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.