I read about 2 native species of the Pacific NW. The Sitka spruce is the 5th tallest specie in the world, up to 100 meter high (300 ft). The bark is thin and flaky. I thought I had some in backyard, but they belong to a different specie! I also read about Azalea shrubs, part of the Rhododendron family. They can have different colors: orange, red, pink, fuchsia, white, pale yellow, and can also be bicolor. I grew up in Western France and my parents had azalea and rhododendron, and I had no idea they were from the PNW of the USA - incredible! It makes sense that they grew so well over there, because the weather is pretty much the same of where I live in the US now.

I spent the weekend gardening with my husband. I'm so happy, I've been wanted to do this for the last 20 days! In the front of the house, I filled up the planters he built for me with aromatic herbs and many flowers (including Ranunculus my favorite!), and we built raised beds, and I sowed seeds in 2 of them of vegetables & fruits (bell peppers, onion, kale, celeriac. lettuce. eggplants, watermelon and cantaloupe). In May, I will sow my other seeds in the last 2 beds :) It's a work in progress, we still need to add an arch to grow the tomatoes and find something to cover the ground around the beds (still debating which material. There's nothing better than the fruit and veggies you grow at home.

I went for a walk in my neighborhood during my lunch break and took pictures of the spring flowers. The weather was perfect!

Today, I wrote and sent a pretty card to my best friend in France and told her how much our 30 years friendship meant to me. It felt right to tell these meaningful things because it's never too late. We don't tell our friends (or family) how important they are in France; unfortunately. I needed to change that even if it's a baby step.

I regularly participate to clean up events organized by SOLVE in Portland. I love doing that, you can tell right away the impact on the community.

I read a blog on how to care for indoor plants and do more research on Monstera - which is the plant I care the most about in my house. I overwatered it for a while. These past months, I watered twice a month (every other week), and it seems like it's getting better, but the stems are still more flat than raising up high. It probably needs a plant support stick. My cat used to eat the leaves too (see photo). I promise myself that I will make it strives for good!