The Colors of Fall



The Island View at Sunset



The Penninsula

Fall Never Lasts Long Enough

French Mountain, Rome, Maine

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

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

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



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!



Biltmore Estate Gardens

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.