Shelby Edwards
@sedwards.bsky.social
Writer poet with a day job | Senior senior risk manager with a knack for things going sideways | Army Maj (Ret). | Plant geek | Northwesterner | @STEWest at that other place
Got my "just one thing" done in the garden today, I swear that rule saves the day more often than not. A new miniature "Nectar Babe" nectarine in a big terracotta pot on the patio. Sun has cleared the ridge South of the garden and it's all feeling very Spring-like out there.
February 4, 2026 at 11:57 PM
Got my "just one thing" done in the garden today, I swear that rule saves the day more often than not. A new miniature "Nectar Babe" nectarine in a big terracotta pot on the patio. Sun has cleared the ridge South of the garden and it's all feeling very Spring-like out there.
Solid rain showers this morning, settling into a gray Tuesday. Went out and planted evergreen star jasmine down by the lower gate, hoping it's as tough and deer resistant as suggested, and two roses, the pink "Gentle Hermione" and the tough white rugosa, Blanc Double De Coubert from France.
February 2, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Solid rain showers this morning, settling into a gray Tuesday. Went out and planted evergreen star jasmine down by the lower gate, hoping it's as tough and deer resistant as suggested, and two roses, the pink "Gentle Hermione" and the tough white rugosa, Blanc Double De Coubert from France.
My "just one thing" in the garden today--divided some Black-eyed Susan, planted lavender around a fruit tree I want the deer to leave be, and got this amazing apple in the ground for an espalier along a sunny fence--Hudson's Golden Gem. Originally found feral in an Oregon hedgerow in the 1930s.
January 31, 2026 at 9:22 PM
My "just one thing" in the garden today--divided some Black-eyed Susan, planted lavender around a fruit tree I want the deer to leave be, and got this amazing apple in the ground for an espalier along a sunny fence--Hudson's Golden Gem. Originally found feral in an Oregon hedgerow in the 1930s.
In the assessment itself it highlighted one example--over a decade old now. Migration will escalate. Its even happening inside the U.S., we have places that are running out of water, getting too hot. We have huge work to do, fast, and our country is all tangled up in ~~~mess.
January 28, 2026 at 2:50 AM
In the assessment itself it highlighted one example--over a decade old now. Migration will escalate. Its even happening inside the U.S., we have places that are running out of water, getting too hot. We have huge work to do, fast, and our country is all tangled up in ~~~mess.
“We hold these truths…” Must read, gem of a book. It goes phrase by phrase through that historic sentence and is full of insights into the drafting and the drafters while raising important questions about this moment in our history. Book clubs, coffee circles, this needs talking about.
January 27, 2026 at 5:28 PM
“We hold these truths…” Must read, gem of a book. It goes phrase by phrase through that historic sentence and is full of insights into the drafting and the drafters while raising important questions about this moment in our history. Book clubs, coffee circles, this needs talking about.
It’s gray and wet and refusing to freeze, but the witch hazel is blooming, despite it all.
January 7, 2026 at 8:38 PM
It’s gray and wet and refusing to freeze, but the witch hazel is blooming, despite it all.
Purchased my analog wall calendar for 2026...always need something that lets me see what's coming at a glance. And it's always the Wild Desert Calendar from the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA). Think I was colonized by sage dust and cottonwoods early.
December 23, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Purchased my analog wall calendar for 2026...always need something that lets me see what's coming at a glance. And it's always the Wild Desert Calendar from the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA). Think I was colonized by sage dust and cottonwoods early.
Just one, named by the europeans Quercus garryana aka, the Garry Oak or Oregon White Oak. One of the most endangered habitats, we only have the barest remnants on Whidbey, but few of the individual trees left were here when Vancouver came ashore. The Oak Society and Land Trust are replanting.
December 22, 2025 at 7:15 AM
Just one, named by the europeans Quercus garryana aka, the Garry Oak or Oregon White Oak. One of the most endangered habitats, we only have the barest remnants on Whidbey, but few of the individual trees left were here when Vancouver came ashore. The Oak Society and Land Trust are replanting.
Looks like another very concentrated punch for Whidbey tomorrow afternoon with expected gusts over 65mph. We lost major transmission lines and had damage to four substations last night, repairs are still in progress. Crews from Canada are down to help, lots of lines still up but holding trees.
December 18, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Looks like another very concentrated punch for Whidbey tomorrow afternoon with expected gusts over 65mph. We lost major transmission lines and had damage to four substations last night, repairs are still in progress. Crews from Canada are down to help, lots of lines still up but holding trees.
