White butterflies Thursday, May 8 2014 

gardening and Landscapes , , acairfearann 22:02

In between the crocus’ bright, almost Mardi Gras, colors and the blazing, neon orange daylilies in July; the fence-line is mostly green.  Except for a week or two, when my few daffodils bloom.  They aren’t the most aggressive daffodils, so I doubt they will be able to hold their own with the daylilies, as the big yellow daffodils do on the bank. It is likely that in order to keep the effect, they will have to be replanted periodically rather than divided.  But they work for the space: pure white, fragrant, only 12-14 inches tall and delicate in form.  Sailboat, the taller of the two, and Pueblo, more fragrant, are the two varieties. I am not inclined, I think, to try for a more solid effect.  The white butterflies in the bright green space is perhaps more interesting.

IMG_2950

IMG_2951

 

East Lawn in 1953 Friday, Mar 28 2014 

Esperanza and Historic Photos and Landscapes , acairfearann 13:22

I mentioned in a comment that weddings of people who lived at Esperanza sometimes took place on the east lawn, up through the 1930’s.  Here is a photograph of the location.  The Norway Spruce framing the picture on the left is gone, taken down about 15 years ago after one too many lightning strikes.  The one on the right still stands, at nearly 110 feet tall.  The lawn has been shrunk, it now stops at the big Norway rather than at the far spruces.  The grove of spruces has shifted a bit as well, the center and right spruces are both gone so the deliberate symmetry no longer exists.

date uncertain

 

Photo of the Day Tuesday, Oct 29 2013 

gardening and Landscapes and Modern Photos , , acairfearann 16:04

IMG_6348

 

American Beech Tuesday, Oct 22 2013 

gardening and Landscapes and Trees , , acairfearann 23:12

IMG_2119

It took its time getting established, but it is now growing steadily, at about seven feet tall (when planted it was shorter than the stakes).  They Hate being transplanted and they Hate any sort of chem-lawn environment, which is why one never sees them in suburbia.  It is just opposite the big bay windows, and at this time of year looks like a metal sculpture, all bronze, silver, and gold.  The red maple to the right has yet to turn color this year.

(and why the formidable old style t-post stakes? Because the drive is right there in the shadow of the house, and people are utterly incapable of staying Off the lawn)

 

The Old Wall Wednesday, Aug 21 2013 

Esperanza and Landscapes and Modern Photos , acairfearann 10:02

IMG_1275

The West Meadow wall, a view looking along the top.  And yes that is poison ivy!

 

Sunset at the Flagpole Saturday, Jul 13 2013 

gardening and Landscapes and Modern Photos , , acairfearann 13:27

IMG_1050

The flagpole, which was put up in 1999, has gone through a variety of forms, the first was the top of a Norway spruce, this one is basically a box. We can pivot it down to untangle the lines or do repairs. Originally, the drive had a turn around below the flagpole. That is long gone, but the area is the only well-draining, truly full-sun, garden. Well, mostly sun, with the trees and house to the east, it is in the shade until mid-morning. It is currently an arc of white Shasta daisies, earlier it was red Oriental Poppies with blue and gold iris; in the fall it will be mostly dusky pink and blue from NY/New England asters and Joe-Pye weed, with a touch of goldenrod.
The bench gives you a bit of scale. The large tree looming there is a bit of the big Cucumber Magnolia.

 

Run What You’ve Brung Tuesday, Jul 2 2013 

gardening and Landscapes , acairfearann 14:43

IMG_2481

Most gardeners do not have unlimited budgets, Esperanza is no exception. In this case, a decent display is created by an entirely untended, unplanted volunteer combination: the classic orange ditch lily and native elderberries. It won’t win any awards, but you know it doesn’t look bad filling in the distant background. And it didn’t cost anything!

 

Eventide Tuesday, Apr 23 2013 

Landscapes and Modern Photos , acairfearann 08:36

IMG_0296

Late April evening at the flagpole bench.

 

A walk in the woods Tuesday, May 15 2012 

Modern Photos , , acairfearann 17:18

Trillium grandiflorum

From left to right: young cornus florida, a nursery grown small leafed azalea, a tall, old ‘Windbeam’ Rhododendron.  The tree trunks are Norway spruces, the fern is predominantly Eastern Hay Scented and members of the Male fern genus.

Giant Solomon’s Seal, Trillium grandiflora, an unknown hosta, European wild ginger (just visible beneath the Solomon’s Seal).

Native Mayflower, also known as Canadian Lily of the Valley beneath Hemlocks and Pines.

Also blooming in the woods: Starflower (or Twin flower), wild phlox, False Solomon’s Seal, Silky Dogwood, Swamp Azaleas, Viburnum tomentosum, Blue Star, Jack in the Pulpit, Sasparilla, English Bluebells, and many others!

 

 

« Previous Page

%d bloggers like this: