All The Latest Dirt

Wakodahatchee Wetlands

2012-01-02T20:35:00.001-05:00

One of the best bird watching spots nearby is the Wakodahatchee Wetlands
in Delray Beach.

Cormorant on the rail

Egyptian Goose - the first time I've seen one

You almost always see an alligator or two...

Happy birding!

My Tropical Garden

2011-12-28T19:27:00.002-05:00

I've been working on my tropical garden. This year I had the beds dug, and planted this area with lots of bromeliads, agave, and ti plants.

My air plant is in bloom. First it blushes, then it blooms.

I got this lady at the Naples Botanical Garden. I planted a variegated jade in her head.

Still have room to 'play ball' with Emily.

Visit to Charleston, SC

2011-10-30T18:00:00.000-04:00

Charleston is a great city to visit. In the morning, we took a horse carriage tour, and in the afternoon took a House and Garden Tour of Montagu Street, part of the Fall Tours of Homes and Gardens put on by the Preservation Society of Charleston. Here are some of the things we found most interesting.

Here we are with Bill waiting for our tour to begin.

Single House Architecture - a one room wide house provided good cross ventilation. The porches were built on the south and west sides to catch the sea breezes.

Door to the "piazza", a 2 story veranda along the side of the house. When the door is open visitors are welcome.

Many of the homes were built with bricks, since the slaves made them during the winter months when they weren't in the fields. The bricks were then covered with stucco. Lines were added to make them look authentic.

Many older homes have round plates - the end caps from the metal rods that pass through the joists and connect by bolts on the outer walls. These earthquake bolts were added after a severe earthquake in Charleston in 1886 destroyed much of the city. They can be adjusted to straighten the walls after they shift.

Most houses had separate kitchen houses in the rear for fire protection - during the late 1800's and early 1900's they were re-joined to the main house by a “hyphen.” We ate lots of crab cakes!

Common Ground Country Fair

2011-09-30T21:30:00.002-04:00

The Common Ground Fair in Unity, Maine is my favorite fair. I have been going every year for the last several years.

Garlic Braids and Japanese Lanterns in the Farmer's Market

Carriage Rides - So Much Fun!

I loved these felted purses

Funny Bird Houses

These guys loved posing for us!

The food is one of the best parts!

I do love pumpkins!

Fall Vegetables

Common Ground Country Fair 2011

My Late Summer Garden

2011-09-05T21:50:00.000-04:00

Caladium

Coneflowers

Acorn Squash

Fuchsia & Euphorbia 'Jack Frost'

Festive Mums

Jack-Be-Little Pumpkin

Phlox

Springtime in Ocala, Florida

2011-04-17T20:07:00.000-04:00

The Magnolia in Bloom

The Pond at Shalom Park

Iris Growing in the Pond

Mi Pet Dancing Speakers

2011-03-19T16:54:00.000-04:00

Society of the Four Arts Garden, Palm Beach, FL

2011-02-06T20:39:00.000-05:00

The Four Arts Garden is a fun place to visit. It is maintained by the Garden Club of Palm Beach.

The gardens were designed in 1938 to show the tropical plants you can grow in South Florida

A good place to rest

So inviting

There are interesting sculptures

The Bismark Palm (left) - one of may favorites, but too big for my yard

Sior Maschera by Philip Jackson

Spring comes to Florida

2011-02-01T21:42:00.000-05:00

Here's a little Florida Sunshine for everyone stuck in another snow storm. Spring is coming to Florida. You can see new growth on some plants, and flowering trees are starting to bloom. These photos were taken at Mounts Botanical Garden in West Palm Beach last week.

Yellow Tabebuia

Also called the trumpet tree - bursts into bloom.

It blooms before it leafs out.

Peach Tree - you don't usually see these in Florida

BeautyBerry (Callicarpa americana) - a Florida native with the most beautiful berries.

Seuss Landing

2011-01-29T16:27:00.001-05:00

Another fun place to visit at Universal'sIslands of Adventures is Seuss Landing. It is so colorful! What a great place to bring the kids.

You can't help but smile when you are here...

Signs point the way

All the favorite characters

Circus McGurkus Cafe - wouldn't you like to have lunch here?

The High in the Sky Seuss Trolley Train Ride. A nice calm ride after the wild rides at Harry Potter's Wizarding World.

Lots of cute topiaries

Looks ominous

The Cat in the Hat

Truffala Trees and the cutest garbage cans

The Lorax

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

2011-01-27T17:12:00.001-05:00

My cousin, Cyndy, and I took a ride up to Orlando so we could see the new Harry Potter World at Universal Studios.

All Abourd the Hogswart's Express

Colorful candy at the HoneyDukes

The Flight of the Hippogriff roller coaster brings you past this guy.

We ate lunch at the Three Broomsticks

I had ribs, corn on the cob, and pumpkin juice

Cyndy tried the cornish pasties and ButterBeer. Everything was really good.

Happy Bartender at the The Hogshead Pub

Its been cold in Florida this winter....

We loved the houses

Lots of fun shops to explore.

Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey takes you through Hogwart's Castle - very cool.

Bring your own stamps for your postcards, and maybe you can get them postmarked at Hogsmeade, although we never found out where.

A visit to The Orchid Society

2011-01-13T21:38:00.000-05:00

Thought you might enjoy seeing some flowers today - since the only states without any snow are Florida and Hawaii - here's some Florida sunshine.

