HEIRLOOM BEANS

 

HEIRLOOM RUNNER BEANS
known in the islands as "BOND BEANS" 
This strain originates from a long life grown and
saved each year by the well-known Bond family on 
ORCAS ISLAND, San Juan Archipelago, WA.

The Bond Bean, an heirloom runner bean (Phaseolus coccineus), known for decades on Orcas Island is now available for the first time this year at Gatehouse Seeds. 

The tender perennial plant is native to the mountains of Mexico and Central America. The Scarlet Runner Beans have scarlet flowers but this one with white flowers, reported by Sidney on Orcas, is tastier for dried beans for cooking.

They like full sun in rich soil with plenty of organic matter and average moisture. 

The seeds of this species are more tolerant of cold soil in the spring than other beans. 

The viability of the dried seed is 3-4 years. Harvest in 75 days.

"BOND BEANS "
runner type now growing
on Shaw Island 
from seeds generously shared 
by Sidney on Orcas.
They will soon be installed 
on the rack at the 
roadside shed,
Reefnet Bay Road,
 on Shaw Island, WA.

HAPPY EASTER :::: One Hundred Years Later

 

Avalanche Lillies
(Erythronium oregonum)
Growing wild, then and now, on Shaw Island.
Eleanor Bruns and her Easter bouquet 
1922 along Blind Bay, Shaw Island, WA.
The next year she was married at home
to her grade-school sweetheart.
Click the image to enlarge.

ONE OF MARCH ON SHAW ISLAND

 

"I am following nature without 
being able to grasp her.
I perhaps own having become 
a painter
                    to flowers."

Monet.

Photograph One March 2022
Shaw Island, San Juan Archipelago, WA.

Turkey Tail and Tommies for February

 "No winter lasts forever;

no spring skips its turn."

Hal Borlan (1900-1978)

Nature writer

American author.

Turkey Tail fungus and "Tommie" Crocus
15 February 2022
Shaw Island Gatehouse garden

February Fourteen 2022

Best wishes from the garden.

 

WE CLOSE THE DOOR––ON THE LAST DAY OF THE YEAR

...on historical high and historical low temperatures for USDA zones of 8 and 8b in the Pacific Northwest. 
      Soon we can peek under the insulating blanket of snow to see who is with us to journey into gardens of 2022. Thank you for the fun year along the roadside--come back again.

Old Western Red Cedar garden gate
Shaw Island, WA.
Mexican Bell Vine
Just before frost.

Ahhh, an open garden gate let us into 
 the "secret garden" world of Josephine Harford,
at the edge of Picnic Cove, Shaw Island, WA.
On any visit, guests learned to know
the scientific names.
Photograph 1974.

Rosa "Eddie's Jewel", hybridized in B.C. in 1962.
It is protected from the deer--
 a fragrant, colorful entry to the garden of
Angela Bryant. 
Ciscoe has been here to stay,
 and we know, he was exclaiming
"Oh, La La!!"

The entry gate in spring, under 
the big Willow welcoming us to the  
fine garden of Gwen Yansen, 
 Shaw Island, WA.

Inside the stone terrace
springs a new handcrafted iron trellis
reaching above the garden gate
laden with Clematis montana and a 
regal Tree Peony.
Photograph in 2016,
in the garden of Angel Bryant.

No gate was needed at this intimate deck garden,
on the north shore, looking out toward the Gulf Islands.
Do Oliver and Mattie kept the deer back with a set of stairs. 
A set of stairs with one very important sentry,
 the Margaret Cameron sculpted clay Grasshopper
with one little hitchhiker. (Tap to enlarge.)
Newly dyed wool fleece is drying along the bench,
 always a place of color, indoors and out.
Shaw Island, San Juan Archipelago, WA.
Anno 1992.

21 DECEMBER '21, the WINTER SOLSTICE

 

This finely crafted Jule Nisse
in the dark of winter is 
cozy in her waxed canvas cape 
and sheep fleece after her passage on the 
mailboat today from Pt. Townsend, WA.
Click to enlarge the image  
and view the fine stitching from 
Bestcoast Canvas Co.
12-12-21
Thank you for this winter delight, Leah.
Happy sails.

TO KNOW THE DARK

To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.

To know the dark, go dark. Go with sight,

and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings, 

and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.

Wendell Berry

IT'S THE HUMMINGBIRDS YELLING...

 

It's true,
they are yelling, more, more!
The Hummingbird pantry is open for dining.
with Mahonia x "Charity."
In the foreground is a young plant serving
 organic nectar, no refined sugar this day.
 Shaw Island in the mist of 
ONE DECEMBER TWENTY-ONE.