Decorating with Mother Nature

14 years ago

We're back in Canada (altho not home yet) after seeing the coasts in WA and OR. Saw lots of new things and enjoyed ourselves. Unfortunately I didn't find lots of dish treasures this trip - I didn't see much I wanted and prices seemed high at the thrift stores we went to. Got some good bargains at a yard sale but mostly 'crafty' stuff, not tableware. I haven't taken pics of anything I bot yet but will take and post some later.

Here's a not very good pic of a beach with the waves rolling in. The waves are totally awesome on the coast of Oregon and I don't say that lightly but not easy (for me) to get a pic showing them! We walked many beaches this trip and found a few agates and interesting rocks which I will decorate with and some common blue mussel shells I'll use for a mirror frame with other shells I have.

This is what we saw this morning thru the mountains before we got back to Canada! It was such a surprise to see snow which had obviously just fallen overnight. It was very pretty but hope it's the last we see til late fall.

The trip was great overall except the weather could have been better as it was often rainy and/or strong winds. I don't think from the comments by residents that this was normal weather for this time of year.

We were not connected to internet much as we stayed mostly in state parks which don't have WiFi. We expected this as we learned before we left that the cell ph0ne system we use everywhere in Canada would be very expensive to use in the US. We liked the state parks tho so only stayed in a couple of private RV parks where there is WiFi. I survived internet withdrawal! LOL

Planning on being home tomorrow evening with a mountain of laundry to do! But I'm looking forward to working in my g@rden and maybe even doing a tablescape eventually when I get organized. AND of course trying to catch up with all your threads I've missed.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

jeannespines
14 years ago
Sounds WONDERFUL! What an exciting adventure...to be standing at the ocean in WA & OR! Sounds like you brought home some really GOOD things from the beaches! Enjoy your homecoming! Jeanne S.
Purplemoon
14 years ago
What gorgeous photos. I feel an attack of the Greenie Monster coming! I want to visit Oregon more than any place on earth, but guess that is just going to be a dream since I can't travel. sigh. (my daughter goes twice a year as her in-laws have a huge cabin on a lake!)

Sorry your treasure shopping wasn't as good as you hoped.
But rocks and agates sound pretty darn good to me. I'm looking forward to seeing what you found at the yard sale!

hugs, Karen
Related Discussions
"Free" accessories from Mother Nature...
Q
Comments (9)
Sueb20, I love bittersweet and the way you've styled it. The color and texture combinations in the second shot are lovely. My sister's in-laws used to own an apartment house that had bittersweet climbing the fire escape. That was our "source" until they recently sold the building. I liked using branches & greenery from the yard for decor. My DD made a wreath of fallen acorns for her front door this year. Will try to snap some pics to share.
...See More
OT (a bit) - Mother Nature reminds me (for Debra especially)
Q
Comments (7)
Oklahoma is plagued by many pests. For instance I have lost almost all of my roses over the years due to the Rose Rosette virus. Lost another one last year as a matter of fact. Now here comes my AH HA! moment as related to the topic at hand. I read further yesterday about the mite that carries the virus of the Echinacea (as opposed to the Aster Yellows virus which is carried by leafhoppers not mites). I found it was the same Eriophyid mite which carries the RRV (rose rosette virus) that has decimated my roses. This Echinacea will immediately go into a trash bag for disposal. Now that it has the virus any uninfected mites that follow will pick it up and spread the virus even further around the neighborhood. I'm sorry to loose the Echinacea, but as a sad side note, for me it was interesting to find out this new bit of information.......Thanks for everyone's comment. It's a shame Debra, because it's such a good combination for those that can grow it....................Maryl
...See More
Thank you, Mother Nature, for procrastinating!
Q
Comments (30)
deannatoby I'm in central Oklahoma & we are close to the northern limits of their hardiness range. Cross the border from Oklahoma to Kansas and you are really at the limits of their range. Usually they do fine but if conditions are such that an arctic deadly freeze comes after a warm fall with no gradual hardening off period, they can suffer damage. In my whole life I only remember that one time they died all the way to the ground and some died completely. In Kansas, close to the southern border, that happens more often so you can grow one for several years and then, wham, one bad winter can do it in. My sister who lives in Wellington close to the S. border gave up on them as unreliable. Here its one of the most common shrubs around, seems like every yard, park and median has them because they are so drought hardy, do so well in intense heat and have such a long bloom period + the fall color. Its kind of hard to believe they actually die because if you've ever tried to get rid of one, you know how tenaciously the roots persist. I've been trying to get rid of one for 4 years now and I'm still dealing with root suckers. When you cut a large one down you often end up with a whole lawn full of suckers.
...See More
Mother Nature had different plans for me
Q
Comments (18)
Love your canna trolly popmama! That was a very smart thing to make! I wasn't aware that canna's could be overwintered in the garage. I thought that was too cold. They are sun lovers too, aren't they? Popmama, I feel like my neighbors must think I am crazy. They must wonder how I can spend so much time in the front garden (which is getting bigger) and wonder how I could possibly be taking pictures (again) of plants! I think you are very dedicated to your canna's and I understand perfectly your moving them in and out of the garage! Nicholsworth, I just noticed Hush Puppie beginning to sprout in my garage. (I had a talking to it. I said "what are you thinking!!!! It's freezing outside! Stop growing!" In regards to your hosta that are showing signs of life, I would hold back on watering unless you know for sure they are dry. Some of mine have several inches of growth, and I have not watered any one of them! Nicholsworth, that is quite a limb that fell. I am glad you had minimal damage. Nicholsworth, I don't know what to say about your canna and elephant ears showing life. My mother-in-law used to say "where there is a will, there is a way." I really didn't like her saying it at the time. I am sure you will find a way to deal with your plants. My elephant ears were bare rooted. I hope they are not awake as yet. I had better go and check . . .
...See More
plainjane425
14 years ago
Glad to hear you had a wonderful and safe trip.
It's nice to hear you were able to travel through so many nice places. I love traveling and seeing different parts of the country and your trip gets me 'antsy' to go! lol
The beach photo is beautiful...as well as the Snowy scene...uggg I hope you're done with it up there.