Celebrating Oshogatsu at Morikami

2011-01-09T18:45:00.000-05:00

I went to Morikami to celebrate the New Year.

Heard a delightful concert by the Friends of Koto

We watched rice pounding and making mochi rice cakes

We got to try mochi. I liked it - especially the red bean paste stuffing.

I loved the taiko drumming.

The kids had a great time too.

Happy Holidays from Florida

2011-01-05T21:42:00.000-05:00

Ornaments hanging from Palm Trees wrapped in rope light

Max's birthday cake - chocolate pudding cake made in the crock pot, with the coolest candle

Christmas dinner at my neighbor's house. Christine is the best cook!

Mom and me in our New Year's hats

Christine's Christmas Dinner

Check out these deserts!

Who says its warm in Florida?

Mom and Dad join us for dinner on New Year's Day

Max made an apple pie. Mmmm...

I helped Phil and Christine decorate their tree

Love these huge Christmas decorations - they almost make up for the lack of snow.

Em loves all the partying.

Wellington, Florida Environmental Preserve

2010-12-10T19:18:00.000-05:00

We visited the newly opened Wellington Environmental Preserve, located at 3499 Flying Cow Road. Its a great place to take a walk, watch the birds, and get back to nature.

We hiked out to the lookout tower (about a mile each way). It was easy to climb and the views were great.

The observation tower

View from the top

Judy & Sarah pause for a photo op

Native Sabal Palms and Dahoon Holly planted in the 365 acre preserve which also serves as a storage area for storm water runoff.

Chanukah Cookies

2010-12-07T20:23:00.000-05:00

Sugar cookies, rugalah, and poppy seed cookies.

One of my favorite holiday traditions is to get together with my sister, Judy, for a bake-athon. This year we combined cookie weekend with my parents 60th wedding anniversary, and baked Chanukah cookies. The recipe for the poppy seed cookies came from my grandmother.

Sarah helped decorate the sugar cookies. We pack up tins of cookies and give them away as gifts. So glad we could have a cookie-weekend this year.

Floral Designs for an Art Show

2010-11-28T20:56:00.000-05:00

I was invited to create a floral design for the desert table at an art show in our community. I used the traditional Fall plant material - cattails, mums, safflower in a contemporary design.

My friend, Christine, made this floral design for the wine and cheese table.

The evening was so much fun - sipping a glass of wine, looking at the art, and meeting neighbors.

Serenity Garden Tea House and Cafe, W. Palm Beach, FL

2010-11-15T15:40:00.000-05:00

What a great place for lunch or afternoon tea - The Serenity Garden Tea House in West Palm Beach.

Its located at 316 Vallette Way, near Flamingo Park.

There is a beautiful garden as you enter the restaurant

I always loved these flower bicycles.

We started with a tomato basil soup, enjoyed tea sandwiches, scones, and delicious deserts.

Each table is set differently - all are so inviting. You can bring a crowd (we had 34) or go alone. Can't wait to go back.

Visit to Tropical Garden in Flamingo Park, W. Palm Beach, FL

2010-11-10T15:03:00.000-05:00

Buddah in the garden

African Land Tortoises

Tropical Plants have so much texture

A Seat by the Pool

The Front Garden

Coconut Towers

Crinum Lily Flower

Spooky Halloween Brunch

2010-10-25T17:29:00.000-04:00

Katie outdid herself once again with a delicious Halloween Spooky Brunch

My favorite desert - Dirt From The Graveyard

Sarah made fossil cookies inspired by the November issue of Martha Stewart Living. They came out great!

Pumpkin Puffs - Taste as good as they look

Seven Feet Under Dip - had to go back for more...

My Spooky Family

I wore my spider ears.

Stevie looks good wearing the spiders too!

Thanks Katie, Our Spooky Cook

Happy Halloween!

The Colors of Fall

2010-10-22T08:33:00.013-04:00

The Island View at Sunset

The Penninsula

Fall Never Lasts Long Enough

Asters - The Last Fall Flowers

2010-10-21T08:10:00.001-04:00

The last flowers to bloom in my garden in the fall are asters. I put yellow chrysanthemums nearby.

Vegetable Lasagna - Using the harvest

2010-10-20T07:58:00.000-04:00

Here is a dish I made to use the vegetables I grew in the garden this summer. It has plum tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic, swiss chard, and zuchinni.

French Mountain, Rome, Maine

2010-10-14T20:50:00.000-04:00

There's a new loop trail on French Mountain

I love bringing people here - everyone loves it.

Beautiful views for an easy, short hike.

It's Apple Time at North Star Orchards, Madison, ME

2010-10-01T17:41:00.000-04:00

Judy in front of the store with the pumpkins and mums

Sisters in the apple orchard

It always seems to rain whenever we go to get apples.

In search of the view - it was too foggy to see much

You can try different varieites. We all bought Mac's. Definitely the best apples I've had yet this year.

Raf wanted to drive the tractor

But he ended up pushing it instead.

We got to take this fun tractor ride.

Common Ground Country Fair, Maine

2010-09-28T21:23:00.000-04:00

A wonderful way to celebrate the fall is with a trip to the Common Ground Fair

You can buy all kinds of good food.

Lots of people wear Sweet Annie Crowns.

They wear all kinds of fun things.

We took a wagon ride.

More funny hats.

The kids always have a good time.

