Late Summer Flowers

September!

A quick walk around our yard has me appreciating and enjoying the colorful flowers.  Soon, it will be time to save the Zinnia seeds!  

Enjoy!   

~Early June~

Gardening in early June

June brings more color to our yard and it's great to see! The Knockout Rose buds are beginning to open. First, there was one flower and now there are three. So many more buds are visible!

Another great surprise was the Zinnia seeds began to sprout.  That is always a great success, because the seeds planted were harvested from last year's bountiful colorful crop. Every day they will get a bit bigger.

June is a great month!
Enjoy! 

The Beauty of Summer!

A closer look brings a great surprise!

We are enjoying the colorful Zinnias in our yard.  They were planted from seeds saved from last year's beautiful flowers.  It's amazing how many seeds one can harvest from one flower!  In the spring the seeds were planted.  They took a bit longer to sprout and grow this year, due to the rainfall we had in this area.  However, once they started growing the flowers have added so much color to our yard.

This Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly flew in one afternoon.  Moving slowly and not too close I was able to snap a photo! A beautiful sight!

Enjoy!

Summer Colors!

 

Time to enjoy the colors in Western MA on a summer day!  Each day more buds burst open.

It's the time of pinks, lavendars, whites and yellows! 

Enjoy!

~Summer Colors~

O.K., we are having another heat wave !  Today is Day 5 !  Being outside has not been very comfortable, but the flowers in our gardens do not seem to mind the readings on our thermometer.  Well, we are making sure they have water.  I'm sure that makes it a lot easier for them.

On Monday the very last Salmon Daylily blossomed!  It is unusual not to look out our window and see a large quantity of salmon colored blossoms every day.

The Zinnia, Vinca and Marigold seeds that we planted in the late Spring are also producing colorful flowers!!

    
We plant the Zinnia seeds saved from the previous year's crop.  This year we purchased some Marigold and Vinca seeds, because it was unclear if and when we would locate the plants to buy.  Later, bright yellow Marigold plants were also purchased, but there were no Vinca plants.  It's taken a while for these seeds to prosper, but the flowers are now popping out!

We are enjoying them!

 

May 3rd!

Mother Nature always keeps us on our toes!  These days our neighborhood is bursting with so many different colors.  Sometimes, it is found at eye level and at other times a glance upward is rewarded.

Enjoy!

  
 

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!!

Dr. Seuss and the Cat in the Hat
at the Dr. Seuss National Memorial Sculpture Garden
Springfield Museums

Today

On March 2

We wish you,

Dr. Seuss,

a Happy Birthday!!!

So many of us enjoy the books that Dr. Seuss wrote!!  Here in the Springfield, MA area his birthday is celebrated this week, as it is in so many other places.  He was born in Springfield, MA on March 2, 1904 and grew up in this city.  For that reason he has a very special place in the hearts of area residents.  Theodor Seuss Geisel wrote fascinating stories for children and used the name Dr. Seuss.  Seuss was his mother's maiden name.  On the grounds of the Springfield Museums in Springfield there are many large bronze statues of the characters in his books.  They were designed by his step- daughter the sculptor Lark Grey Dimond- Cates. 

His inspirations for his stories came from his surroundings when he was growing up.  Theodor Geisel grew up in the Forest Park section of Springfield.  His dad was the superintendent of the Forest Park Zoo.  Theodor often heard the phrase, "If I ran the zoo...".  Many of us have enjoyed his book, If I Ran the Zoo.  

Indian Motocycles are drawn in some of his books.  These motorcycles were manufactured in Springfield!  Theodor Geisel never lived on Mulberry Street.  His maternal grandparents owned a bakery in Springfield.  

Whenever I stop in, now, to visit one of the five museums at the Springfield Museums, it's always a treat to take a walk around the beautiful statues.  

Horton and Other Friends
at the Springfield Museums

One day many years ago after giving a tour to a school group I was leaving the complex.  Suddenly, I saw a little girl with her parents coming on the grounds to visit.  She ran over to The Lorax and gave him a big hug.

The Lorax
at the Springfield Museums

              
It is a very special place!  Now, there is also a museum, The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, to visit.  It is a great place for children, young and old, to use their imaginations and have fun.  History of the area is also covered as it relates to this great author, Dr. Seuss!  If you have never visited this museum, stop in!  It is one of the five museums at this gem in the Pioneer Valley of Massachusetts!

Enjoy!

 

Storrowton Village Museum

Gilbert House

This is a great time of year to visit the Storrowton Village Museum in West Springfield, MA!  Anytime I can step into a museum, it's a great day!  Sunday, we drove over the river (Connecticut River) to West Springfield.  The buildings were relocated to this location by Helen Storrow.

A Little History!

At this time of year visitors are able to visit during Yuletide.  The weekend event was open to the public, free of charge.  Visitors of all ages enjoyed walking around and into the old buildings.  It's always a treat to visit the schoolhouse.

Stopping in to the Schoolhouse

The School Master answered so many of our questions.  He also gave us a quiz!

Union Meetinghouse in the background

 

 

Strolling on the grounds is always great, but after our recent snowfall it looked even more beautiful!  It's always a treat to view how the area garden clubs have decorated the houses and also the Meetinghouse. 

On the steps
of the Meetinghouse

 

 

A basket of fruit
inside the Gilbert House

 

 

The clove studded oranges look festive along with the apples, lemons and the welcoming pineapple!

A beautiful tree
in front of Storrowton Tavern

 

 

It was definitely a great visit!  What a treat to go during Yuletide!

We enjoyed it!

    

Perfect Timing!

A Welcome Surprise!
Lavender Crocuses!

This afternoon after doing errands, I checked out the status of our Crocuses.  I've been watching their growth for the past 2 weeks.  Little green sprouts that did survive the snow. 

Today- Surprise!  Perfect timing on the 1st day of Spring!  Today, in a different area, lavender flowers were visible!

Happy Spring!!!