It’ll get toasty today (mid-80s) in the South Sound, so I got my walk in early on Fort Steilacoom Park’s oak savanna. There I spotted a pretty patch of tiny Harvest Brodiaea wildflowers. #pnw #wawx #lakewood

The bees love my lavender! #pnw #SaveTheBees 🐝

I walked today on the Grandview Trail in University Place. The city’s gardeners do a nice job with plantings and hanging baskets. After today’s moderate mid-70s temps, it’ll get into the 80s for a few days. #pnw #wawx

For your #SundayYellow pleasure, here’s a canna lily in a field of bluemink. I shot this last July in a traffic median at Point Defiance Park. Today will be a nice one in the South Sound, with sunny skies and a high of 75°. #tacoma #pnw #wawx

What a beautiful day in the South Sound — sunny and high of 76°. We walked in the morning at Bradley Lake Park in Puyallup, and now I’m off to meet family and my fella for wine. Summer in the #pnw! #wawx

My hydrangea usually languishes in a back corner of my yard, putting forth a few sad-looking mopheads. This summer it’s going nuts, maybe because of an early hot spell plus my paying more attention to watering it. #pnw #FlowersOnFriday

I just saw this ad for TrumpAccounts on MSNOW. There’s gotta be a scam in there somewhere.

The mister has been working on his West Seattle garden. I think he’s doing a pretty good job! #pnw

You should! It’s only a few minutes from there. There’s a lovely mile-long walk around Waughop Lake in the park and the best off-leash area in the NW if you have a dog.

It’s 68° in Lakewood on its way to 75° this afternoon on this cloudless Sunday. This is one of the old Western State Hospital barns on the grounds of Fort Steilacoom Park. Back when the hospital was called an asylum, patients worked a farm and orchards that still bear fruit. #pnw #wawx

I’m walking around Waughop Lake on this glorious #pnw Fourth of July. The knapweed (top) and chicory are in bloom beside the lake. Don’t you think knapweed deserves a prettier name? #lakewood

It’s a clear-the-fridge meal: chicken fried rice made from leftover broccoli, jasmine rice and Costco chicken. Add an egg and voilà. It came together in about five minutes.

I have some time to kill so I’m having a Passion Fruit Mezcalito at the Salted Rim in University Place’s town center (next to the library). It’s smoky with a spicy Tajin rim. Very nice. #pnw

I had a nice lunch today at Tacoma’s Harbor Lights with an old friend. The blackened salmon taco and nectar clam chowder hit the spot. #pnw

Faux News says “thousands” of people are attending Cheetolini’s state fair in DC. I just want to know where they’re hiding.

It’s partly cloudy and coolish (mid-60s) in the South Sound this Saturday afternoon. That’s a patch of rose spirea that I look forward to every summer. #pnw #wawx #lakewood

The mister and I took a day trip today that included a brief hike at Tolmie State Park just north of Olympia. It’s a little gem just a few minutes off I-5 that’s well worth a visit. #pnw

For #FlowersOnFriday here’s a pretty-in-pink dahlia I shot yesterday on a sale rack outside Safeway. I was tempted to buy it, but that would have doomed it to an untimely death. #pnw

Apparently Goldemort wanders around the Oval Office attaching “gold” gewgaws on everything with Superglue. Can’t we put Pop-pop in an assisted living home in need of a little redecorating? I think we’ll all be happier.

It’s a cool, cloudy day in the #pnw (hooray!), with rain coming in this evening.The foxgloves in the park are nearly finished. #wawx #lakewood

Weird Washington weather: 86° today, then a week in the 60s. I love the cooler temps — and some rain before fireworks season! #pnw #wawx

For #RoseWednesday, here are two roses that honor great women: Rosie the Riveter (left) and Marie Curie. They’re at the Point Defiance Park rose garden. #Tacoma #pnw

My walking buddy and I tried the new Supreme Dumplings at Tacoma Mall for lunch today. We split shrimp fried rice and truffle mushroom roll, while I had the chicken soup dumplings and she had the veggie ones. The food was great, and the restaurant is sleek and modern. One quibble: the noise level.

I gave blood this morning at Tacoma’s spiffy new donor center (next door to the now-closed Joeseppi’s), so I’m only taking a leisurely, short walk at the Point Defiance Park bowl. The reflecting pool does have some algae, but its ducklings are alive. Lots of dragonflies too. #pnw

It’s a pleasant start to summer in the South Sound, with temps expected to reach 78° or so. I walked this morning on the trail above the Chambers Bay Golf Course, where lots of families were taking Dad on a #FathersDay stroll. #pnw #wawx

Missing my dear ol’ dad this Father’s Day. (Despite the cig he lived to 92.) He gave us a good life and signed off his phone calls with “love ya, darlin’.” I wish everyone could have a dad like mine. 💔

I’m toasting spring’s finale on this beautiful #pnw evening with a Hugo Spritz, one of my favorite warm-weather drinks. It’s made with elderflower liqueur, Prosecco and mint from my garden. It should be garnished with a slice of lime, but I don’t have one. I’ll just have to tough it out. Cheers! 🥂

Now that the morning marine layer has burned off, the last day of spring is shaping up nicely in the South Sound — low 70s with a good breeze. Here’s some narrow-leaf everlasting pea growing along a path at Fort Steilacoom Park in Lakewood. Enjoy your weekend! #pnw #wawx

This guy makes a daily early evening visit to the birdbath for a drink, then lolls in the grass for about 10 minutes for a good scratch session. He knows I’m watching but doesn’t seem to care. #pnw

For #FlowersOnFriday here’s a lonely foxglove on the shore of Waughop Lake. A pleasant morning will give way to a toasty mid-80s afternoon in the South Sound. Have a great weekend! #wawx #lakewood