lunch with a view

My favorite island spot for lunch with a view..........
As a blogger based on Bainbridge Island, I'm often asked my favorite place for lunch with a view of the water. My choice would be the Harbour Public House, affectionately known by islanders as "The Pub" - One can arrive by foot, ferry, your own boat, car and I suppose even by sea plane.

It's my go to place for fish and chips.....and while I was waiting for my order, I visited the pub's pretty little garden and the tall hollyhocks of summer.

Photos: backroads of bainbridge
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Summer - Sunday Market

I'm so excited........a new Sunday market has sprung up right here on Bainbridge Island and the good news is that it's right in my own neighborhood. The Bainbridge Island - Lynwood Community Market is small but growing. I found a handful of vendors selling farm fresh produce and handmade crafts and products. Everyone was so friendly! Islanders love and support efforts like this, so I'm sure as more and more people find out about the Sunday Market, they will support it. As for me, I'm so thrilled that I now have an option right around the corner that I can walk to - with my produce basket in hand.

Beautiful fruit and farm fresh produce from Terrapin Farms

Metal Petals and Suyematsu Farms

We tried the green tea and apricot kombucha from Symbiosis Farms. The market runs through the
summer, Sunday's 10-2.
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POSTCARDS from the island - roadside flowers

To me, summer on Bainbridge Island is about enjoying the simple pleasures of island living. On summer days, you may find Gus's flower cart parked along the roadside....... with a freshly picked bouquet.

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in the garden - Harvesting Lavender

in the garden...........
It's lavender time. This is the first in many years that I'm actually picking and harvesting the lavender in my bainbridge island garden. I have been picking away and it still doesn't look like I've made a dent.  The plants are covered in lavender, so the garden still looks good. Now hung to dry and to be shared with friends.

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a summer day in the city

What a beautiful summer weekend ......
We ventured into the city for a lovely morning spent at Seattle's Pike Place Market.
The market was bustling with people and everyone seemed to be enjoying the weather and spending time outdoors. The cut flowers stalls were filled with buckets of colorful stems just waiting to delight.

We purchased ingredients for our Nicoise Salad that was planned for our Sunday dinner

and finished our morning with breakfast at our favorite....... Le Pichet. So happy that summer is here!

The 4th of july....island style

At home on bainbridge island, were gearing up for the 4th of July. The holiday will be spent with family and friends - Grilling hamburgers and ribs, playing croquet on the lawn and strolls down to the beach.  In the afternoon  we will venture down to The Grand old Fourth - Our home town parade which is always a chance to see so many of our island friends and neighbors. Hope you all enjoy the holiday too.

Heronswood Garden

Within close proximity to Bainbridge Island is the beautiful Heronswood Gardens. One of the finest and most diverse private botanical gardens in the US. The gardens are open only during designated public event dates. The next open garden date is Saturday June 30th from 10 - 4, with a $5.00 entry fee. if you have always wanted to see this garden, you may not want to hesitate - as the property is for sale.

A 15 acre world class property - there is much to see on the self-guided tour. If you can't get there, stay tuned - I will be posting a garden tour with photos from some of my past visits to Heronswood later this summer. More details on the upcoming open day can be found here.

what spring looked like

     at home on bainbridge island.....
     this is what spring looked like.

     a very nice spring, indeed!!

The 50 mile bouquet - Debra Prinzing at the Bloedel Reserve

This coming Sunday Seattle based writer Debra Prinzing, author of The 50 Mile Bouquet will be at The The Bloedel Reserve. Debra will be presenting a lecture and book signing from 4:30 - 5:30 with light refreshments. A pre-registration /fee required. The photography by David E Perry is dreamy!

Photography workshop - Photographer David E Perry at the Bloedel Reserve

 

At the Blodel Reserve on Monday, photographer David E. Perry will be teaching a garden photography workshop....sadly it now is SOLD OUT but you can contact David to be notified of future workshops. Be sure to check out his blog - A Photograher's Garden Blog.

los jardines botanicos - the botanical gardens of puerto vallarta

Along the palms to pines highway sits los jardines botanicos - the botanical gardens of Puerto Vallarta - a nature lovers paradise, that makes a delightful outing for an afternoon. Just  30 minutes from Puerto Vallarta - amidst enchanting mountain scenery. The gardens 20 acres are filled with trails and flowering plants as well as one of the most visited collections of orchids in the country of Mexico.

Part of our entry fee included a complimentary beverage - a lovely and refreshing hibiscus cooler..... much appreciated after wandering through the grounds.  Hacienda De Oro - the on site restaurant which is engulfed in cascades of bougainvillea, is a pleasant place to enjoy some good food and views of the grounds and surrounding hillside. You can shop for plants at the nursery and the gift shop is filled with some unique botanical related items. At the time of our visit the gardens were hosting a bird watching event - so thrilling to spot birds in every color of the rainbow. A very unique environment and a wonderful place to enjoy an afternoon.

visit my photostream oceanVU
for more images of my time in mexico
and to learn more.....
about me

visit vallarta botanicla garden

untouched by time - San Sebastian del Oeste

I recently had a delightful visit to the beautiful and very picturesque historic town of San Sebastian del Oeste. A charming 17th century colonial town, untouched by time, nestled deep within the Sierra Madre mountains. We traveled about 90 minutes by car from the beaches of Puerto Vallarta through pine tree forests and beautiful mountain scenery before reaching San Sebastian del Oeste.

The streets are cobbled, and the town is peaceful and well preserved  -  almost movie set perfect!

The day was spent wandering the streets shooting photos and exploring this charming town.
When hunger called, we stopped for lunch at Los Arcos de Sol - a restaurant and hotel on the main square, where we met the friendly owner Jesus. Born in San Sebastion, Jesus left to attend the university in Guadalajara, returning with an entrepenurial spirit to run the restaurant and hotel next door. We loved the homemade cookies that he had packaged and ready to take back to our room.

We checked in for one night at the El Pabellon Mexicano - a historic eleven room home -  turned hotel overlooking the plaza.

There are a handful of food and hotel options and an excellent website for planning a visit can be 

found here .

Photography: lorelle

visit OceanVU my all things Mexico photostream on flickr to see more images on San Sebastian
and to learn more about me.

more San Sebastian photos
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