Fighting for the Light

[AlanLichty]

When I lived in Arizona and Utah growing plants required generous applications of water or the plant will shrivel up and die. In the Pacific NW the opposite is true - left alone plants compete for the light and you can almost imagine little elbows on the stems as they push each other aside to get just a few more rays of sunshine. The end result can be quite spectacular in the spring when the flowers are thoroughly mingled like this hedgerow that includes Wisteria and Fraser Photinia blooms.

C&C always welcome.

 

[Ben Egbert]

I recall how surprised I was on my first trip to Seattle in the early 60's at how tree would grow everywhere, including vacant lots. In Southern California, anything besides weeds had to be planted and well cared for.

 

[JimFox]

That is really nice Alan.

I remember from my time living in Washington on how it would just rain and rain. Even if it wasn't a heavy rain it would at least drizzle each day. I seem to recall that there literally could be months of nothing but clouds and no sun in sight.

 

[AlanLichty]

I recall how surprised I was on my first trip to Seattle in the early 60's at how tree would grow everywhere, including vacant lots. In Southern California, anything besides weeds had to be planted and well cared for.

I gave up on the concept of a "vacant lot" once I moved up here. I think in terms of "undeveloped lot" now since everything grows everywhere unless someone is whacking things back. If you want something to live you have to keep up a vigil to keep the completing plants at bay.

That is really nice Alan.

I remember from my time living in Washington on how it would just rain and rain. Even if it wasn't a heavy rain it would at least drizzle each day. I seem to recall that there literally could be months of nothing but clouds and no sun in sight.

Thanks Jim. You must not have been around during July - early September. We can go weeks without seeing a cloud anywhere during the SW monsoon season and typically have little rain at all. We do however average around 36"/year in the lowlands and far more at altitude during the rest of the year. The Portland/Vancouver area does get more breaks in the cloud cover in mid winter than the Puget Sound area.

 

[Alisa]

Beautiful!!

 

[Jameel Hyder]

Nice set of complementary colors in this.

 

[Douglas Sherman]

Lovely, Alan.

 

[Eric Gofreed]

When I lived in Arizona and Utah growing plants required generous applications of water or the plant will shrivel up and die. In the Pacific NW the opposite is true - left alone plants compete for the light and you can almost imagine little elbows on the stems as they push each other aside to get just a few more rays of sunshine. The end result can be quite spectacular in the spring when the flowers are thoroughly mingled like this hedgerow that includes Wisteria and Fraser Photinia blooms.

View attachment 38993

C&C always welcome.

Gorgeous colors, composition and all, Alan