Bridge of Flowers Reflections and Moments of Light

A couple of weeks ago I went to Conway MA. to visit my friend Carol's organic farm. She has abundant gardens with awesome horses that contribute towards the lushness of all the veggies. Carol prepared a garden dinner... then we went down into the 'Falls' for a cool walk across the 'Bridge of Flowers' and dessert at a fabulous restaurant 'Ollie's Downunder'. The light was magic ... the bridge floriferous and the river moist reflecting sky.

Opportunist Ruby-throated Hummingbird Indignant Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

While picking blueberries last week, I saw a hummer hanging out in a nearby crabapple that is dropping its upper leaves. This area was once dominated by large White Pines. The acidic soil is great for blueberries, but maybe a bit too acidic for the Crabapple volunteer that tends to like slightly acidic soil. She is a lovely focal point in the spring all abloom. Maybe one of the former owners might have planted it many years ago, as the pines were quite big... their growth over the years would have caused the Crabapple to go dormant, or then perhaps it was a seed dropped by birds from one of my Crabapples now standing in a small orchard I planted twenty years ago to the north side of the barn studio. In any case the Crabapple is struggling and a favored spot for woodpeckers, especially this female Yellow-bellied Sapsucker seen above. The sapsucker is interested in the sweet sap in the tree and attracting a hummer to check out its drilling skills. Actually the hummer is very interested in what is in those holes too, as I have seen it visit often and the sapsucker really does not take lightly this little guy coming into its territory and sipping from his hard won taps. I go back to picking blueberries, but continue to hear the drumming drilling sounds along with the hummers humming and speeding flybys. I chuckled to myself when thinking ... 'now this is some hummingbird feeder'. If you click on the photos you can better see the goings on.

August Garden Bloggers Blooming Day

The gardens are obviously happy about all the rain we have had this year and are producing second blooms to show gratitude. I am just making this up of course, but it is amazing to see Magnolia blossoms this time of year... Lilacs too if you scroll to Blooming Friday below. Whatever the reason I am happy for it. My Rugosa Roses are putting on a second show too, even though I did not dead head this year... I could not see losing all the rose hips, that besides being lovely are food for birds. The Indigo Bunting in the first shot above is eyeing just which Viburnum berry to go for... there are flocks of Cedar Waxwings eating them too, so the lovely brilliant red will diminish soon. I have a few late blooming Daylilies to add some bright colors along with the Lily 'Journeys End' and Buddleia 'Black Knight'. Softer tones in trumpets of mauves and blues created by Lobelia, Salvia, Agapanthus and Obedient Plant delight the hummingbirds. Quieter Hydrangea whites are all aglow... the one above is called 'The Swan' and this is the first year it has put out so many blooms... it was added to the gardens four or five years ago and is always pruned severely by the deer. I am forever grateful for the wondrous hummingbirds that are zooming around in the garden... this immature female appears to be joyfully swimming between blooms. I have never seen a hummingbird moth quite like the one capture above on the butterfly bush. It is not just a play of light... there is so much black in this one... a real beauty. This land that seems like such a part of me... connected to my inner being... tissues and dreams is also an important part of the lives of so many wild creatures... who call it home too. Its Garden Bloggers Blooming Day for August... for more gardens in bloom around the world go to Carol's .

North Corner Blooms Again Blooming Friday

The North corner of the garden is very lovely just now with the second blooming of a smaller size lilac... second year that it has bloomed in late summer... as well as late spring. I think it's name is 'Fairy' land or tale or something like that. It certainly does make magic whatever the other name. Lilac is good enough for me and it offers a delicious fragrance but cannot compete with the Oriental lilies... my survivors as I once had hundreds all over the gardens... until the voles discovered them and made lily bulb puree of them all. For some reason these escaped their tiny gnawing teeth. I am happy for it! The Rose of Sharon is finally making its mark in the garden, after waiting months for the green to come out on the bush... well worth the wait it seems and the hummingbirds agree. The sculpted Tree Hydrangea makes a statement too and its form is complimenting the other forms in this corner of the garden. My magnolia is also blooming again! It is never ending in bloom offers... most likely due to the heavy pruning it gets after its first blooming period... back in May! We have had some visiting mature hummers the last few days... do not believe they are the parents of my twin brother and sister... they all certainly animate the gardens and will be missed when they head south in September. To enjoy other blooms the world over... go to lovely Katarina's our hostess for Blooming Friday.