Empty Hop Trellis

One year ago this new hop trellis was empty of growth. By the end of harvest time, there was a crop, though not as abundant as older plantings. Today this year's vines are already grown to the top of the wires with at least two months before harvest.



The City Daily Photo theme for Theme Day July 1 is empty. Unfortunately you will find this blog empty of a theme post for tomorrow and any post for the next few days as Blogger's prescheduling feature is out of order and I will be out in the woods.



See you next week.

Getting ready for the Fourth

When I passed this stand the other day it was not open--don't even know if it was stocked yet. Fireworks sales are limited to one week before the 4th of July. In fact, Grandview is the only community in Yakima County which allow sale of them--other than those on the Yakama Indian Reservation. When I pass by later today I know the place will be surrounded with people.

In solidarity

City Daily Photo Bloggers around the world are today posting in solidarity with the people of Iran. A daily blogger from Teheran went missing about a week ago--I just learned on the Teheran 24 blog (from Meade, who is currently studying in Portland) that he has been released.

I chose these balloons from last year's Prosser Balloon Rally for the post because they all are primarily green. The theme of the day is green. People of Iran and around the world set loose green ballons on Friday. (Also explained in Meade's blog: "Sky is ours if they ban us express ourselves on the ground. ")

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Day Lily?

My friend Melissa sent me the tiny bulbs about three years ago in exchange for some iris rhizomes of colors she did not have in her garden. I planted them. I hadn't thought too much about them since--except when weeding recognizing those long thin leaves as something I had actually put there. This week I had a bloom!

Is it a day lily? or some other sort? I don't care, it is lovely. It closes at night and reopens during the day.

inland gulls

You would not expect to see seagulls in an inland valley, but we have them all the time.

Other Skywatch links can be found at the Skywatch blog.

on your left

I know I should expect it, but when I am walking on one of the pathways in the Yakima Valley, I am always startled when I hear "Passing" called out by a cyclist or jogger.

Cherry Season

Dipping into the archives I found this from last June. Cherry growers go to great lengths at this time of year to assure a good harvest. Cherries can't be harvested wet, so sometimes helicopters fly over to dry them. Wind machines are also used. In this case, plastic tenting:

Yakima Valley's Pelicans

I had a lucky day driving on I-82 along the Yakima River one day last week. My timing was just right to catch a good shot of some of the American White Pelicans who make the river their home from about Mrch through October each year. When I was commuting early in the morning daily, I rarely saw them, as they are usually in flight later in the morning.

blow wind blow

Fill 'er up!

Thank you for being there when needed.

Cloud shadows on the Horse Heaven Hills

The birds are extra.

See other skies at SkyWatch.

confused?

How purple is that!?!

Snipes Mountain Brewery

The dominant architectural feature of the Snipes Mountain Brewery, visible from both inside and outsie through huge windows, are the brewing vats. The local micro-brew is significant. We go for the food.

It's Flag Day.

I snapped this shot of the huge flag in Toppenish last July when the corn was high.

another " 'tis the season" shot

The season for car wash fundraisers.

Crossing SkyWatch

Do you walk? When you are walking do you look around, up, down? Walking last week I looked up when crossing the railroad tracks. The train had already passed, but I also looked left and right. Other SkyWatchers around the world can be found at the SkyWatch site.

construction proceeds

Walmart is going up in West Valley after settling considerable dispute from neighbors.

Does that make it a biker bar?

A quarter turn from taking the tutu shot, it looks like this small tavern caters to the motorcycle crowd, with ample parking for bikes. Rather than the Hell's Angels types, most of these bikers appear to be the white collar workers who hit the roads on two wheels on the weekend.

tutu

Downtown Yakima was awash in tutus Saturday night as the season of dance school recitals is underway. How exciting to perform at the historic Capitol Theatre! When my girls danced, it was a the local school auditorium.

crops and commerce

Again--tis the season. Fruit stands all over the Valley are beginning to have cherries to offer, though the harvest has not started locally yet, the cherries we were able to purchase this weekend where picked in Mattawa, where the season starts a little earlier.

PhotoHunt/SkyWatch--Advertising

I don't usually do a PhotoHunt on this blog, and I am late for that meme as well as for SkyWatch, but looking through files for another reason I came across this, which fits for both. It was taken in October 2007 as we came through Yakima on our way home from Wenatchee.

trains--crossings

Because of the tracks that cross Yakima north to south sometimes interfering with cross-town traffic, there is concern about emergency vehicles being delayed in their duties by a train. The debate goes on--someday a solution will be found.
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In other parts of the valley (this one is in Grandview) it seems like waiting for a train is a matter of timing. There may not be many trains a day, but they always seem to be crossing when you have to get somewhere and you are running late.

crops 7 -- corn

The hay of this post has been replaced with corn.

Hop to it

I find it fascinating how the hop vines wind around the twines on the trellis. Some of the eager beaver vines have grown almost to the top of the trellis already. I guess I am getting used to the hops being in our neighborhood.

Promise Fulfilled

In commenting on the post from a week ago Monday, Novel asked if we would see this one open later, too. Well, it is later, and here you go, Novel.

Ding! Ding!

Trolley rides leave from the Yakima Electric Railroad Museum on summer weekends.

Theme Day--Feet

Who can resist a walk in the creek on a trip into the forests in the mountains around the Yakima area?

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants