garden — Page 100

Friday Thoughts

July 13, 2018 at 8:23 am by Claudia

There’s always something to observe in the gardens. Bees are everywhere.

The hostas are starting to bloom. The flowers are so delicate, so pale.

We took another trail walk yesterday. We bought some groceries and then proceeded to forget one of the bags in the car and the food spoiled. We sat outside in the Secret Garden. And that’s about it. It’s slow going this week at the cottage. We’re both exhausted. So we’re taking time to just be.

I’m still working on all my feelings about the closing of Margaritaville. The Broadway community was less than supportive (that’s putting it mildly) and that has left me feeling very disillusioned. Yet there’s a new musical opening based on the Go-Go’s music, there’s one about Donna Summer, there’s another coming based on Cher’s life…but somehow they didn’t think Jimmy Buffett had any business bringing his happy music to Broadway? I’m thinking of a word that starts with F followed by a word that is ‘them.’

I detest snobs.

Together, Don and I have a combined 80+ years in the theater. I’ve managed to make my living in the theater. But I find less and less joy in it. Maybe the Universe is telling me it’s time to wind down. This next year will be Darko’s last year at Hartford Stage. He’s moving on, as he should. He’s been there 7 years and he’s done what he wanted to do there. With a new artistic director, the focus will change and I’m sure I won’t be working there anymore, certainly not in the way I did with Darko. It’s been a wonderful ride and I’m extremely grateful to Darko. I’ll miss working with him. He’s been a loyal and inspiring and brilliant colleague.

Anyway, I’ve known he was going to leave for a long time now, I just haven’t mentioned it here. Change is never easy for me, but I know from experience that it’s the anticipation of change which is more troublesome than the actual change itself. I’m sort of ready for this one.

It’s a strange time here at the cottage and in our life. But we’re hanging in there.

Oh, I saw this guy on one of the hostas yesterday. He blends in perfectly.

Happy Friday.

Two Slugs

July 12, 2018 at 8:35 am by Claudia

We’ve been rather slug-like around here. I’ve been exhausted. Don is tired, as well. So, we’ve been hanging around the house, sitting in the Secret Garden, watching movies, sitting on the porch – that sort of thing.

We did rouse ourselves enough to take a trail walk yesterday. We stopped and said hello to our favorite horses and met a couple of new residents on the farm – two mini horses. So sweet!

I got a bit more sleep last night, so I’m feeling less ragged. In fact, I’m feeling groggy. I don’t know about you, but when I’ve been sleep deprived and I finally start to catch up, I feel groggy and out of it for a day. It’s slow going this morning!

The balloon flowers have been budding and blooming. This is what a balloon flower looks like before it opens.

And this is what it looks like after it opens. Amazing, right?

We need rain, which seems to be our mantra this summer. After an incredibly wet spring, we’re now rain-deprived. A day or so ago, we were supposed to get thundershowers and the radar showed storms headed our way. Unfortunately…nothing. Sigh.

More day lilies in The Far Side garden.

We won’t talk about the buds that ended up being dinner for a deer. Probably the same young deer who was standing in the corral the other day staring right at me and chomping on yarrow. He’s beautiful, but…

Happy Thursday.

Mating Season

July 11, 2018 at 9:55 am by Claudia

Early in the evening yesterday, Don was making dinner and I was sitting in the den. I can see the edge of the birdbath from my chair and I noticed two doves sitting on the edge.

They were grooming each other. This went on for quite a while, each dove taking a turn. Very affectionate. Very sweet. I called out to Don and he walked over to the door to watch them from the kitchen.

Eventually, they moved apart.

And started to head toward the opposite end of the birdbath. This is the pair that I’ve seen around here for several years.

One jumped down to the ground. The other followed.

I mentioned to Don that they were resting on the parking area and I moved back into the den and stopped taking pictures.

A few minutes went by.

Then I heard, “Honey, I think they just mated.”

Apparently, Don walked back to the window to watch them and saw the male get on top of the female.

I missed it.

No photos, but then again, that’s rather a private thing, don’t you think?

We googled the whole mating thing and, sure enough, that’s what they do. He gets on top of her, she moves her tail and they mate. Now that I look at the photo above, it looks like she was in position, waiting for her guy.

By the time I reached the door, it was over. They stayed together on the ground and then walked toward the shed, eating along the way. Eventually, they flew up into the catalpa tree.

Wow.

Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it,
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love. – Cole Porter

The coneflowers are opening. My favorite cottage garden flower.

And check out these beauties! The coneflower and the day lilies are in The Far Side garden bed.

We’ve moved into normalcy again. It only takes a few days to get through the re-entry process. But I’m still not sleeping enough and I’m pretty exhausted. I was having this trouble before Don came home, but adjusting to sleeping together again is not helping things.

My kingdom for some sleep!

It’s a lovely day today. Yesterday was too hot, but today is shaping up to be a perfect summer day.

Happy Wednesday.

Friday Thoughts

Two Slugs

Mating Season

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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