Next round. Another 4-6 inches on the coast, with up to 8-12 inches in the Cascades by Friday. Even 2 or 3 inches in Seattle and Portland. Serious flooding expected along the Nooksack, Skagit (both North Cascades) and Snonomish Rivers. Very happy to be in that little blue bubble.
December 16, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Next round. Another 4-6 inches on the coast, with up to 8-12 inches in the Cascades by Friday. Even 2 or 3 inches in Seattle and Portland. Serious flooding expected along the Nooksack, Skagit (both North Cascades) and Snonomish Rivers. Very happy to be in that little blue bubble.
First thing I did this morning was check the Skagit... Good news over night is the basin didn't get the worse case rainfall totals and the expected peak is now back below 40'. Still a huge flood event, but every inch matters to the flood walls and dikes holding.
December 11, 2025 at 3:33 PM
First thing I did this morning was check the Skagit... Good news over night is the basin didn't get the worse case rainfall totals and the expected peak is now back below 40'. Still a huge flood event, but every inch matters to the flood walls and dikes holding.
Just excruciating flood event developing in the Skagit.
December 11, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Just excruciating flood event developing in the Skagit.
River gauge at Mount Vernon. Running 26.64 feet and rising as of 9:15 this morning. Flood warning for 4' to 5' over previous flood events (here's hoping we don't go that far).
December 10, 2025 at 5:42 PM
River gauge at Mount Vernon. Running 26.64 feet and rising as of 9:15 this morning. Flood warning for 4' to 5' over previous flood events (here's hoping we don't go that far).
Went to my shelves…There’s Snyder’s “On Tyranny”, Helen Hanff’s wonderful “84, Charing Cross Road”, “Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay in Forty Questions” from Valeria Luiselli, and older and the shortest, “Here Is New York” from E.B. White, which still has my boarding pass from a visit 20 years ago.
November 14, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Went to my shelves…There’s Snyder’s “On Tyranny”, Helen Hanff’s wonderful “84, Charing Cross Road”, “Tell Me How It Ends: An Essay in Forty Questions” from Valeria Luiselli, and older and the shortest, “Here Is New York” from E.B. White, which still has my boarding pass from a visit 20 years ago.
Fancy book mail today, the UK edition (because it has a far better cover).
November 6, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Fancy book mail today, the UK edition (because it has a far better cover).
Alyssa, look what they've done...
October 20, 2025 at 10:29 PM
Alyssa, look what they've done...
Need a chaser for #NoKings Day? Elections are happening across the country, almost all with local races and initiatives that make a real difference. Filled out my ballot today, everything from school board races to our local pool and cemetery commissions (yes, it’s a thing).
October 18, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Need a chaser for #NoKings Day? Elections are happening across the country, almost all with local races and initiatives that make a real difference. Filled out my ballot today, everything from school board races to our local pool and cemetery commissions (yes, it’s a thing).
"We have it in our power to begin the world over again."
Thomas Paine in his radical pamphlet "Common Sense", January 1776.
Thomas Paine in his radical pamphlet "Common Sense", January 1776.
October 18, 2025 at 6:08 PM
"We have it in our power to begin the world over again."
Thomas Paine in his radical pamphlet "Common Sense", January 1776.
Thomas Paine in his radical pamphlet "Common Sense", January 1776.
It’s larch season in the Cascades. Rereading “The Larch: A Love Story” originally published in the Orion September/October 2012 edition.
October 12, 2025 at 9:33 PM
It’s larch season in the Cascades. Rereading “The Larch: A Love Story” originally published in the Orion September/October 2012 edition.
Looks like rain is well and truly back. The slugs will be happy.
September 26, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Looks like rain is well and truly back. The slugs will be happy.
Wondering again and not for the first time--where's the line? This mentally failing old man, compromised by Russia is now trying to take us back to Afghanistan and threatening war (again), anyone on the right going to say no? Either over principles, national security interest, or cost?
September 20, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Wondering again and not for the first time--where's the line? This mentally failing old man, compromised by Russia is now trying to take us back to Afghanistan and threatening war (again), anyone on the right going to say no? Either over principles, national security interest, or cost?
It’s as good as everyone says it is. What an amazing read, masterful.
September 20, 2025 at 8:00 PM
It’s as good as everyone says it is. What an amazing read, masterful.