JulyColour: Bustin' Out All Over!

This is a new annual this year, well new to me, anyway. I can't even remember the name of it. This is the first bud that the chipmunks have allowed to open. They are crazy eaters this year, munching my geraniums down to the roots. Several of the geraniums I've had for years, and winter over in the attic, have been decimated by the little striped rodents. I'm hoping that since they've let this flower bloom, perhaps the plant is turning bitter as it ages. I'm really sick of the chipmunks. I have this annual in a container along with some purple alyssum, an orange marigold and a white geranium if it ever gets beyond 3 leaves and a stem.

Moving on to the center of Madison, one of the little shops has this outrageous Hydrangea. Just look at all the variations of colors there on this one bush! Some are purple, some are cream, some are pink, some are variegated and some are solid. I love it!

Another little shop in town has several containers of Coleus out front. I love these variegated annuals. There are so many new varieties, it seems they develop new ones every year.

This blue Hydrangea is outside a store very near the purple one above (and below). I love this "subdued" blue; it almost has gray tones to it. It's coloring is more subtle than other blue ones nearby.

July is surely "Hydrangea Month" around here. This pink version is just lovely with its pale yellow centers.

Another type of Coleus from town. It's hard to see where one plant stops and another one starts. Pinks and greens really suit this little shoreline town, lol. Lilly Pulitzer anyone?

Look at how different each blossom is on this plant! I checked the stems to make sure it was the same plant. As each bloom ages, it changes its coloring. I can't really think of many flowers that do this. And then you can dry the flowers during the fall for winter bouquets!

This bright blue Hydrangea literally screams at you when you walk by, lol.

I guess you can tell I was really taken with this plant. Look at the various colors combinations on this one plant.

The green, cream and magenta Coleus in the center has larger leaves, and is a nice foil for the more brightly variegated leaves around it.

A huge lavender plant next to the boardwalk I take into town. It also borders a parking lot and receives zero care. Sometimes I think I "love" my plants too much, lol. I should ignore them and let them work for my attention!

 

Purple, Rubine, Magenta, Indigo—however you'd like to describe it, this bloom is magnificent.

BTW:

 

Flitting around the lavender bush posted above, I found this gorgeous, and psychedelic "Painted Lady" butterfly. Apparently they are quite common, just about the most common butterfly there is, but I've never seen one before, lol. The top wings are mostly orange, but the bottom ones look like they're pen-and-ink outlines. 

BTW 2:

Mystery Shot! This is a photograph of a Great Egret that has been recently visiting the small brook that borders Pink Gardens' driveway and backyard. I'm not sure why this photo came out like this. He flew up into the trees several seconds after I snapped the photo, but for some reason the camera delayed the shutter. I guess I captured him as he began to spread his wings. Oddly enough, I've been watching "Ancient Aliens" on TV tonight, and  the episode tonight was titled, "Angels and Aliens." When I downloaded these photos into my computer tonight, at first I thought I'd captured an angel!

Photopourri: Happy Birthday To Me

Just in time for my 55th birthday, this Japanese Iris bloomed today. I've counted about 55 buds, so I'm thinking of them as my birthday flower this year. My bearded Iris were very few this year, but it seems I can look forward to a bumper year of the Japanese variety.

This mahogany hybrid bearded Iris has taken to supporting itself against one of Pink Gardens' brick chimneys. Such a beautiful variety of Iris, with so many subtle color changes when you see them in person. This was a rainy day, hence the glistening raindrops.

A "plain" variety of bearded Iris, a beautiful solid gold color, next to a Siberian Iris. The bearded Iris flower first, followed by the Siberians and Japanese Irises.

This pale lavender hybrid bearded Iris is next to the vegetable garden, and it was the same rainy day as above. I've also planted Tiger lilies, Hostas, Day lilies, Thistles, Agastaches, Goldenrods, Ferns and Sedums. Morning glories will be flowering by late August or September.

Some of my Siberian Iris in the garden next to my porch. I have several clumps of these perennials all around the yard.

In the condos near Pink Gardens, these Daisies are profusely blooming right now. I love their simple beauty. They always remind me of an oilcloth tablecloth my mother used on the kitchen table when I was a kid.

My Foxgloves are so hearty this year! I have about seven flower stalks, and they're more than an inch wide at the bottom. They're almost 5-feet tall already, even though they're not even fully in bloom yet! Above, the buds on a flowerstalk a few days ago.

My Foxgloves as of today. They're opening from the bottom up and are just about 5 feet tall. Taller than my late mother was (and she would have loved these)!