My favorite - the llamas!

Katie & Raf enjoy the strawberry cream puffs.

I always try some of the lamb.

Judy likes to check out the wool.

And the yarn too.

Judy and I sampled the Apple Pie Cones. Delicious!

Waterville Maine Community Garden Club Beautifies Oakland

2010-09-24T16:11:00.000-04:00

We took on a new project this fall - The planters in Oakland, Maine. We decorated them with mums, ornamental grasses, and kale for the fall season

Jackie wheels the mulch donated by Blake's Hardware down Main Street

Here comes Shirley with a barrel full of mulch

What is Shirley doing in that barrel?

Nothing like some mums to brighten up the town

The original horse trough from 1900

Laura Pierce, owner of Pierce's Nursery in Oakland, Maine donated all the flowers

Pierce's Nursery in Oakland - what a great place to shop!

The New Katie Cruz

2010-09-08T11:41:00.000-04:00

Congratulations Katie and Raf - Just Married September 5, 2010

The Happy Couple.

Before the wedding

Max saves the bench in beautiful Prescott Park.

Mom and Shelley waiting for everyone to arrive. Where is Raf's family?

Judy and Katie drop off the balloons at The Wellington Room for the reception

We're so glad Mom and Dad could come.

Dad and Katie enjoy dinner at Blue Latitudes in Dover - our favorite place for before-wedding dining.

Here comes the bride accompanied by Sarah. My beautiful nieces.

Raf's official welcome to our family.

The happy couple enter the reception as the crowd throws confetti and rose petals.

Cutting the cake.

September Flowers

May you live happily ever after.

Emily's Summer Vacation

2010-09-07T15:59:00.000-04:00

Emily had so much fun this summer. Here she is at one of her favorite activities.

My Late August Maine Garden

2010-08-24T21:54:00.000-04:00

Balancing Owls in front of phlox, coneflowers, and bee balm.

I was so excited to pick my first pumpkins.

I like to grow sugar pumpkins because they are also good to cook with.

Morning Glories climb the trellis entering the vegetable garden.

I planted them once and they self-seed, coming back each year.

I love the sound of the bamboo wind chimes.

Late summer border of pink and white coneflowers, purple lobelia, and phlox in bloom.

Everything looks good in front of the grey boulders.

This petunia is the centerpiece of the garden. It is surrounded by silver artemesia and phlox.

Container with lime green licorice (helichrysum), matches the green on the edges of the leaves of the coleus.
In the center is purple fountain grass.

Lots of butterflies flutter through the garden.

My Maine Vegetable Garden Early August

2010-08-10T18:13:00.000-04:00

It has been a great growing season - lots of sunshine and hot weather.

Edible Nasturiums planted from seed saved from last year surround the garden

Oregano Blooming - a perennial that comes back every year with Ribbon Grass

Dill 'Bouquet' - Judy's 'must' in potato salad

'Big Bertha' Pepper

Waltham Butternut Squash

This is the first year I've grown 'Bonbon' Buttercup Squash.

'Baby Bear' Pie Pumpkin is Starting to Turn Orange

Lots of bees to pollinate.

I've been eating Swiss Chard 'Bright Lights' all season.

Marigolds planted from seed saved from last year are pretty and are supposed to 'ward off pests'.

Mmmm... I'm hungry ... time for dinner.

All varieties are from Johnny's Selected Seeds except for 'Big Bertha' which comes from Burpee.

Camden, Maine House & Garden Tour

2010-07-21T18:38:00.000-04:00

Every summer the Camden Garden Club holds a House & Garden Tour

The daylilies, hosta, and astilbe were all in bloom

Daisies look beautiful by the blue lacecap hydrangea and grey rocks

I always enjoy seeing how people dress

And the hats they wear

Beautiful Camden Harbor - always a fun place to visit

The Blanket That Grew

2010-07-21T07:43:00.000-04:00

Judy and Sarah decided I needed a new project last summer. So they made me a basket full of yarn.

Judy taught me how to make granny squares.

It was so much fun putting the colors together.

I learned how to sew them all together.

Since it is for Max who is 6'5" I had to make it bigger and bigger and bigger.
When I thought I was all done, I had to make one more row.

I finally finished it! My first afghan!

Time for another project.

Funny Emily

2010-07-13T13:56:00.001-04:00

Last summer Emily hurt her back. This summer she's not quite as wild, but I am happy to report she is doing great. Playing ball, swimming, and here she is waiting for some 'action'.

I think its so funny how she crosses her legs.

Mid July in my Maine Garden

2010-07-12T13:50:00.000-04:00

My garden looks its best in July. I put a purple supertunia on a pedestal right in the middle of the garden.

Daylilies, Daisies, and wild Black-Eyed Susans brighten the path.

I love this beatiful annual rudbekia. I guess I'm partial to 'Susan's',

The hummingbirds love this red bee balm, and buzz through the garden every few minutes.

The orange daylilies are all abloom.

A Children's Garden

2010-07-07T11:38:00.000-04:00

I visited this really cool garden on the Monmouth, Maine garden tour

at the Rise and Shine Bed & Breakfast.

Everything was child-sized.

Checkers made of log slices.

Peter Rabbit would like this garden.

What a fun place to visit.

Happy 4th of July

2010-07-05T15:07:00.000-04:00

My Patriotic Whisky Barrel.

