"One of the most delightful things about a garden is the anticipation it brings."

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Just over the fence...

I've often wondered why the builders of our rambler style house set it so far back on the property. It makes for a large front yard, and a long and narrow backyard. Most of our garden space is in our front yard. So as I look out the kitchen window most of what I look out at is over our back fence. When I stand on our back deck my eye is drawn up and over it to the trees. We are lucky to live in a neighborhood at the top of a hill and having a school playground on the other side of our back fence leaves an open space to view the trees and mountains. At night it's pitch black once the school lights are out and we can see more stars than most people living in a suburban neighborhood can. In the early evenings we see flocks of birds flying overhead, sometimes it's just a lone Blue Heron that I hope won't spy the pond. When the skies are clear we have a view of Mt. Rainier. When it snows the trees are decorated in white. I enjoy this view year round, because it's always changing.
And now in Autumn we can see the leaves beginning to turn before they fall.

This is the view from the kitchen window right now. I've been watching these trees change over the past week. It makes washing dishes not such a bad job.

This tree looks like a flame bursting up from the ground. I don't know what type of tree it is, but have always noticed the columnar way it grows.

I think this is a Mountain Ash (Pyrus Aucuparia). If I'm wrong I'd love to know what it is. The birds have been in the trees enjoying it's fruit. It's just over the fence in the school yard. As the school has remodeled they have left many old trees and planted even more. I think that's why we see so many different types of birds here.

Some of the Southern Cascade mountain range is visible here. On a clear day we can see Mt. Rainier. Sadly these power lines were put up a couple of summers ago and kind of distract from the view.

Just past the large Cedar tree in our yard is another row of trees that are really changing now. Several summers ago some kids were shooting bottle rockets off and set one of the Pine trees on fire. Luckily it didn't catch the whole area on fire.


I feel so lucky to have such a beautiful ever changing back drop to our own backyard. The best part is we don't have to take care of it, we just get to enjoy it.
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41 comments:

  1. It's a beautiful view for sure. The colors are so vivid and I'd enjoy that mountain view. I think you are right on the Mountain ash. Mountain ashes don't grow here, or if they do they do not grow well. Too humid and hot. I once posted on them so that's the only way I know anything about them. I am trying to think of the columnar tree. Once I stop thinking of it I'm sure it will come like always. I can't get over how pretty the colors!

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  2. Catherine, Your view is wonderful...the colorful trees and those Southern Cascades Mountains in the wayback! Wonderful. How wonderful to have a enough darkness to see the stars...that is a treat! Could the columnar trees be Lombardy Poplars? gail

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  3. What beautiful fall color. Ours has just barely started and I keep thinking it is late this year. I really love this time of year.

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  4. Hi Catherine, You have an outstanding, ever-changing view from you kitchen window. Our last home backed up to the elementary school I had attended as a child. We could see the playground, school library and experimental garden. My kitchen window was up high and I could enjoy all the sights from the school just like you. It must be especially grand for you to see the mountains on a clear day. Thanks so much for sharing with me about your Nana playing the Maple Leaf rag for you. What a precious memory and how wonderful that she still plays up into her 80's. Hope you are having a good day.

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  5. I love all of the berries on the tree. It makes it so beautiful.
    What a wonderful tree the one you described as columnar is.It does look like spewing flames rising up.
    Is that snow on those mountains?
    The trees are starting to get so pretty here in the hills this week. Seemed like they have turned overnight.

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  6. Hello Catherine. What a stunning view! I wouldn't mind doing dishes at your sink either if I could enjoy that view. The flame colored tree is fascinating. If you ever find out what kind it is, let me know...

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  7. Thanks for sharing some fall color, our night temps in the teens last week have crispified the leaves of most trees before the could really start turning colors. I'm loving your new header picture - it shows enough of your garden to see that it's a garden, and not just a flower close-up, but it's not too busy, and with great light on the leaves . . . perfect!

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  8. What a lovely view Catherine. The trees are putting on a beautiful show of color. Isn't it getting cold there now?

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  9. You are lucky to have such beautiful views all around you! Our home is in a tightly fit suburban neighborhood. I get to look into my neighbors' yards and they into mine. No privacy. I envy you.

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  10. Hi Catherine, I understand why you like your view so much. I wouldn't mind having outside my backyard. I wonder isn't that tree you tink is a Mountain Ash a Sorbus? I clicket the picture to enlarge and I think it looks like a Sorbus. My Sorbus has wonderful white flowers in spring and red fruit just like this one and amazing colours at fall.

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  11. I'd call that wonderful tree "The Olympic Torch" - it's just ablaze! You have an extraordinary view and it is great to abut open space. I adore the bouquet of VB, cosmos and Cleome in your header pic. Garden flowers at their zenith! Now we head into the quiet season of rest and renewal.

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  12. I love the mountain views! I wish we one. The builder of our house situated ours the same as yours. We've got a big front yard and small backyard. The perenial garden is in the front too. I can't seem to figure out why they did it that way either. -Jackie

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  13. The view of the Southern Cascade mountain range is heart-stopping. You are surrounded by incredible beauty.

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  14. What a view to those mountains.

    Power lines now that's something I look forward to investigating in the winter how to paint out such things on photos.

    Catherine I left a response to you on my blog re Autism that you might be interested to check out, a link in my side bar.

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  15. Thanks for the view of the mountains!! Think of the power lines as a frame or a border to your view.
    Sure do like that golden foliage on that one tree....whatever it is.
    I look forward to not having so much light pollution so we can see the stars on a clear night.

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  16. What a beautiful state to live in. Mountains, evergreens, fall colors... you couldn't ask for more! You really scored with the mountain view by the way. ;-)

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  17. How lucky you are to have such beautiful "borrowed views!" I'm sure the snowy mountains are absolutely exquisite, but I love being able to experience them vicariously!

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  19. I didn't realize you could see the mountains from your house! Wow. It's too bad about the power lines, but it's still a beautiful view. The columnar tree has amazing color. How nice to have such wonderful views from your house.

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  20. Wow...that is spectacular! What a view. I can honestly say that I see NOTHING like that from ANY of my windows. I would take a small back yard for that view any day!

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  21. Wow, thanks for sharing your views with us! I saw the mountain first, and then the wires when you pointed them out. What a beautiful area you live in!

    Do you have to enlarge each photo separately, or were you able to change something somewhere that makes them all larger? I just spent some time trying to figure out a way to enlarge them in Picassa, but wasn't able to.

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  22. Gail - Thanks for the help on the tree id, I think you are right!

    Lona - Yes, there's some snow there. It's supposed to snow in the mountains this week, then it'll be even prettier.

    Becca - It's cooling down into the 50's in the day and 40's at night.

    Gittan - I looked up Sorbus and it's also called Mountain Ash here. So you're right! I didn't know it was called that.

    Joanne - Thanks so much for the information! I'm going to tell my sister about it, I wonder if her friends are aware of the possible link.

    Sue - I have to enlarge them separately. I'm sure there is a way to do it easier, but this is the only way I know. I can send you the instructions I was given if you want.

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  23. The way I have done it was to edit the html, changing the size to 640x480 px. If you have a different way, I'd like to know. I kind of gave up on enlarging photos, because they got grainy when I did it.

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  24. What beautiful views Catherine. I would love to have any of them, power lines and all. The one orangey colored tree is gorgeous.

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  25. Mountain ash is a confusing term - there are so many varieites, and in different genuses I think. We learned at the SAGBUTT Arboretum tour about European mountain ashes, which I think are Sorbus aucuparia, AKA Rowans. Wonder if that is what you see in your lovely view? Nice to have Rainier there, I grew up with it out my bedroom window (on the days it deigned to show its face) and now have a small slice of the Olympics to enjoy. Lucky us, eh? Happy Fall!

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  26. Whew, Catherine. I had to scroll quite a way down. People like you. :] With good reason, of course.

    Your view is really spectacular. The columnar tree in full-flame is like nothing I've ever seen. Just fabulous.

    I love your profile--loud rock music while you drive. Yep. Me too. My teenagers tell me to turn it down. LOL But anyway I am stupid and couldn't see your email address anywhere. [grace@gracepete.com] will work for me. At your convenience. Janet wants to know your photo sizing method too. She says she's doing the three right turns to accomplish it but wouldn't mind one left turn if this is all that is required. Love that.

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  27. Catherine, you have such a lovely view from your kitchen! I liked the idea of pitch dark night where you could see the stars in the sky.

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  28. I just finished reading Rob's post at Our French Garden on fall color and now I'm admiring your lovely photos.

    I'm a sucker for fall color. I'm waiting for the day a client asks for a one season fall garden and I can just go nuts!

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  29. If I could have a view like that, I would wash dishes all day long. The photos are beautiful and I especially like the cedar trees.

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  30. You are quite lucky but the most important is that you know it, hehe
    The columnar tree is really fabulous...
    I use to follow your posts and I feel you live in a beautiful place :))
    A big hug from far ;)

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  31. Can we swap kitchen windows ? :)

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  32. I just can't image what it would be like to look out my window and see a mountain. How wonderful to include something so spectacular in your daily view of the world. Thanks for sharing pics! And if you find out what is that splendid blazing spear of a tree, please let us know. :-D

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  33. You sure have a pretty view out your windows and doors. I am impressed. Those mountains take the cake. I bet you've gotten use to the lines and don't notice them. I think they come common place everywhere now.

    Now that orange-ish tree looks like it's on fire doesn't it?

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  34. That poplar (I'm guessing it's a poplar too) is really amazing. I've never seen one with quite so much orange. My city view is rather inert. It's all determined by the clouds.

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  35. What a great view! So much fun to have a backdrop like that. That flaming orange tree is so amazing. I've not see something like that before.

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  36. Haha, yes, that is the best part! And I wished the foliage stayed just a wee longer for us to enjoy. Have a great day, Catherine!

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  37. What a nice view. I agree....dishes aren't so bad if you have that to look at! I maybe need to look up a little when I wash dishes. Perhaps my view isn't so bad after all. I love fall and your kitchen window seems to capture it beautifully!

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  38. Wow..being able to see a mountain out your back window sounds wonderful to me!
    I love being able to stare at our lake our our Great Room windows, too...even in the winter when it ices over, it is pretty...but my favorite is when the sun hits it just right and the water glistens and twinkles.

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  39. You do have a great view around you. those mountains are gorgeous. Your flowers are stillvery nice to spite the rainy day.

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  40. Hello Catherine
    I've been wanting to explore your blog for a while now! What lovely views in a lovely neighbourhood! It makes such a diffence to have open spaces aroud one - and when they are framed by a view as well -and WOW what a view!
    Your Mountain Ash is in fact Sorbus a......; Pyrus is the pear family. I would say Sorbus heads my list of "If only" trees. I've never succeeded in germinating seed I imported or seen a tree in South Africa. As for your flame tree.... WOW (again!) Is it perhas a poplar (Aspen) of some kind??
    Regards - Jack

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  41. Thanks to everyone that helped me with my tree ids.
    I think the "flame tree" is some type of poplar.
    The Moutain Ash came up as both Sorbus and a part of the Pyrus (pear family) when I searched it online. I'm not that familiar with a lot of trees, so this has been educational for me!

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