June, 2022
Today was a quiet day. In fact, I think maybe the destination below was the only place I went all day. Mostly I stayed around the campground and my trailer, read a book, had a nap, etc. But I did venture out in order to see the Tennant Lake farm and its Fragrance Garden, just south of the town of Ferndale, about 10 miles south of the campground. I’m glad I did.
At the entrance, Hovander Homestead Park is to the right. I drove in there at the end of my visit, but only for a few minutes. You’ll see what I saw in there at the end of this blog post. 🙂
Tennant Lake is to the left.
It was a wonderful old home with lovely gardens!
And a four-story viewing tower (photo below) so the public can see the surrounding area. I’ll go up there for sure, if they let me.
The most noteworthy photo from the sign above is the photo below. One spring in recent years, with abundant rainfall and with massive glacier river water runoff, the entire area flooded. You can see the home and the viewing tower, not much else.
But when I was here, there was no flooding. I appreciated that.
Then there was this note on a small printed sign on that board above … “Tennant Lake is an important wetland ecosystem. Its traditional name is Sil-ats-its. The Tennant Lake section of Hovander Homestead Park was owned by Clara of the Lummi Nation, who then married John Tennant. The Nielsen family bought the property in 1893 and built their home in 1906 which is now the Tennant Lake Interpretive Center. Mr. Nielsen’s brother homesteaded the neighboring property which was sold to the Hovander family in 1898.”
This place was truly gorgeous. Whoever is taking care of it is doing a magnificent job. I walked all around the flowers and shrubs and trees and took photos to my heart’s content. Here are just a few of my photos.
The Apple Mint above smelled divine. We were allowed to pick one leaf to smell it and feel it and taste it. Mmm-mm!
But the Chocolate Mint was even better. I might be planting a bazillion plants of Chocolate Mint all around my house soon. Oh my was it delicious. It smelled delicious and it tasted delicious.
On the other hand, there was this Variegated Pineapple Mint that was almost as delicious as the two plants above. I love pineapple. In the Philippines where I grew up, in our backyard we had tall banana plants and pineapple plants and mangoes. A pineapple purchased in the USA tastes nothing like fresh pineapple. But this Pineapple Mint plant was exquisite.
And then I came around a corner and found the wide open doors of the four-story viewing tower.
What do you think I did? 🙂 One guess.
Inside the doors were some signs. If you can click on and enlarge the photos, you may be able to read the text more easily.
And then I looked up. Whoa. And up I went!
Eventually I made it up to the top and took a moment to sit on the bench to rest my lungs and my legs. But not for long!
Look at the view! The photo below is of Tennant Lake, how it is today. I read that it used to be a “real” lake, but that it has been filling in with plants more recently. That’s natural, I think. Things change. The view below is to the left.
The view below is to the right. Birds were talking everywhere. The air smelled so fresh.
Think about all the wildlife there must be in and on the water.
The photo below shows a path that leads WAY out through those trees, past those trees, to the end of the lake and to a viewing platform that’s built out over the lake, just a foot or two above the level of the water.
I was tempted, but I could see dark clouds approaching, so I headed back to the gardens for just a few more photos.
Ajuga, a ground cover … above.
And then I walked away from the house and gardens, back across the gravel parking lot, past my big white truck, and down a little side road for a few feet. There is obviously a lot of water here.
And then (above) a gentle rain started to fall. So I clambered back into my big white truck and drove out. But on my way out, I turned onto that side road that led to the Hovander Homestead. I drove through only a portion of it, didn’t stop at all. But I got photos of the important parts. 🙂 Two barns.
That was a great outing. What did you like best? I wish I could share the smell of those plants and the fresh country air. I liked everything best. 🙂