A 4th of July treat - strawberry shortcakes with blueberries too.

My Japanese Maple Tree

2010-06-30T11:39:00.000-04:00

I grew this tree from a little baby seedling that my parent's gave me from their tree. It survived being eaten by deer, and turned into a multi-branched tree. After pruning it to a decent shape, here's how it looks now.

Its about 10 years old, and looks especially good when the orange daylilies and black-eyed Susan's bloom.

Happy Summer

2010-06-21T20:36:00.000-04:00

The peonies are just gorgeous this year.

My favorite color combination - blue & yellow. Lobelia & Melampodium

This cranesbill is one of my favorite plants. It is a perennial that stays in bloom most of the summer.

In a shady spot - hosta, foxglove, spirea, and a fuschia

Perennial foxglove coming into bloom.

I love it when the days are so long - today we have about 16 hours of daylight. Lots of time to garden.

Visit to Good Karma Farm - Belfast, Maine

2010-06-18T13:56:00.000-04:00

I have always been a llama lover.

So when the Waterville Area Newcomer's craft group planned a trip to Good Karma Farm I was so excited.

We learned how the yarn was made.

Then got to see the alpacas. Their legs remind me of a poodle cut.

I loved this little baby.

What a sweetie!

Bob's Clam Hut, Kittery, Maine

2010-06-15T17:04:00.002-04:00

Here's another favorite restaurant I like to stop at when on I-95 driving to Maine. It is just off the highway on Route 1 in Kittery, Maine. Bob's Clam Hut

Nothing like a good lobster roll. Then you can go shopping at the many outlets.

Back in Maine

2010-06-14T17:03:00.000-04:00

Its so good to be back in Maine....

To be able to go to 'The Fiber Frolic'

Eat Lobster...

See old friends...

Spend time with Judy and Sarah

Enjoy the butterflies in my garden

Grow some veggies

Peacocks in the Garden

2010-06-01T16:09:00.000-04:00

These are pictures of peacocks at one of the gardens on the Mounts Botanical Tour. They liked to hang out on the roof.

Under the beautiful angel's trumpet.

Looking for a mate.

Miniature Table Setting - Blue Ribbon

2010-05-03T20:59:00.000-04:00

I won a blue ribbon for my miniature table setting at the Florida Federation of Garden Clubs, Shrunken Treasures, Petite Advanced Standard Flower Show. Here's the writeup, my friend Christine did about it.

It is one thing to create a beautiful table top design, but quite another to create one that you actually want to sit down and enjoy. This is what Susan Hillson did in her 5" Blue Ribbon Winning Petite "Golf Tournament" Table Top Design. Cleverly using a miniature pewter Golf Bag tooth-pick-holder for fresh flowers Susan placed the golf club picks to create her line. She continued the flow of texture throughout the predominating pink color design which included mugs, plates, and napkins with silver bead napkin rings. You could not help but smile. Congratulations!

Happy Birthday Emily!

2010-04-15T20:38:00.000-04:00

Emily is 10 years old today. She's got a white face but is still so cute... here she is in her tropical garden.

Life is good...she had a hard summer last year, but nothing like a winter in Florida to make all the aches and pains go away!

My Spring Garden in Florida

2010-04-11T21:30:00.001-04:00

My cassia trees have been blooming for about 3 months now. It is so beautiful to look out the window and see yellow flowers. . The leaves are so delicate, they remind me of spring up north. I underplanted them with purple lantana. But, they are still small. Red crown of thorns is in the background.

I put this orchid on my sable palm last May. It just bloomed. Yea! The yellow allamanda has been blooming for months now - once I got the landscapers to stop trimming it.

Color In The Garden

2010-04-10T07:47:00.000-04:00

I am teaching a course at Palm Beach State College in Boca Ratone called 'Color in the Garden'. Here's some of the pictures I used in the talk.

Warm Colors - Daylilies and Coreopsis from my garden in Maine. What a cheerful sight.

Coneflowers and Black-eyed Susan's from my garden in Maine. They go well together because they are a similar shape. Pink shows up well in front of a grey fence.

Golden dew drop tree has beautiful blue flowers followed by gold berries. Underplanted with blue lobelia and white osteospermum daisy like flowers and euphorbia 'diamond frost'. Looks great in a white planter

by a white fence. Both Mom and I bought the tree here in Florida.

Yellow allamanda and pink bouganvillea - a surprisingly pleasing color combination.

A monochromatic color scheme - 2 shades of purple petunias

Using primary colors - blue argeratum and yellow zinnias with white. Even the butterflies like this one!

Happy Easter

2010-04-04T20:17:00.000-04:00

Sometimes you just need a bunny...

Pretty in Pink

2010-03-31T21:57:00.000-04:00

Pretty Katie in front of the azaleas at Morikami.

The Bag Ladies

2010-03-30T06:54:00.000-04:00

My sister Judy made us these beautiful pocketbooks. My colors certainly 'brighten the day'.

Jersey Boys

2010-03-23T11:02:00.000-04:00

I went to see the Jersey Boys which is playing at the Kravis Center in W. Palm Beach through March 28. It is the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons. The many hit songs woven into the story brought back memories - Big Girls Don't Cry, Walk Like a Man, My Eyes Adored You, Oh, What a Night, Sherry, Bye Baby Bye. After the show we had dinner at the Cheesecake Factory where I got this great shot of Frankie (left) played by Joseph Leo Bwarie. I would love to see it again!

