Sunday, November 19, 2006

Seattle Rainy Day Japanese Maple


Photo & Text Copyright 2006 Seattle Daily Photo. All rights reserved, including reproduction or republishing.

The rains are back after a couple days of sun. Drops of rain cling to a bright red maple branch. Despite the grey day, color is everywhere. People were wise to get their Thanksgiving grocery shopping done yesterday before the new storm. The last two weeks of November are generally the most stormy of the whole year, but this year it looks like we got all our November rains early.

Please note in the side bar the link to give financial assistance to Seattle's Pike Place Market flower and veggie farmers whose fields were flooded and whose crops are either unusable or destroyed for next season. Whenever I need flowers I hop on the bus and head to the flower vendor at the Market where for $5, $10, or $15 I can purchase a huge bouquet which often includes peonies, lilies, dahlias, and just an amazing variety of common and hard-to-find blooms. This farming family grows all their own stock, and their fields are underwater, their bulbs are lost for next year--a $50,000 loss. Similarly, a few of the Market veggie farmers are not being allowed to sell anything from their flooded fields because of risk of contamination. The donation to the PP Market's foundation is US tax deduct able, and you can note it is for the affected farming vendors. If you're out of town but have been a tourist here and enjoyed the Market, consider giving. If you'd like to contribute in person, there is an enormous PIGgy bank at the Market in which you can put change, checks, and bills. The growers from other farmers markets around town may be similarly affected, so check with those you regularly buy from and see if they can use some extra help. I suggest we all try to pay double or triple the asking price to farmers who have had flood damage. They keep fresh organic products available to us all year, and we can support them and appreciate them in this small way. Without them, this community would be a very sorry, uncolorful place. Whatever you can do, I invite you to do it.

7 comments:

Olivier said...

Tres belle photo. J'espere qu'il ne va pas pleuvoir jusqu'a Thankgiving et que tu pourras faire tes courses. Je suis solidaire avec toi, ce matin il pleut à Evry. Je te souhaite un bon dimanche.

Very beautiful photograph. I hope that it will not rain until Thankgiving and that you will be able to make your purchases. I am interdependent with you, this morning it rains in Evry. I wish you good Sunday.

Lachezar said...

Beautiful colours and raindrops, it doesn't get any better than this...

Jazzy said...

that's a pretty pretty picture Kim.
hopefully your preparation for Thanksgiving is going well.

selana18 said...

Nice colours!
I like a lot your info about flowers...
Yesterday I bought from IKEA 2 beautiful plants-I don't remember their names right now...because their names are complexe...

JaamZIN said...

wonderful color...i keep a similar rainy one for the near future

Anonymous said...

What a lovely picture. Very nice and thoughtful comment about the flower/veggie market. It's so much better to buy direct from them! Glad you are supporting them...

Anonymous said...

That picture is amazing. Acers are such interesting plants, always eye-catching. I'm trying to build a Japanese garden in my back yard, I don't want anymore grass back there. I planted this Autumn Moon this past season. I'm having a little trouble with the stone work, but I'm trying to keep a zen-like attitude about the project.