 

I went to Guilford the other day to buy my dahlias for the season—just the next town over from Madison. I'll do a separate post on my dahlias soon, I bought ten plants this year, but this "classic" view of Guilford caught my attention. This is Guilford's stone gothic Episcopal Church's tower, visible behind the roof of the town's savings bank, itself housed in an 18th century Colonial home. Guilford, Connecticut, my home town, is one of the prettiest New England towns there is. And with its strict historic district, will remain so for decades to come.

Just on the edge of Pink Gardens' property, where our little private road starts, is this fantastic Tulip Poplar tree. There was one of these on my Aunt Hoohoo's property in Leete's Island, and it was her favorite tree. I'm so thrilled to have one so close to me today. I walk past it every day and I can't help but smile thinking of all the times in my childhood she'd lead me to the back of her property, a few acres away from the main house, and show me these yellow and orange flowers, high up on the branches of an ancient sky-high tree, shaped just like Tulips. It was just one of the millions of creative things she did with me, always pointing out the "special" things wherever we were. She could find 'em and I like to think I have that trait today.

A longer view of the Tulip Poplar tree. This one is about half the size of the one I remember at Hoohoo's, so I guess it has a long, long life ahead of it. It really is something to see a tree with flowers all over its canopy that for all the world, look like Tulips.

A baby Robin in its nest on Pink Gardens' property. I didn't notice them as I started pulling some vines down, but one of the neighbors soon told me where they were.

The black-capped night Heron has come back for a second year. It sits in the trees that border the brook/swamp in the backyard, waiting for the perfect dinner. It looks like Grandpa Munster to me! It has red eyes and a long white feather that curls around its head.

One little Canada Goose gosling accompanying its parents for lunch. This was taken in Madison next to Tuxis Pond in the center of town.

Yes, Zsa Zsa has returned. We haven't started sitting outside at happy hour yet, so she hasn't come within "hand" distance yet, but I'm sure she will. There are a few more smaller rabbits this year with her oh-so-casual personality, so I think they must be hers. She almost eats out of our hands.

B T W :
 This site has a list of "celebrities" born on May 27. Quite the motley crew if I do say so myself. I think I'd be scared to invite them all to one dinner, if that was possible, lol.

Yellow Throated Warbler: Surprise Guest!

© Jerry Connolly 2012

B I R D   W A T C H I N G — Behold, the yellow throated Warbler! Supposedly a Southeastern Warbler, not venturing up north to Connecticut (especially in Winter!), this pretty little bird has joined the "feed lines" at Pink Gardens.

June, fantastic friend and co-resident of our large 19th century home, is an avid and experienced life-long bird watcher. She was certain this special little bird was showing up every afternoon, and on her latest trip to the Audubon Shop in our town, to buy bird food, she mentioned it to the proprietor of the store, Jerry Connolly. He told her it was probably a different type of Warbler, that many people are confused by their coloring, and that real Yellow Throats wouldn't be this far north. She invited him over to see for himself. He showed up later that afternoon, and lo and behold, the little winged cutey patootie showed up on cue. Jerry set up his tripod and in a few minutes took these shots. Pink Gardens is now somewhat "famous" and we've had a steady stream of bird-watchers' cars coming down our out-of-the-way little private road and long driveway.

• For more on the Yellow Throated Warbler, including its "song," click over to the Cornell Labs' website.
• For Jerry's store, click over to the Audubon Shop of Madison, here.

 © Jerry Connolly 2012 

© Jerry Connolly 2012 

U P D A T E : Word is spreading faster about our exotic little friend than free hair gel at a Flock of Seagulls concert. We now have a "staging area" for all the birdwatchers showing up at Pink Gardens! Our brightly-throated friend is taking it all in stride, showing up every 20 minutes or so to chow down more suet. I should be charging admission, or maybe I should put some of my art out on the porch with price tags on 'em, lol. Check out my photo of the photographer/watchers!

 The watchers being watched, lol.

Friends Along the Way

During my daily walks, I don't just see fellow walkers and runners. I see a lot of other "friends" along the way. This black cat, above, likes to sit on that stone wall in front of his/her mansion. Talk about Halloween decorations! A few of these photos were shot from a distance so please forgive the poor resolution!

We have frequent deer sightings at Pink Gardens. This female white tail is on the little road the house is located on. I'm just starting out on a walk here, heading towards town and the shore.

This cute dog, who I've nicknamed "Buddy," is always lying on the same spot of grass. He gave me a single bark the first time I saw him a couple of months ago, and now just looks up at me and gives me a nod. Some of the dogs along the route are real "yappers" and if it wasn't for the sonic dog "fences" most homes have, I might have a little less hair on my legs, lol. Buddy is a sweetheart, though.