Emily loves her toys

2010-03-06T21:33:00.004-05:00

When she finishes playing she likes to sleep with them all around her. Here are some of her favorite things - an octopus, soccer ball, and that big long thing.

She also loves her little octopus and hedgehog.

Such a funny dog.

Arthur R Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge Canoe Trail

2010-02-28T21:06:00.009-05:00

This is one of my favorite places to go kayaking.

The trail is 5.5 miles, and takes a few hours by kayak. Longer by canoe.

You can rent a canoe or kayak here. We like the double kayak.

Feels great to be back on the water.

Here's my brother, Steve.

You need to keep your eyes out for these - alligator crossing ahead.

They are also basking in the sun by the side.

We always see beautiful birds - here's a wood stork.

And a heron.

So much fun!

Gopher Turtle

2010-02-08T21:14:00.003-05:00

My Native Plants class took a trip to Jupiter Inlet, near the lighthouse, to see more plants that grow in the Florida Scrub.

We came across this gopher turtle, which is on the endangered species list primarily due to loss of habitat. He let us take his picture, then scurried away. The gopher tortoise belongs to a group of land tortoises that originated in North America 60 million years ago, making it one of the oldest living species.

We saw lots of sable palms, the Florida state tree.

This area is all sandy, even though it is a ways away from the beach.
The love vine covers up everything. Behind it is blue saw palmetto and more sable palms.

Whats in Bloom - Mounts Botanical Garden

2010-01-24T15:43:00.006-05:00

These are a collection of photos I took as part of a nature photography course held at the Mounts Botanical Garden.

South Florida Fair

2010-01-23T22:10:00.005-05:00

I went to the South Florida Fair for the first time this year. Since I love fairs in New England I thought I'd check out a southern fair to see what it was like.

There were lots of 'shows'.

Our favorite was the Chinese Acrobats.

Elaine, my little sister, wanted to see the pigs race.

They didn't move too fast.

There were lots of 'vehicles' to have your picture taken with.

And even an alligator show.

Look who I found to 'clown around' with.

A visit to the Florida Scrub

2010-01-15T15:41:00.006-05:00

I'm taking a course on Florida's native plants at Palm Beach Community College with Dr. George Rogers, the notable plant ID expert. Each week we go on field trips to look at plants in their native habitat.

We started with plants in the Florida Scrub habitat. Much of the scrub has been lost to development, and as you drive along, you see patches between the strip malls and high rises.

Two of the largest areas of remaining scrub are found on the Atlantic Coastal Ridge, which runs parallel and in close proximity to the east coast of Florida. We saw Myrtle Oak, Chapman's Oak, Dwarf and Saw Palmetto. (We also saw about 50 other types of plants).

We parked at Loggerhead Marine Life Center in Juno Beach.

It is a sea turtle hospital.

After class I went across the street to the beach.

This pelican was just hanging out enjoying the warmer weather. Definitely a fun place to visit.

Tillandsia (air plant) in bloom

2010-01-11T21:33:00.000-05:00

My air plant is blooming! I bought it a few years ago, and hung it in my silver buttonwood tree.

It is usually grey, but right before it bloomed it blushed (changed colors). Air plants are members of the bromeliad family, and don't need soil to grow in. Its looked like this for a

few weeks.

Freezing in Florida

2010-01-10T09:20:00.000-05:00

Right now it is 38 degrees here. Brrr.... feels like New England. I covered my impatiens and brought in orchids, begonias, and succulants. I hope we don't get a frost here.

I get to wear my beautiful scarf Judy made me.

The houses are made with cinderblock construction so you have to bundle up inside.

Emily is happy with this weather though!

From weather.com: The lizards become completely immobile in temperatures below 40 degrees Fahrenheit (four degrees Celsius) as their cold blood stops flowing, and have been filmed this week falling out of perches in trees.

I haven't seen any of them around for awhile - maybe I should check the trees.

Happy New Year 2010

2010-01-09T21:04:00.004-05:00

Here are some of my favorite pictures from the holidays.

Can it really be 2010?

Max enjoys a ruben at Hilary's.

I made rugalah of course.

My neighbor, Christine, cooked for weeks before her fabulous Christmas dinner.

She made Max a flan for his big birthday.

The best decorations on the street.

Planting a Succulent Container Garden

2009-12-13T20:40:00.006-05:00

I led a workshop this week for my garden club on planting a succulent container. I bought 80 of these beautiful succulents at the Mounts Botanical Garden Plant Sale.

It was so much fun to pick these out.
l
You can buy directly from the growers. There is always a great selection of plants.

I got the terracotta bowls for $4.50 each at Home Depot. We used Miracle Grow Cactus Potting Soil which is a sandy soil.

I like to put a paper coffee filter in the bottom of the pot so the soil will not spill through.

The ladies busy at work. Glad they remembered their gloves.

Don't they look happy?

The finished product.

We topped each bowl with rocks.

These are easy to take care of - like full sun and to be watered sparingly.

Holiday Lights in Florida

2009-12-06T21:07:00.004-05:00

There isn't any snow, but the lights are awesome. This display has got it all!

Happy 49th Anniversary

2009-12-06T20:58:00.003-05:00

I celebrated Mom and Dad's 49th anniversary with them this week.

We had a delicious dinner at Stonewood Grill.

