Natural Green Walls and Hanging Baskets - Summer at Snoqualmie Falls

I've been thinking about our great attraction to vertical green surfaces, in part because a vast green wall will be a feature of Seattle's first West Elm store - to open in early October across from Whole Foods on Denny.

And while manmade green walls are a pretty impressive dose of nature, especially when created indoors, I was reminded this week that there's nothing like a natural rock cliff sprouting ferns, mosses and native plants. Especially the green cliffs of Snoqualmie Falls, kept abundantly lush by the continual spray from the falls - which were plunging vigorously and noisily even this late in the summer when I'd expect the water pouring over to be diminished (not this wet summer, I guess...).

The haze on the photo is the intense mist generated from the falls, which slicks the sidewalks and drops the temperature about 10 degrees...behind the falls is the Salish Lodge, known for its spa and how, at Sunday brunch, the wait staff pours honey from high onto fluffy biscuits.

Isn't that the most beautiful green wall ever? We were on our way over Snoqualmie and then Blewett Pass on our way to Sleeping Lady Resort near Leavenworth - more on that special place in my next post. But of course we paused long enough to admire these hanging baskets, at the front of the Salish Lodge, planted in multi-colored impatiens skirted with a dangle of fuchsia....

 

Comments

[Calvin]

I love the green walls at Snoqualmie Falls too! It would be interesting to know what they are comprised of...presumably mosses, liverworts, algaes and lichens, and some precarious cliff-dwelling plants, but does anyone know the precise kinds? The mist looks tremendously inviting during warm weather...Thanks!