We have two pairs of Mallard ducks this fall living in the little swamps along our tiny road. Last year we had a gay Mallard couple, lol, just two males, but this year they seemed to have found a couple of females to hang with. Above, bright green feathers on their heads signify the males.

A female seagull in quiet repose, silhouetted nicely by a shallow tidal pool.

Another "seagal" checking out the scene at the shore.

Treading Water—In the Air

The day I shot this photo, the wind was so strong that these seagulls were hanging stationary in the air. Every few seconds they adjusted their wings, headed into the air, and just floated on the air currents above my head. I wanted to soar with them!

The Birds and the Bees. And a Flamingo.

When is a Ham a Bird? Walking along the shore the other day, I noticed this seagull keeping pace with me, about 50 feet out in the Sound. If I stopped, he swam in circles until I started walking again, and then he'd swim in the direction I was walking. The zoom function on my camera isn't the greatest, but I was able to fairly decently capture this classic North American Herring Gull. Once I took his photo, he started paddling in the opposite direction, lol.

Pick your Prick, lol! Moving on from that classic seagull, an equally classic Bumble Bee is gathering nectar from one of my wild Thistles. I managed to avoid being stung by the bee and pricked by the thistle as I shot this photo. The thorns on this variety of thistle are on the stems, the leaves and pod beneath the flower, making them almost impossible to touch. Heart-shaped leaves of a morning glory vine, to the right, grow through the nylon deer netting attached to the chicken wire vegetable garden fence.

Ode to John Waters and Divine. Perhaps more Klassic than Classic, my ca. 1965 Pink Flamingo stands guard in front of my porch. Antique shovel heads behind it were found when digging in Pink Gardens' back yard, as was the horseshoe above them. Horseshoes should always be displayed standing up—to catch all the good luck!

Junecolour Outside: Early Summer Lushness

The variegated Geranium I bought a few weeks ago. I'm growing it for the foliage. The flowers are pale pink but they don't really "go" with the coloring of the leaves so I've been picking them off as they bloom. They're better looking in a small bud vase where they don't have to compete with those gorgeous multicolored leaves.

Ornamental grass "flowers" are almost 5 feet tall today. The day lily stalks are overtaking them. All photos clickable to enlarge.

The first Day Lily of Summer 2011 bloomed today.

This is a miniature version of Connecticut's state flower, the Mountain Laurel.

June's tomato plants are already blooming. She planted them a few weeks before I planted mine.

My new blue ceramic planter, a gift from Mary, has been replanted this week. For some reason, the three Marigolds I had in it before all died. All in the same night... Not sure what happened to them, but I moved my New Guinea Impatiens into it. That saturated blue color demands equally strong hues and shapes.

Spring Phlox are fading with time.

On the other hand, this hydrangea is just beginning to bud. These flowers are greenish/pinkish/bluish/lavender in the summer and then darken to a burgundy in the fall. Some of the petals stay green which is really a lovely combination.

Feverfew has small groups of white daisy-like flowers and the leaves when touched are very aromatic.

A closeup of the garden globe. The tree trunk it is sitting on is planted with purplish/burgunyd Perilla. A lonely Japanese Iris is at the bottom. They're just about done for the season.

Tiger Lily buds. These stalks are about 5-feet tall right now. Last year some insect ate them before they opened. This year, I've been more vigilant about hosing the bugs off. I don't use any chemicals on the flowers so it's rather hard to keep the foliage perfect. I'm pretty sure the flowers will bloom this year.

The radiating leaves of a small wild thistle plant. I find these in the lawn and diligently dig them up and move them into the flower gardens. Certain birds LOVE the thistle seeds in the early fall.

On its last bloom for 2011, the Japanese Iris next to my front steps is still beautiful.

The elegantly leaning boughs of my Solomon's Seals. The stalks are 5-6 feet tall but bend over and touch the ground.  By fall, those cream-colored hanging flowers will turn into seed pods that look just like ripe blueberries.

Neighbor Rick's summer annual by his front door. I can't remember the name of this variety.

A recent visitor to our yard is this Black-Crowned Night-Heron. He's been hanging out in the small creek behind the house. We've had so much rain this year, there is still quite a bit of water, and he hunts for his dinner back there. The creek always dries up by July though, so we probably won't see him much longer. He's about two-feet long from head to tail, and has red eyes that really look a bit spooky! I had to use the longest Zoom setting for this photo, hence the blurriness of it.

B T W :

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there. Though my dad died in 1986, I still raise a toast to him each year, and thank him for all he did for me as I was growing up. Though he was raised in an orphanage, and in fifteen foster homes, many of them abusive, and thus had no personal experience with what it meant to be a supportive, loving, father, he was all of that and much more.