Rainy Days in Vermont

I spent a few days in June with Bob and Chuck in Vermont. The rain seemed unending, with the sun making only two very brief appearances toward the end of our stay. Bob and Chuck refused to let the soggy weather slow them down, and carried on with their gardening decked out in yellow rain gear. I was not nearly so determined and opted instead to curl up inside with a book. When the rains finally slowed to a trickle I did eventually offer a little assistance outside.

One nice thing about those gloomy skies - they provided perfect lighting for some close-ups of Bob and Chuck's beautiful garden.


Iris


Lupine


Lupine (and Thyme?)


Bleeding Heart


Poppy


Can't remember the name of this one - but Chuck was very proud of it


This little baby woodpecker lost his momma. He was very patient with my picture-taking for quite a while and then let out a frantic little cry. I hope she heard him!

Spring, Springing.... Sprung!

A week or so ago, when spring had officially begun, it didn't feel much like spring around here and it was hard to imagine that it was just around the corner. But this weekend the sunny warm weather, blooming trees, and twittering birds leave no room for doubt - spring is here. Makes me wish there was a spring break for grown-ups!

I am normally immune to that spring cleaning bug, but with Zarah's arrival imminent, this year I have succumbed. I took a break to run out for a couple of ingredients for this week's cookies and was struck by how much was in bloom. When I got back I went for a walk so I could soak up the sights, the sounds and the scents of spring...











These cat-nine-tails aren't exactly harbingers of spring, but they were so strange and beautiful, like ghostly cotton candy. I was snapping away when I heard some commotion...



I had startled some deer. This picture isn't very good - but you can see the white tail. When they were running away from me I was amazed at how long their tails were. After a bit, they decided I wasn't as scary as they first thought and returned to resume their grazing... at a safe distance.

My Little Garden

Actually, until a couple of hours ago it was my little weed patch. In years past I have had a vegetable garden, but I have given up feeding the deer. I now grow just herbs (which for some reason they’re not interested in). I haven’t kept up with the weeds, because I can’t bear being out in the sticky hot weather getting eaten by bugs. But today is different.

Normally the weather in August is hot and humid, but today is almost fall-like. There is a wonderful breeze; the sky is blue with puffy white clouds; and the air is cool and dry. It’s the kind of day that when you go outside for lunch, you wish you didn’t have to go back to the office. Lucky me, I’m not at the office!



So I spent an hour or two pulling up weeds, mowing the lawn, and reveling in the gorgeous weather. As I was pulling weeds, I noticed I have quite a menagerie out there. I saw a big old slug, a fuzzy white caterpillar, ants, stink bugs, Japanese beetles, crickets, and various other non-descript beetles, bugs and flying things. They left me alone, so I left them alone (well, except for that slug which I relocated with little regard for his comfort or safety).



Now I can see the herbs again. The basil, sage, and rosemary seem to have come through the ordeal unscathed. The thyme, chives, and especially the tarragon were overshadowed by the weeds and haven’t grown much. Hopefully, with a little sun and belated TLC they will be thriving soon.

What a day!