Leaf Trellis

When I decide to enter an art show, one criteria is that the show is located in a place I like to visit or would like to visit. The bonus when one of my paintings is accepted.....I get to plan an adventure.

In May one of my watercolor paintings was accepted into the Sequim Art Show. When I dropped off the watercolor painting, my friend Shelley and I hiked the Dungeoness Spit to the light house. On the return trip, my friend Janet and I stopped at the Whitney Gardens and Nursery, an art show, the Blue Whole Gallery, the Native Art Gallery, and my favorite place "Over The Fence".

"Over The Fence" is a unique garden store in the heart of Sequim, Washington. What a fun place to visit and get ideas for the home and garden. On this adventure, I saw two leaf trellises which would look outstanding as landscape art. They came home with me!


Closer view


With the dinosaur egg


Thinking about adding some flowers around the base....

Rhodys In Abundance

Sunday I traveled with my friend, Janet, to Sequim to catch the last day of the Sequim Art Show and to pick up my watercolor painting. Janet suggested we stop at the rhododendron garden on our way.

I had never been to Whitney Gardens & Nursery in Brinnon, Washington, and what a RARE TREAT. Whitney Gardens is at the foot of the Olympic Mountains and has the most beautiful array of rhododendron hybrids and species in the Northwest nestled among rare trees and ponds. Also in abundance are azaleas, magnolias, maples, conifers, kalmias, camellias, perennials, trees, shrubs and ground cover. It is definitely a breathtaking experience especially when the rhodys are in full bloom as we experienced.

My favorite was this Rhody tree whose name I have misplaced.


The small greenhouses of rhododendrons were organized by colors and one greenhouse had fragrant varieties.


I especially like the colors and rows of maples.

Dungeness Spit in Sequim

I delivered my watercolor painting to the Art Show in Sequim this past weekend and was finally able to walk to the lighthouse at the end of the dungeness spit because the weather and tides were perfect and my good friend was willing to go.

The Dungeness Spit is a 5.5-mile long sand spit jutting out from the northern edge of the Olympic Peninsula in northeastern Clallam County, Washington, into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. It protects Dungeness Bay. The Dungeness Spit is entirely within the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge and home of the Dungeness Lighthouse. It is the longest natural sand spit in the United States. The lighthouse once was run by United States Coast Guard, but since an automatic light was installed, it has been run by the "New Dungeness Lighthouse Organization".

Here are some stunning photos from our adventure:

Arriving at the beach and looking West towards Port Angeles


A few miles down the spit looking at the Olympic Mountains


Inside the lighthouse looking back from where we began the trek


Inside the lighthouse looking East towards Whidbey Island


Inside the lighthouse looking North towards Victoria, Canada



The distant view of the lighthouse, Mount Baker and the dungeness spit as we began the uphill climb into the forest towards the car


Zoom in.....


The dynamic duo with the San Juan Islands in the background


And the lighthouse

Sequim Art Show

This weekend I am traveling up to the Sequim/Port Townsend area to deliver a watercolor painting that was juried into the Sequim Art Show which opens May 3rd.

Part of why I entered this show was an excuse to visit the beautiful area. I will spend Saturday in Port Townsend checking out their art galleries, spending time along the water, and eating seafood. It has been a very long time since I visited Port Townsend. Sunday, we will travel to Sequim the home of the famous Lavender Festival. Sequim is also noted for more sunny days than anywhere else in Washington.

The art show was juried by Mike McCollum and will run to the end of the month. The Museum & Art Center is located at 175 W. Cedar Street in Sequim.

This is the watercolor painting that was chosen:

Joanne Osband
Royal Purple
watercolor

The inspiration for this painting came from my neighbor's garden.

First Lavender Watercolor Painting

Way back in July I attended the Lavender Festival in Sequim, Washington. Seems like a long time ago.

It is an event that I highly recommend. The whole town of Sequim celebrates and having done this for several years, the festival committee is extremely organized. This year there were seven lavender farms open to the public and it amazed me how smoothly the bus system ran. At each field you not only found acres of lavender, but also art, music, and everything you could think up to create with lavender from food to crafts.

I am just getting around to creating some lavender watercolor paintings from my photos. Here is the first painting. I like some parts of it, but I am not satisfied with the whole painting. Watch for my next addition.........


Sea of Lavender

Sequim Lavender Festival Photos

WHAT A FABULOUS LAVENDER FESTIVAL!!!

Because I planned to spend two days in Sequim, I was able to see all seven lavender farms. What a treat! I was pleasantly impressed with the organization of such a large festival. The first day my good friend, Shelley, and I saw three farms on our drive into Sequim: Sunshine Lavender Farm, Purple Haze Lavender Farm, and Port Williams Lavender Farm. The second day we took the tour bus which was extremely convenient and visited Lost Mountain Lavender Farm, Cedar Brook Lavender Farm, Jardin du Soleil Lavender Farm, and Olympic Lavender Farm.

Olympic Gentle Paws, a local pet therapy organization offered FREE PET SITTING at the Lavender Festival Street Fair. You could leave your dog in a safe, secure, shaded environment. The dogs were in crates or kennels with plenty of water and attention. What a great idea!

I ate lavender ice cream, and sampled other lavender treats. My hands were bathed in lavender soap and lavender lotion. My nose had a lavender extravaganza. My ears listened to various music from jazz to electric fiddle.

I brought home two lavender plants, lavender bubble bath, lavender essential oils, and a lovely print of an oil painting by Selley Byrd of my favorite lavender farm, Jardin du Soleil.

As promise, here are some photos I took.......


Purple Haze Lavender Farm


Olympic Lavender Farm


Lost Mountain Lavender Farm


Jardin du Soleil


Jadin du Soleil Lavender Farm

Sequim Lavender Festival

I am off to the The 13th Annual Sequim Lavender Festival.

It is the premier celebration of the joys of lavender and the largest lavender festival in North America. Sequim is located on Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula, cradled in the “rain shadow” of the Olympic Mountains and Olympic National Park.

The Sequim-Dungeness Valley has an ideal microclimate for growing lavender and with less than 20 inches of rain per year; the area is similar to the Provence region of France. Because of the unique conditions and dedicated farmers, Sequim lavender has received world-wide recognition for its superior quality and fragrance. The farmers have over 200 years of combined experience cultivating lavender, developing the best planting and growing practices, and creating lavender products.

The Festival includes seven lavender farms to tour and a street fair. Each farm is unique and you find an incredible array of vendors. I went to the festival in 2005 and remember trying lavender ice cream, lavender cheese cake, and lavender chocolate. I also learned how to make a lavender wreath. This time I am going for two days and hoping to see ALL the gardens!


Me in a Sea of Lavender

I will have more pictures to post when I return.