<p>Out and about in the garden and what to my wondering eyes should appear …</p>

<p>Sunday, another gloomy day this spring/summer, found us in Seattle checking out the <a href="http://inballard.com/detail.php?id=hirammchittendenlocks">Hiram M. Chittenden (Ballard) locks</a> and the neighboring <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_S._English,_Jr.,_Botanical_Gardens">Carl S. English, Jr botanic gardens</a>.</p>

<p>Our land – one of the primary reasons we moved – slowly creeps towards summer.</p>

<p>There’s been a lot of talk about the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7312358.stm">demise</a> of the honey bee, but we’re fortunate to have a swarming yard.</p>

<p>On Monday, we ventured off-island to see the tulips in bloom at the <a href="http://tulipfestival.org">Skagit County Tulip Festival</a>. We took the “whoa-boat” (daughter speak for ferry) to Seattle and drove up to Mt Vernon where we met my uncle. We drove together to the <a href="http://www.tulips.com/">RoozenGaarde</a> display garden skeptical about the weather since reports were calling for storms starting mid-morning.</p>

<p>We’re finally seeing the signs of spring after a rather late delay. The rhodys are beginning to open and the hellebores are basking in the sunlight.</p>