Right after the wedding they headed south to Florida. They got as far as Williamsport, PA the first night. It snowed and all the shoe polish Uncle Jim had written 'Just Married' with, ran all over the car. There was so much rice in the car, they never could get it all out.

I love hearing the stories about those times.

Beautiful Holiday Arrangement

2009-11-20T20:57:00.002-05:00

This beautiful holiday arrangement was made by The Frugal Florist at the Wellington Garden Club meeting. I love the balls of flowers and the colored oasis cut with cookie cutters.

Boca Raton Resort Gardens

2009-11-11T20:57:00.006-05:00

The Wellington Garden Club visited the Boca Raton Resort today.

We enjoyed brunch at the beautiful Palm Court restaurant.

The resort was designed by famed Palm Beach architect Addison Mizner.

It opened in 1926 as the Cloister Inn, the most expensive 100-room hotel of its day.

Mizner lived here with his pet monkey.

The original Cloister Inn.We loved this bathroom.

Linda and Bernice don't mind a little rain.

Is it any wonder I love gardens?

Back in Florida

2009-11-09T20:18:00.001-05:00

Its great to be back in Florida. To see Mom and Dad, and all my friends (some of them feathered).

To see the butterflies.

And the flowers.
And to visit tropical gardens. Especially when I just heard Maine had its first snow.

A walking tour of Savannah

2009-11-08T19:57:00.005-05:00

On our way down to Florida we stopped for a morning in Savannah. We started our walking tour at Forsyth Park.
Beautiful fountains everywhere.

It seemed like every square has a monument.

Beautiful old homes.

In my landscape design course we learned how the city of Savannah was designed in a grid pattern, like many other planned cities. But, Savannah left open spaces in the grids. That's what makes it so beautiful.
I just love the spanish moss dripping from the live oaks.

We walked down to the Savannah River front.

And stopped at this lovely spot across from the Cathedral of St. John for a chai.

Biltmore Estate Gardens

2009-11-02T06:39:00.012-05:00

After taking several courses in landscape design, I was so excited to visit the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC. The gardens were designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, who designed Central Park in NY, the Emerald Necklace in Boston, as well as many other public parks.

The Lodge Gate is at the entrance of the 3 mile long approach road.

The estate was built by George Washington Vanderbilt III in 1895. There are 250 rooms, 33 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, 65 fireplaces, 3 kitchens, an indoor swimming pool and bowling alley.

Judy and I pose by the lion before we go in for a tour.

The views from the house are spectacular. The natural design, composed of rolling meadows and groves of poplar, beech, oak, and hickory trees, exemplifies Olmsted's "pastoral style" of landscape design. It is meant to be calm and soothing.

If you look closely you can see people on horseback, and can almost imagine a hunting party. Deer Park is 250 acres to the south and west of the house.

The gardens are located right next to the house. We loved this beautiful pergola.
The Walled Garden is planted with seasonal flowers in beds arranged in patterns similar to an Elizabethan 'knot garden'.Chrysanthemums, pansies, and ornamental grasses.

The beautiful conservatory.

Inside are tropical plants.
This beauty caught our eye - it is an Abutilon, 'Magic Lantern'

What a great trip! Check out the video below for a panoramic view of Deer Park from the house.

A Drive Along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Virginia

2009-10-30T16:20:00.005-04:00

On our way to Florida we took the 'western route' instead of I95 all the way so we could do some sight seeing. Our first adventure was a drive along the Blue Ridge Parkway which is 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina along the Appalachian mountains. Since we only had 1 extra day to spend on our way south we could not drive the whole thing. We poured over the maps and decided to get on in Roanoke, Virgina. (Rte 220 off Rte 81). Everything is described by mile marker, so it was hard to tell the best places to enter and exit the parkway.

We stopped for gas here before getting on.

We couldn't imagine anyplace as beautiful as fall in New England, but we were most impressed.

There were great spots for picnics. Lots of families who lived in the area came for the day.

Farms by the side of the road.

Beautiful views everywhere.

The gristmill at Marbry Mill.
Views of Cahas Mountain, 3571 feet.

We even got to hear some music! I do wish we had a week.

We took rte. 77 back to rte. 81 to continue or adventure further south.

October in Maine

2009-10-21T19:39:00.004-04:00

My friend Loyce's garden.

Moose hang out here.

Pumpkins galore.
Old cemeteries.
Hay in the fields.

Beautiful churches.

October is my favorite month in New England.

Sisters

2009-10-16T20:25:00.004-04:00

How nice it is to have a sister. We always have such a good time together. Lots of adventures. Here we are 'leaf peeping' after going to an Octoberfest.

Common Ground Fair Weekend

2009-09-28T20:14:00.008-04:00

Judy, Katie, and Raf came to visit for Common Ground Fair weekend.
The food is the best.

There are lots of animals to see.

A team of mules.
Bright and Lion wanted to get 'patted', and kept moving closer and closer.
This llama stood up to have his picture taken.

We enjoyed listening to Nathan's very talented sister, Siiri and her husband, Garrett perform with their band, Tree by Leaf.

And seeing their beautiful children with their faces painted.

Judy gets inspired looking at the yarn.

Felted soap was popular this year.

We ate lots of good things all weekend long - blueberry and raspberry pancakes for breakfast. I picked the berries earlier in the summer and froze them.

Veggie Lasagna with tomatoes, peppers, zuchinni, spinach, basil, and oregano from my garden.