jane
excessfroufrou
14 years ago
Those are beautiful pics, I would love to visit both places. But you can keep the snow for now. I hope we make to retirement so we can travel with our camper on longer trips. Sounds like a fun trip.
Frou
luvstocraft
14 years ago
Such pretty pictures! I'm not surprised about the snow--both Punk in Montana and Belle in Oregon have both told me they are still getting snow. Belle says Oregon weather is more like February than May!

I agree that Oregon is so gorgeous! And many times the trees are so thick that you don't even realize the beach is really close by! Hope to get back up there again some year.

Glad you had a safe trip, and know you will enjoy being home again. Will watch for pics of your goodies.

Luvs
jeannespines
14 years ago
Ahhh, makes me want to visit OR, too, PM, Jane & luvs (sounds beautiful!)...and I failed to mention that your pics are GREAT, LG! I felt like I was in our MTHome looking out the windshield at those snowy pines on your way home!
Jeanne S.
luckygal
Original Author
14 years ago
I wish everyone who hasn't seen the west coast of Oregon could. My pic does not do the waves justice at all. They are huge and really quite scary. We went to a platform in one of the historical sites and I tried to get a pic but couldn't quite time it correctly. The waves are maybe up to 20' tall and noisy. One nice state park was only a one nighter because I could hear the waves pounding the shore all night.

Weather since we returned to Canada has been sun, rain, but not overly warm but fortunately no snow. Eastern Washington mountains are higher elevation than we are so I guess snow is more likely there. Great gardening weather here and it's a good thing because I bought 15 big perennials on the way home and am planting them. We have few good nurseries here so I pick up plants everywhere I can. Before I plant I have to move other plants and weed! So that's what I'm doing and will be doing for awhile. Of course there's yard sales tomorrow so hope to find some goodies.
valleymagpie
14 years ago
Luckygal,

So glad you loved Oregon. I don't live on the coast but in the woodsy interior which is also gorgeous. What a great vacation, and doubly nice that the weather is good for gardening--we're just getting out into the garden here, too.

Karen,
Don't give up! I know how much you want to see our beautiful state. It may not be as impossible as you think--put all your resources into it and you may find a way to do it--where there's a will...believe me, when you get here, you'll find it therapeutic.

- Magpie
kathleen_li
14 years ago
Beautiful! I heard Wisc had 3 in of snow last night!
luckygal
Original Author
14 years ago
Magpie, we really enjoyed the coast of your lovely state but also drove a different route home so did see some of the interior. Unfortunately by then we no longer had time to browse around so just enjoyed the view as we drove.

Kathleen, there has been snow in many places altho we've been lucky here. A bit north of here when we went yard saling on Saturday they had a couple of inches of white stuff on the north sides of their roofs altho all thawed on the ground. Not really unusual for May in northern or mountainous regions.

Decorating with Mother Nature

Comments (10)

jeannespines

Purplemoon

Related Discussions

plainjane425

excessfroufrou

luvstocraft

jeannespines

luckygal
Original Author

valleymagpie

kathleen_li

luckygal
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Decorating with Mother Nature

Comments (10)

Related Discussions

luckygalOriginal Author

luckygalOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

luckygal
Original Author

luckygal
Original Author