Lawson Gardens

Moscow and Pullman, despite their small size, are the proud supporters of many beautiful parks.  While I don't have actual data, I expect that our per-capita acreage of parks is better than that of most small- and medium-sized cities.  Lawson Gardens is unique in the area in that it is a formal garden park, complete with a rose bed, xeriscape exhibition garden, native plant garden, reflection pool, and gazebo.  The flowers were in full bloom for our visit, and very pretty!

Oh, Palouse!

How I love thee, especially in the early summer (which this year was July).  Even though I know Palouse Prairie is one of the most endangered ecosystems on the planet, I still love the way the wheat looks when it is tall and green.  I love the way the wheat smells and the way it moves when the wind is blowing.   I also really respect all of the farmers (and there are some) who are practicing sustainable practices to preserve the land for their children and grandchildren to farm.  I will have some pictures of native Palouse Prairie in a future post, because there is beauty in that, as well.

 

Echoes of generations past at the old Cordelia church near Moscow.

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Can you hear the echo of schoolchildren, long grown, in this old school?

 

Summer Salads

I have a lettuce problem.  Which is to say, I once again planted too much lettuce all at the same time and thus am overflowing in lettuce bounty.  This year, the lettuce is Mesclun mix and "Flashy-back Trout" romaine from Territorial Seed Co.  I will donate some lettuce to one of my favorite non-profits, Backyard Harvest, which I will write more about in an upcoming blog post.  But for now, we are going to be eating a lot of salads.  Tonight will be a Greek-type salad with Kalamata olives, locally made feta (from Brush Creek Creamery), and dried cranberries.  In addition, I'll top it off with "secret salmon" from the Fish Folks.  Secret salmon are little chunks of salmon cut off from the ends of filets.  It's a deal and it tastes great!

Tomatoes are looking good!

My lettuce runneth over.  Beans are still climbing though.

Potatoes look good.  Basil, not so much.

Lettuce harvest!

Strawberries!

Last year none of these babies actually made it into the house; they were all consumed in the garden.  But this morning, strawberries for breakkie!