Resident Lightsaber Technician

@hawkstalkers

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Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· 18d

Pollinators are always welcome at my place…. Come on over and get fat and happy 💚 🐝 #pnw #gardening #echinacea #pollinators

A close-up macro photograph of a honey bee collecting pollen on a white ‘Kismet White’ coneflower (Echinacea). The bee clings to the flower’s prominent green cone, dusted with bright yellow pollen, while a large orange pollen basket is visible on one of its hind legs. The white petals radiate outward around the cone, with a few small blemishes adding a natural, garden-grown appearance. Fine details of the bee’s fuzzy body, translucent wings, and pollen-covered face are sharply in focus against a softly blurred background, highlighting the vital interaction between pollinator and flower.

A detailed macro photograph from above of a honey bee foraging on a white ‘Kismet White’ coneflower (Echinacea). The bee is centered on the flower’s raised green-and-gold cone, with its translucent wings spread to either side. Large, vivid orange pollen baskets bulge from both hind legs, showing a successful pollen collection trip. Fine hairs covering the bee’s thorax and abdomen are sharply defined, and the segmented amber-and-brown abdomen is clearly visible. Soft white petals frame the scene while the background fades into a creamy blur, emphasizing the bee’s intricate textures and the vibrant pollen-covered flower.

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· 20d

I present to you, my new girl, Acer Palmatum ‘Grandma’s Ghost’. I absolutely love this tree 😍 #pnw #gardening #acerfanatic

A tall Japanese maple cultivar named ‘Grandma’s Ghost’ stands in a black nursery pot on a composite deck in warm afternoon light. Its airy branching carries delicate, finely divided leaves in shades of peach, salmon, coral, and soft green, giving the tree a luminous, almost glowing appearance. Behind it are cedar planter boxes containing other Japanese maples, with a dark evergreen hedge providing contrast that makes the colorful foliage stand out. The tree has an elegant, open structure with long horizontal branches that create a graceful, sculptural silhouette.

Close-up of ‘Grandma’s Ghost’ Japanese maple leaves glowing in afternoon light. Large, elegant leaves blend peach, apricot, gold, and rose tones with finely serrated edges, their translucent texture and soft colors creating an almost luminous, ghostly appearance.

A delicate branch of the Japanese maple cultivar ‘Grandma’s Ghost’ reaches toward the camera, bathed in warm afternoon sunlight. Finely cut leaves glow in soft shades of peach, apricot, salmon, and rose, their translucent blades catching the light along finely serrated edges. Several rosy-pink winged samaras (maple seeds) dangle gracefully beneath the foliage, adding movement and seasonal interest. The softly blurred deck, railing, and dark evergreen hedge in the background emphasize the airy, elegant character of the branch and its luminous foliage.

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· 20d

My wife really needs to keep me away from my maple spots…. #pnw #gardening #acer #grandmasghost

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· 23d

Noticed lots of pollinator traffic today down along my new retaining wall along the sidewalk. The Painted Ladies were particularly interested in my Kismet White echinacea! Summer is in full swing in the #pnw! #gardening #timelinecleanse #breathe #butterfly #coneflower 🦋

A close-up of a painted lady butterfly feeding on the cone of a white echinacea flower in a sunny garden. The butterfly’s wings are partially open, revealing intricate gray, black, white, and orange markings, while the background of lush green foliage is softly blurred, making the butterfly and flower stand out in warm afternoon light.

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· 25d

Just took the family maple shopping with me. I found a rare cultivar that was discovered by a place on Camino Island only a few years ago. Such a cool tree. Not sure I’ve seen one quite like it. Acer Palmatum ‘Lion’s Cub’…. Which is a variation of Shishigashira #pnw #acerpalmatum #lionscub

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· 26d

Today is our boy’s 3rd! Happy birthday, old boy!!! 💚

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· 29d

I have a consistent amount of TCG packs brought home for me to rip… pulled this Mega Greninja EX the other day. Time to rip a few and see what emerges 🔥 #pokemon #tcg

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· 29d

Then (Mid-March ‘26) vs. Now (Mid-July ‘26) #pnw #gardening #summer #progress

Before – March 19, 2026. Wide view of the front yard at the beginning of a major landscape transformation. The planting bed is mostly bare dark soil with only a handful of established plants. A large, tightly clipped viburnum anchors the left side against the house, while several sparsely branched shrubs sit farther out in the bed. A small Helleri holly occupies the lower-left foreground. The mature weeping birch dominates the right side of the scene, with a patchy grass-and-paver walkway running downhill beside it. Several nursery containers rest near the birch, hinting at future additions. The slope beyond is largely undeveloped, with little layering, no defined dry creek bed, no retaining walls, and no Japanese maple focal point. This image captures the starting point before the Japanese-inspired garden redesign.