We stopped by the Apple Farm in Fairfield and enjoyed hot cider and donuts, and brought home a great big bag of apples.

Toasting marshmallows for s'mores indoors - a tradition Katie loves. What a great weekend.

Dinner in China Town

2009-09-20T21:05:00.005-04:00

I met Katie and Raf for dinner when I was in Boston last week. We ate at Pho Pasteur, a Vietnamese Restaurant in Chinatown. I first heard of the place when Katie blogged about Pho Pasteur last year.
I ordered Pho Ga (chicken noodle soup) with extra vegetables.

It comes with a plate of bean sprouts and basil. I would never think to add basil to a chicken soup, but it is so good... We had fresh spring rolls as an appetizer.

What a treat.

Making a Nantucket Basket

2009-09-18T16:03:00.000-04:00

I always loved Nantucket Baskets, but since they are so expensive I never bought one. When I got a chance to learn to make one, I was so excited. Here's our teacher, Nathan Taylor, a master basket maker. Nantucket baskets are made on a mold.You start out putting in these pieces.

Then add the weavers.

Here's my basket in the making.

Jackie, Diana, and Loyce are busy at work...

After the first day here's how my basket looked.

Towards the end of the second day, I was finally ready to put on the rim.

Cutting off the ends.

Putting the nails into the rim.

The finished product. Yea - I did it!

My late summer garden

2009-09-17T15:52:00.000-04:00

I decided to plant a border that would look good in late summer. It has coneflowers, black-eyed-Susan's, sedum, lobellia, turtlehead, asters, and phlox.

The phlox looks good in this garden too. Pretty soon the asters will bloom. They are the last flower to bloom in my garden.

It's fair time

2009-09-16T15:41:00.000-04:00

Fall is fair time in New England. One of the first one's I usually go to is the Skowhegan State Fair in August. This is the 188th year for this fair - it started in 1819.

I love looking at the animals.
Watching the tractor pulls...
And looking at the award winning vegetables.

Looking forward to more fairs.

It's harvest time

2009-09-15T15:30:00.005-04:00

Since the 3rd week of August I've been enjoying the 'vegetables of my labor'.

It was such a rainy summer, but I kept replanting and replanting. It all paid off.

This is the first year I grew red cabbage. It's great for making slaw.

Lots of tomatoes, cucumbers, zuchinni, beans, swiss chard, peppers so far...

Visit to Portsmouth, NH

2009-09-13T19:31:00.005-04:00

I always enjoy stopping in Portsmouth, on my way to and from Maine. There are great shops, restaurants, and this time of year, flowers.

The North church in market square built in 1854.

I love walking up and down the streets.
There are great window boxes.

Its so much fun to meet Judy and Sarah in Portsmouth for dinner.

A visit to Stroudwater Village - Portland, Maine

2009-09-12T20:47:00.004-04:00

The Tate House in Portland, Maine was built in 1755 for Captain George Tate (1700-1794) and his family in the Stroudwater Village section of Portland. I love the fence.

From their website:

Tate served as the Senior Mast Agent for the British Royal Navy, overseeing the cutting and shipping of white pines from Maine to England. By law all white pine trees over twenty four inches in diameter were the property of the King and were marked with the sign of a “broad arrow” (three axe slashes). George Tate was responsible for the overseeing of the marking, removal, and loading of these “sticks” (as they were called) into the holds of ships waiting in he Fore River so they could be transported to the great shipbuilding cities in England.

It's fun to take a walk around Stroudwater village, Portland's first settlement.
I need to get back there someday to go into the museum.

Remembering September 11, 2001

2009-09-12T18:46:00.002-04:00

I will always remember September 11, 2001. This 'USA' field was first planted near Keuka Lake in NY in 2001. We went looking for it when we were there in June, and were glad to find it planted again this year.

I will never forget that day, and how eerie and quiet that afternoon was when all the planes were grounded. In memory of all those who were lost that day.

My babette blanket

2009-08-30T20:53:00.005-04:00

Judy and Sarah decided I needed a project this summer. They gathered their 'Vana' yarn in a basket, and Judy brought it up when she came to visit. Here she is holding her yarn basket with the many projects she was working on spread around her.

Here's how it looks so far... a rainy summer is good for something!

Thanks Judy & Sarah for inspiring me to make my first afghan!

Mini Container Garden

2009-08-16T14:44:00.002-04:00

I made this miniature container garden at a workshop for the Newcomer's Garden group. Isn't it cute? It has polka dot plants, sedum, and hens and chicks in it.

Waterville Maine Community Garden Club Celebrates it's 80th Birthday

2009-08-12T15:22:00.008-04:00

We visited a beautiful garden.
with paths through the woods.

Everyone wore a 'garden inspired hat'.

Old members returned for the celebration.

Its so nice to be in a club with a long history.

Its berry time!

2009-08-11T16:25:00.002-04:00

Here's what I picked today. Raspberries and blueberries. Mmmm....

Lobster Dinner

2009-07-28T14:32:00.000-04:00

I went to a party a few weeks ago, and this is what we had for dinner. Clam chowder, mussels, lobster, corn on the cob, onions and potatoes cooked on the grill, whoopie pies and blueberry buckle for desert. Maine - the way life should be.

Great Blue Heron Rookery

2009-07-27T14:38:00.004-04:00

Blue herons nest in the bogs nearby. There are about 30 nests in this colony.

