spring.