Dress for Rain and Walk in Beauty

Two weeks of rain nurtures lupine forests. Growing so fast that you can almost see them, the steady moisture really gives the lupine a boost. The overcast skies and/or rain allow the colors to show in full saturation. I love the rain and don't really mind the gray skies. I guess that is why I love Seattle.

This is the time to get out and walk the neighborhoods. The climate here is such that you can grow almost anything and Seattle gardeners love the challenge. There are lots of Windmill Palms now and olive trees and I have even seen a banana tree in the Magnolia neighborhood. The water nearby moderates the temperatures such that figs are becoming commonplace.

Roses are glorious as long as you plant varieties that are not prone to black spot and mildew. As the summer warms up, the herbs come into full fragrant flower. Lavender, Rosemary, Marjoram, and Bay grow like weeds. Tomatoes and Basil can be more of a challenge until the heat of July.