Month: October 2012

The Ravine Experience

/ dkaltenb / Leave a comment

Experience the beauty of Fall at the Bellevue Botanical Garden.  The tree color is impressive and the various gardens on the grounds showcase a variety of grasses, ferns, water features, and a few left over blooms from the Summer.  This is a great way to fill a void.  For me, the areas that really shine are the wooded trails that lead to the brand new Ravine Experience.  What is the The Ravine Experience?  It is a 150 ft. suspension bridge that crosses a ravine and the forest floor while leading to and from are the nature trails in which to view unique topography, wildlife, and foliage.  The bridge is anchored on each side by a beautiful stone wall and be sure to notice the materials used to build this impressive structure.  This is a great space to visit on your lunch hour, take a peaceful walk (or an exhilarating run), or bring the family for a forest-like experience within the Bellevue, WA city limits.  Check on the pics below!

It just so happened that I stopped by as they were starting to prepare the grounds for the annual Garden d’Lights holiday light display.  That is next up. http://www.bellevuebotanical.org/

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Harvest Time and the Pumpkin Patch

/ dkaltenb / Leave a comment

It’s that time of year…when the adults are decorating for the Fall season and the kiddos are carving their pumpkins for Halloween.  Farms are in abundance in Western Washington, whether they’re mixed into the suburbs or throughout the countryside.  Many pumpkin patches offer more than just pumpkins…you might find farm animals, corn stalks, hay bales, corn mazes, wagon rides, tractors, scarecrows, something good to eat, and more.  It’s a festival all in one!

I happened to stop by Enciso Family Farms pumpkin patch in Renton this year and picked my main pumpkin for seasonal viewing.  Also, a few small/mini pumpkins were purchased at Foley’s Produce just down the road on Hwy. 169 in Maple Valley.  The pumpkins at the produce stand were certainly unique… some green and came in odd shapes.  Pumpkins can be found at the grocery store, home improvement store and the like, but it certainly is fun to explore the farm and all that there is at harvest time.

Some pumpkin patches are large productions and others are understated.  A few of the larger “festivals” are Carleton Farms in Lake Stevens, Craven Farm in Snohomish (I visited this farm as a child), and Remlinger Farms in Carnation.  No pets are allowed on farms and do remember your camera!  You have until October 31st, a couple of weeks left to go get your pumpkins.  Enjoy!

Check out the individual farm websites (or those below) for more info.

http://www.festivalofpumpkins.org/

http://www.pugetsoundfresh.org/

http://thecouponproject.com/2012/09/pumpkin-patches-corn-mazes-pierce-county-king-county-puget-sound.html

http://seattle.cbslocal.com/2012/09/22/guide-to-puget-sound-corn-mazes/

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

October’s the month…

/ dkaltenb / Leave a comment

October’s the month
When the smallest breeze
Gives us a shower
Of autumn leaves.
Bonfires and pumpkins,
Leaves sailing down –
October is red
And golden and brown.

October leaves are lovely
They rustle when I run
Sometimes I make a heap
And jump in them for fun.

Autumn leaves float quietly down
And form a carpet on the ground.
But when those leaves are stepped upon,
Listen for the crackling sound.

Can Teach Songs

 

October Fun!

/ dkaltenb / Leave a comment

October… the leaves have started to fall and will soon be ready for raking, photography, and play.  Some suggestions for frolicking Fall fun this month:

  • Issaquah Salmon Days, Oct 6-7
  • Oysterfest, Shelton, Oct 6-7
  • 8th Annual Oktoberfest Northwest, Puyallup, Oct 5-7
  • 10th annual Fresh Hop Ale Festival, Downtown Yakima, Oct 6
  • Pumpkin Bash and Trick or Treating, Woodland Park Zoo, Sat/Sun Oct 13-14, 20-21, 27-28
  • Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival, Port Angeles, Oct 12-14
  • Water Music Festival, Long Beach, Oct 12-14
  • Cedar River Salmon Journey, every weekend in October, five locations – http://www.cedarriver.org/programs/
  • Leavenworth Oktoberfest, Oct 5,6,12,13,19,20
  • Whidbey Island Open Studio Tour, Oct 6-7
  • Road trip to the Coast
  • Puyallup Art & Wine Walk, Oct 6
  • Oktoberfest, Langley, Oct 6
  • Head to your nearest nursery and check out their Fall offerings
  • Catch the Crush Wine Festival, Tri-Cities & Yakima Valley, Oct 13-14
  • Meerkerk’s Autumn Garden Festival, Greenbank, Oct 6-7
  • Electrical Extravaganza Show, Spark Musuem, Bellingham, Oct 13-14
  • Old Apple Tree Festival, Vancouver, WA Oct 6
  • Festival of Family Farms, Skagit Valley, Oct 6-7
  • Earshot Jazz Festival, Seattle, Oct 12 – Nov 4
  • Catch the Crush Wine Festival, Red Mountain, Columbia Valley, Yakima Valley, Oct 13-14
  • Cranberrian Fair, Ilwaco, Oct 13-14
  • Take a hot air balloon ride over wine country (Yakima Valley/Walla Walla)
  • Navigate a corn maze