Bonhoeffer Botanical Gardens

We met Jairul at the entrance to the Bonhoeffer Botanical Gardens outside of Stanwood; she has permission to be on this private property with her guests. It was a garden created in 2002 without permits with trails through a stream & its adjacent wetlands; all the work appears to be within critical areas or their buffer. It has not been able to get permits in its current configuration & likely never will without extensive modifications to reduce impacts to critical areas as well as provide mitigation for the current impacts. The lack of maintenance has taken a toll on the gardens which are reverting back to a more natural state. I met Jairul about 17 years ago through the Snohomish County Mycological Society, i. e., mushroom club, which she was president of at the time.

The approximately 3/4 mile trail is too close to stream & wetlands.

Interpretive signs had a lot of information.

But plant signs only had name & QR codes that were too close together to easily get info; plants were frequently missing.

Jairul at Kiosk #3.

Placement of glass art above information panel is great!

However, they should not be displayed in middle of stream; too much unnecessary impact.

Apparently History Farm now gone; not sure why property owner removed it.

As we were leaving, we saw a kettle of Turkey Vultures circling overhead. It felt like Mother Nature's  commentary on the state of the botanical gardens & farm.

While having breakfast with Lani a couple days ago, she told us about The Store Grocery in Anacortes; Kai was not aware of it even though it is only about 10 minutes from his house. She raved about the muffins, which she said were like cakes! We had to try them out so we went there for breakfast this morning since they also have a deli that serves breakfasts, sandwiches, wraps, & salads. We also bought some muffins to take to Bruce & Bea's later in the evening for dessert.

So many choices!

(Clockwise from top left) Cranberry Cream, Turtle (pecans, chocolate, caramel), Fresh Peach, Blueberry Lemonade, White Chocolate Raspberry, & High Energy Bran (dates, walnuts, carrots, zucchini, raisins).

This was the sign on back of bathroom door.

We stopped by the SeaBear Smokehouse so I could pick up some omiyage. They have several different types of fresh as well as cured salmon products as well as items from their cherry orchard in eastern Washington. We also met Ella who used to live in Hawaiʻi. Her husband was stationed at Schofield Barracks & their son (who still lives in Hawaiʻi) graduated from Punahou School.

I think this guy lurking in parking lot is Tom Savidge, founder of SeaBear Smokehouse.

Ella was very helpful!

Near the on-ramp to Interstate-5 is an interesting business; the large sign out front advertised "Seafood" & "Blueberries". We checked out the fresh produce by the front door of Skagit's Own Fish Market but found no blueberries even though it was surrounded by blueberry fields! When we asked about blueberries we found out it is really 2 separate businesses; they rent space from the blueberry farm. Outside we found the blueberries under a canopy; it is the seasonal part of the business at this place. I guess it's a good deal for both businesses. 

Unfortunately fresh seafood won't make it home as omiyage.

But things like these will.

We got some fresh blueberries to go along with the muffins for dessert.

When we got to Seattle, Bruce greeted us at the car; it had been over 2 decades since we had last seen him! I met Bruce about 45 years ago when he answered an ad for a room for rent in our cooperative household. And Uncle Bruce has known Kai since he was born! Bea came in to our lives when Kai was about 5 years old. It's been way too long since we have seen them! Unfortunately, I was more focused on catching up with them after my bathroom break that I did not get any photos of them or our dinner!

Old-fashioned laundry chute in the bathroom. 

The pig collection reminded me of the feral pigs at home.

 

The next episode of the eruption at Kīlauea is still looking like it will start some time next week.

Hauʻoli lā Hānau e Diana!