英语博客：Visit to Blueberry Hills.

　　remember, don't you, that last week I was busy in the front garden. I was enjoying the weather and changing the look of our entryway. Well, I had had enough of digging, weeding, and raking, so I decided¹ to go on a hunt for the perfect tree. The closest nursery garden to our house is just down the road, literally² about one minute by car. It is actually a home appliance business which opens up a nursery area for the Spring and Summer only. Bark is poured out over a large area and then a variety of trees and bushes are placed on top, watered regularly, and put up for sale. With a quick glance at the nursery garden from my car, I could tell that they didn't have what I wanted. I am not a fussy³ shopper, but I can quickly tell, in a shopping situation, if I'm in the right place to get what I want. So, I turned left at the traffic lights and headed west to Blueberry Hills nursery. They have a large selection of good quality everything. Their items tend to be more expensive than in other places, but the quality seems to make up for that. I got out and an employee helped me find the Japanese Maples⁴. They had a kind called a Coral Bark which was gorgeous. As its name suggests, the bark is a brilliant pinkish red. The leaves are not out yet, but apparently⁵ they are green with a red outline. It sounds like it would make a stunning⁶ focal point for the entryway. I looked at the price tag and gasped⁷. Nearly a hundred and fifty bucks⁸! A bit too much for me, I'm afraid. I think I would have to talk to my husband first before I spend that kind of money on one tree. I walked around a little more, looking at other trees, and taking in the pretty landscape. Blueberry Hills overlooks a small valley to the side of Wenatchee where the Wenatchee river runs into the Columbia. It is very picturesque⁹ setting, especially with all of the blueberry and lavendar bushes covering large areas of the property, and, in recent years, they have planted vineyards and opened a wine tasting area. Even if we don't get the tree, I plan on returning for another look, or perhaps to sample some wine.
Grammar notes.
Related vocabulary: to have enough of..., bark, fussy, picturesque.
1. I have had enough of this cold weather! It's time for the sun!
2. That tree doesn't look healthy; its bark is peeling everywhere.
3. My boy is so fussy about his food. He will only eat white cheese, and when we have chicken, he only eats the wings!
4. The area really is picturesque; it literally looks like a picture from a fairy tale.

1 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

2 literally   

adv.照字面意义，逐字地；确实

参考例句：

• He translated the passage literally.他逐字逐句地翻译这段文字。
• Sometimes she would not sit down till she was literally faint.有时候，她不走到真正要昏厥了，决不肯坐下来。

3 fussy   

adj.为琐事担忧的，过分装饰的，爱挑剔的

参考例句：

• He is fussy about the way his food's cooked.他过分计较食物的烹调。
• The little girl dislikes her fussy parents.小女孩讨厌她那过分操心的父母。

4 maples   

槭树，枫树( maple的名词复数 )； 槭木

参考例句：

• There are many maples in the park. 公园里有好多枫树。
• The wind of the autumn colour the maples carmine . 秋风给枫林涂抹胭红。

5 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

6 stunning   

adj.极好的；使人晕倒的

参考例句：

• His plays are distinguished only by their stunning mediocrity.他的戏剧与众不同之处就是平凡得出奇。
• The finished effect was absolutely stunning.完工后的效果非常美。

7 gasped   

v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要

参考例句：

• She gasped at the wonderful view. 如此美景使她惊讶得屏住了呼吸。
• People gasped with admiration at the superb skill of the gymnasts. 体操运动员的高超技艺令人赞叹。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8 bucks   

n.雄鹿( buck的名词复数 )；钱；（英国十九世纪初的）花花公子；（用于某些表达方式）责任v.（马等）猛然弓背跃起( buck的第三人称单数 )；抵制；猛然震荡；马等尥起后蹄跳跃

参考例句：

• They cost ten bucks. 这些值十元钱。
• They are hunting for bucks. 他们正在猎雄兔。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 picturesque   

adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的

参考例句：

• You can see the picturesque shores beside the river.在河边你可以看到景色如画的两岸。
• That was a picturesque phrase.那是一个形象化的说法。