Tag Archives: photos

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Viles Arboretum… part three.

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An hour and a half in and we were still exploring.

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Which is where we found this mini pyramid.

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It’s basically the same kind of stone my husband used to build my garden bed last year so I suggested perhaps he could build me one of these this year.

He pretended he didn’t hear me, but my memory is long and I have patience.

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Every now and then there was a bench.

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But we were always moving and didn’t dawdle.

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Dappled shade is good for ferns. Add soil too wet to walk over and it’s damn near perfect.

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I have to say I was looking forward to the rhododendron section of the trail. A forest full of rhodies?

Bring it!

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If you’re wondering why the husband looks slightly puzzled? It’s because we were right in the middle of the supposed rhododendron section but didn’t know it.

After doing a 360, you can see why we were confused.

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One bloom does not a collection make.

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Onward. To the pond…

To be continued.

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Viles Arboretum… part two.

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And we’re walking.

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Or rather, I’m walking and the husband is reading…

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This time about the arboretum’s project to reintroduce the American chestnut tree that was decimated by a fungus.

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They’ve planted hundreds.

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Finished reading, the husband caught up and we entered the woods.

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The trails are well marked and not wanting to miss anything I made sure we did both the inner and outer loops.

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Cool and peaceful.

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Melodic bird song and the gentle swaying of branches.

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And a burl.

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Which some little creature had already hollowed out for his home.

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Out of the woods and back to the meadows.

To be continued….

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Riotous Rhodie

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I adore early June in Maine.

Daytime temperatures are warm but not hot. Nights are cool and there’s no humidity. The tourists have started to arrive but haven’t yet overwhelmed the state.

But the best part of early June in Maine?

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Rhododendron season. (Please note I have color coordinated my hanging baskets of geraniums… momma didn’t raise no fool)

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We have two large bushes in the front of our house and they never fail to put on a show. They even have it timed so one blooms after the other for a longer burst of color.

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I trimmed this one back last year and was a little worried I’d done it at the wrong time.

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Clearly, I was wrong.

💕

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Viles Arboretum … part one.

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The weather was perfect. The tourists were nowhere to be seen. And my husband is still retired… for now. So I stuffed him in the car and we crossed something off my endless Things To Do In Maine bucket list.

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Viles Arboretum. A 224 acre non profit botanic garden run by the state which conserves wetlands, forest and fields and offers free access to anyone wanting to enjoy miles of nature trails.

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There were sculptures scattered throughout.

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Most of which were for sale. Though for $15,000, we decided to pass.

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Most of the walking was easy and the boardwalks over the wet areas were quite welcome.

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If you know my husband, you know he has to stop and read every single word of every single plaque about every single tree.

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Scrap metal bird sculpture. Lord Dudley would be terrified.

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It was a lovely way to spend the day and we leisurely strolled through meadows that turned to marsh…

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That turned to ponds.

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That turned to wetlands…

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And back to meadows.

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To be continued….

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A scenic drive that ended with lunch at the shoe factory.

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When it’s a beautiful summer day in Maine, you grab your husband and head west.

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Not quite to the mountains, but we could see them from our windows .

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Destination? A highly recommended Italian restaurant in an old converted shoe factory.

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It was a rustic place, full of exposed beams and brick.

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No, I didn’t order that.

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I went with a fruity white Sangria instead.

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Cheesy garlic bread appetizer with homemade sauce started us off.

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It was too windy to sit outside but we did watch the umbrellas tip over a few times.

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Our meals were amazing. Decadently rich grilled chicken Alfredo for the hubs, Burgundy marinated filet tips on vegetable risotto for me.

We were stuffed and since the portions were hardy, went home with ample leftovers… but that didn’t stop us from ordering dessert to go.

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Yours truly is not leaving an Italian restaurant without Tiramisu.

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Calzolaio Pasta Co, is going on the list of River approved dining spots.

How could it not? On the way there….

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Cows!

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First baby chuck sighting.

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It was bound to happen. Momma woodchuck found a safe home under our barn and she’s going to raise all her children there from now on.

Yesterday I spotted the first baby nibbler.

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I know they eat all my flowers, but damn it. They’re so stinking cute!

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There are four children this year and they’re just starting to venture out in the open.

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As long as mom is around that is.

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My garden is doomed.

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Miscellaneous drivel.

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Remember those $50 blueberry bushes we bought at the nursery?

Turns out they had the same ones at the grocery store for $25.

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The husband couldn’t resist.

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There are days when I prefer to soak myself in alcohol, but apples and watermelons work too.

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I passed on the meatloaf mountain. Bread and potatoes? That’s a bit much.

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Here’s the Junior chuck, just chillin’ on the deck landing.

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Probably still full from all those flowers he devoured.

😖

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Foxy lady.

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Mr. Fox brought his significant other last night for a nosh.

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See the stalks by the fox on the left? Husband found some wild asparagus in the field and thought the woodchucks would eat it. Sadly, they prefer my flowers and didn’t touch it.

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We love our foxes.

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They’re such graceful, beautiful creatures.

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If only they’d develop a taste for red squirrel.

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Surely they have hungry pups who need a snack.

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😉

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