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.