Bogs are such cool places. But, there are a lot of bugs. We expected a moose to come out any minute.

Waiting for their parents to come back with dinner. When they see them coming they make such a racket.

My Maine Garden is in Full Bloom

2009-07-27T14:07:00.008-04:00

My new sun dial in the front of the garden.

Spirea with hostas in a shady spot.

Japanese maple - grown from a seedling from Mom & Dad's tree, with orange daylilies and black eyed Susan's in the side yard.

Hydrangea 'Annabelle' with yellow evening primrose.
Hydrangea 'Endless Summer' - a great choice for northern gardens. I bought the plant last year, and this year it has about 20 flower clusters. These flowers were in Sarah's wedding bouquet last summer.

Hostas - the deer have not eaten them yet this year.

Goatsbeard - looks good by the edge of the woods.

Rose campion and geranium cranesbill - a new combination in my garden this year.

Red monarda, white hydrangea, yellow stella d' oro daylilies, with a hanging basket of purple petunias.

This beautiful white clematis is growing up a tree.

Yellow evening primrose, daisies, and cranesbill geranium. I love purple and yellow.

Orange daylilies and yellow loosestrife - such a happy combination.

Daylilies, black eyed Susan's, and daisies by the garage door.

Hosta, European Ginger, and Astilbe - a wonderful combination for shade.

We've had so much rain this summer. I haven't liked it, but the perennials have loved it!

A Summer Visit to Florida

2009-07-22T20:43:00.005-04:00

I'm enjoying a week in Florida - after a rainy cold summer in Maine, it sure is hot down here.
But, its fun to see what is in bloom this time of year.

The beautiful crepe myrtle.

My bromeliads are blooming!

And here's my sylvester date palm 'untied'. It doesn't look like a 'nudnick' anymore.

Its so much fun to see all my friends down here.

Barns of the Finger Lakes

2009-07-05T07:43:00.010-04:00

Soon after crossing the border into New York State from Massachusetts you see beautiful open farm land with lots of barns. Here's some of my favorites around the Finger Lakes.

Vineyards in the foreground, lake in the background.

Through the raindrops.

I've always loved this barn.

This beautiful stone barn got a new 'blue metal' roof sometime in the last few years.

A picture perfect barn on a beautiful day.

Barn behind a stone house.

Hay bales outside the barn.

Cows 'out of the barn'. They are always so curious, and come up to say hello when you walk by.

The Windmill - Keuka Lake, NY

2009-06-29T07:09:00.005-04:00

One of our favorite places to go while visiting the Finger Lakes is The Windmill Farm and Craft Market located on 14A between Penn Yan and Dundee. It is only open on Saturdays. You can buy all kinds of things - beautiful flowers and locally grown produce.

Handmade dolls.
Pickles and jellies.
Spices.

Lots of wooden things.

Handmade quilts made by the local Menonites.

Flowers planted in all kinds of containers - at great prices (compared to New England).

We love the idea of planting in old shoes - especially the worn out toes.

Where else can you find a statue like this but around the Finger Lakes?

A trip to the Finger Lakes, NY

2009-06-28T20:26:00.006-04:00

We took a trip to the Finger Lakes to celebrate Father's Day.

And Mom's 80th Birthday!

Everything grows so well, and there were beautiful flowers everywhere.

By the back door.

I made Mom this strawberry pie.

First we picked the strawberries.

Don't they look good?

Beautiful Keuka Lake. We got to kayak, sail, and buzz around in the motor boat.

We always enjoy being in wine country. There are vineyards everywhere.

Nathan and I did some wine tasting at Rooster Hill.

Sarah and Nathan look great with a lake behind them.

My favorites were Estate Gewurztraminer and Silver Pencil.

What a great week. How lucky we are!

Learning to Fly Fish

2009-06-07T08:32:00.004-04:00

I went to the Kennebec Valley's Chapter of Trout Unlimited 'Fly Casting for Women' day. It was held in Winslow, Maine on a restored section of the beautiful Sebasticook River.

Jackie had all the right attire.

We learned how to tie flies. Twila wants to catch a striper.

All I caught was my sweatshirt, but it was a lot of fun, the instructors were great, but casting was not easy.

BartlettYarns - Harmony, Maine

2009-06-06T21:33:00.013-04:00

20 Water Street, Harmony, Maine 04942 (207)683-2251

BartlettYarns specializes in wool hand-knitting yarns and is best known for its Fisherman-brand yarns.The mill, was founded in 1821, on the banks of Higgins Stream, and is believed to be the oldest continuously operating yarn mill in the U.S. Much of the yarn is spun on machines that are over 100 years old. It was also the setting in Stephen King’s movie “Graveyard Shift”.

When you enter the mill, you see boxes of fleece that sheep growers send or bring each spring. The growers are given raw wool in return which they can sell at farmstands or stores.

The wool is shipped out in big burlap bags to be cleaned and dyed.

When it returns, the yarn is spun on a spinning mule, "The Bartlett Mule". It is one of the last of its kind still operating in the US. It duplicates the motion of a hand spinner.

With it's 240 bobbins.

This machine twists the wool onto cones.

You can buy some of this beautiful wool yarn at the retail store across the street, or on their website.

I went with the Waterville Area Newcomer's Craft group. They are planning to have their first open house this summer on August 7,8,9, 2009.