The Colors of our World in Northeast Washington

I just returned home from two weeks in the desert Southwest of these great United States.

Working this morning outside a bit around the farm, I’m reminded of the seasonal color changes I’ve not yet grown tired of, over 23 years:

The year begins in sparkling white.

Around now comes mud grey.

Then comes green green green.

(Fortunately one of the characteristics of this northeast corner is that the green stays all year, without the constant rain I grew up in on the west side.)

Then my favorite—if it’s possible to have one—the luminescent gold of Autumn.

(I capitalize the seasons, as in my view they deserve it!)

Eventually yielding once more to sparkling white.

White … grey … green … gold … white.

(I don’t know how to paint, except with words.)

Not long after we moved here I was reading a book of Washington State maps in the Newport library. There was a note something like this at the bottom of the climate map: “Only one area of inhabited Washington State has a growing season less than 90 days: Parts of southern Stevens and Pend Oreille Counties.” And I had just left the greater Seattle-Everett rat race around Maltby in order to garden here.

Next week, seeds will once again go into the soil … in the house. (18°F this morning, long gone now in full sun forenoon.)