After – July 14, 2026 (portrait view). A closer look at the front garden highlights the layered planting design that has taken shape over four months. On the left, a mature viburnum frames the porch, while a large burgundy Japanese maple spreads an airy canopy over the center of the garden. Beneath it, white hydrangea blooms brighten the partially shaded bed, backed by evergreen shrubs and a golden dwarf conifer. The foreground is filled with repeating drifts of deep burgundy heucheras, black scallop ajuga, and bright chartreuse Hakone grass, creating strong contrasts in color and texture. A carefully shaped evergreen specimen provides a central focal point among the perennials. To the right, a gently curving path leads toward newly built stone retaining walls, additional shrubs, and a potted hydrangea, with the evolving Japanese-inspired landscape extending beyond the frame. The composition emphasizes layered foliage, seasonal color, and a balance of evergreen structure and flowering plants, showcasing the transformation from a sparse foundation bed into a cohesive ornamental garden.

After – July 14, 2026. The same front yard four months later, transformed into a layered Japanese-inspired landscape. The once-open planting bed now features multiple Japanese maples in varying colors and textures, including a newly planted upright Seiryu that has become a prominent focal point on the right side. A mature red laceleaf maple provides a rich burgundy canopy in the background, while the original viburnum remains on the left, now integrated into the overall composition. Flowering white hydrangeas brighten the porch bed, and sculpted evergreens, dwarf conifers, Hakone grass, heucheras, ajuga, thyme, and other perennials create depth and seasonal interest throughout the slope. Stone retaining walls define the grade changes, a dry creek bed winds through the landscape, and boulders and carefully placed rocks reinforce the natural aesthetic. The former grass-and-paver walkway has been replaced by a cleaner, more intentional garden layout, giving the space a layered, immersive feel with distinct focal points and improved structure while the mature weeping birch still stands as the next planned phase of the project.

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· Jul 8

I had to for the shoes

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· Jul 8

Maaaan, I stopped by the team store because I was in Renton yesterday and I’ve added to my tank top collection 🔥 #gohawks

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· Jul 8

My Kimono Hydrangea is showing off this year 🌅 #pnw #summer #gardening #breathe

Close-up of vivid pink-and-white Kimono hydrangea blooms at sunset, with dark green leaves backlit by golden sky and soft orange clouds in the background.

Dense clusters of vivid pink-and-white Kimono hydrangea blooms fill the frame, set against dark glossy foliage, a wooden fence, and a soft pastel evening sky.

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· Jul 7

This was far more work than I initially thought it would be but it will be extremely satisfying if the tree flourishes here 💚😁

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· Jul 2

I’m enamored with this huge dragonfly that was hanging out in my garden yesterday 😜

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· Jul 2

So a rather large California Darner dragonfly decided to stop and take a rest near my Japanese holly earlier…. He didn’t mind having his picture taken These guys are the air superiority fighters of pest control world! Super cool 😁 #pnw

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· Jul 1

If you’ve never seen a ‘Seiryu’ Acer palmatum up close before, I urge you to at some point. These are absolutely STUNNING trees. I can’t wait to see how this gal settles in! #pnw #gardening #japanesemaple

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· Jul 1

Then a deer just chilling in my neighbors front yard eating his plants? Not on my watch, Bambi! Also…. Never had a deer just meandering down my street…. Bombs over South Hill a few minutes before probably helped 😂

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· Jul 1

Fireworks tent on fire in South Hill? We just watched one hell of a fucking show from our bedroom window This was the tail end of it…. Lasted for 10-15 minutes according to my wife but was way more intense (sounded like a war zone) 😂

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· Jul 1

😂😂😂 #goms

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· Jul 1

This Seiryu was just a WEE bit root bound 😂

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· Jul 1

Video to follow but damn am I glad to have this planting done and over with…. It was taking up a lot of my headspace! Video will likely be posted tomorrow…. I beat! #pnw #gardening #japanesemaple #Seiryu

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· Jun 30

Well, tomorrow I’ll be planting my ‘Seiryu’ Japanese maple. This was a challenging site prep for me both physically and conceptually. I may make a little video explaining my methodology and thought process behind my planting decisions. Not sure if anyone would be interested so let me know!

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· Jun 27

Sunset from Monday… looking at you, Milton! #pnw #sunset #summer

A wide sunset view looking down over Algona, Washington, with dark evergreen trees in the foreground and Milton visible on the hill in the background. The valley and rooftops sit in deep blue shadow beneath layered hills, while the sky glows with streaks of peach, orange, pink, and purple clouds.

Resident Lightsaber Technician@hawkstalkers· Jun 27

There is beauty in being unique. The natural world reinforces this at every turn. Love you all for being your true self. Never change. 💚 #pnw #gardening #acerpalmatum