Rhododendron and Bonsai Garden in Tacoma WA

Today, Karen and I visited the Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden, with the largest collection in the world, north of Tacoma, Washington. It was constructed by the Weyerhaeuser Timber Company. The gardens also feature a fantastic exhibit of champion Bonsai plants at the Pacific Bonsai Museum. The gardens, close to the Interstate 5 Freeway, were surrounded by Douglas Firs.

Many companion plants were also featured: Himalayan blue poppies, camellias, magnolias, Japanese maples, and many rare plants. Many vendors were present selling a variety of plants. We purchased two rhododendrons.

The traffic from Olympia to Tacoma was extremely congested this Saturday. We found the driving experience to be frustrating and very tiring.

The Rain of Our Reality

 

A Sunday in July

Children playing in shallow river pools;
fat grandpas sleeping in the shade.

Burnt leaves on sagging shrubs;
robins munching on wiggling worms.

Cold beer and crispy chips;
music playing from cellphone chips.

I watched them baptize a weeping woman,
now saved from the fires of hell,
safe and soaking wet.

A firecracker cut the laughter,
dogs barked, babies cried,
the smell of powder smoked by.

Hamburgers coated in ketchup red,
laced with lettuce on tired bread,
bit by bit down the hatch,
bellies satisfied at last.

Corndogs and cornbread,
beans and coleslaw;
dirty paper plates in paper bags,
pink vomit on the green grass. 

Riverbed rocks bit their cold toes,
mosquitoes bit their sun burnt backs,
lovers bit their aroused lips,
infants bit their mommies tits.

Dry ground,
centuries of death things
underfoot,
covered by a grey wool blanket
hiding this Distant Past. 

In this way on this day
the thousands of drip drops of experiences
make up
the rain of our reality. 

- Lewis River Park, Battleground, Clark County, Washington
  By Michael P. Garofalo, Poetry 

 

Firstenburg Community Center, Vancouver WA

Last week, I visited the Firstenburg Community Center in Vancouver, Washington. This large facility offers a complete fitness center, many meeting and activity rooms, and an impressive indoor pool. The cost to me was $6.00 for an all day pass into Firstenburg. I walked the second floor indoor track for 30 minutes, and enjoyed the elevated views through large glass windows and from above the active basketball games.  Finally, I attended a very enjoyable one hour Tai Chi Chuan class conducted by Jill Ross from 12:20 to 1:20 pm.  We practiced the Yang 24 and Sword 32.  

After Taijiquan practices, I then browsed and borrowed two books from the spacious Cascade Park Community Library of the FVRL which is right next door to Firstenburg. There was ample available parking at Firstenburg, at 700 NE 136 Ave.., on the northeast side of the building.  Map View.

One could easily walk to nearby Leroy Haagen Memorial Park a bit north of Firstenburg for outdoor sidewalk and walking path jaunts.  

This is an excellent fitness facility.  The library is beautiful with many great reads, and superior inter-library request services and ebook lending.  There is a Kitchen Table Cafe and a Coffee Revolution coffee/tea room directly across the signaled street from Firstenburg, as well as a small food and drinks outlet inside of Firstenburg.  Plenty of restrooms.  Many fitness equipment options, lockers, large workout rooms.  

Firstenburg is less than a mile north of busy Mill Plain Blvd and scores of new retail stores and restaurants.  Firstenburg is about 8 miles from my home in the Orchards. I thoroughly enjoyed this outing, and this facility will definitely be part of my future pleasures. 

Firstenburg Community Center

Cascade Park Community Library

Leroy Haagen Memorial Park

Orchards Community Park

I enjoy walking at Orchards Community Park in Northeast Vancouver, Washington.

Walking

Orchard's Park, Vancouver

I frequently walk at the nearby Orchards Community Park in unincorporated Northeast Vancouver.  Two laps on the walking path in a forested park area takes me about 45 minutes to walk at my moderate pace. 

Today, Karen and I walked for 40 minutes in Orchards Park.