Thursday, March 24, 2022

RAMBLES, PLUS PHOTOS...

 I am sharing a photo our son took a couple of days ago.  He often sees deer on his walks, and he always shares them with us.  

It rained today but we went to a store we don't always go to.  I don't mind rainy days, and this wasn't a heavy rain, one of those rains where you can put your hood up and not have to get the brolly out, just avoid the puddles and maybe put on a pair of jeans that are not too long for my short legs.  The bottoms were dripping wet by the time we got home.  Note to self, get your needle and thread out dear and shorten those jeans!

I had fun walking around the store.  We didn't buy much but came out with a couple of loaves of bread (sour dough and whole grain), celery, pine nuts, a container of coleslaw and a piece of salmon for tonight's dinner.  I will be sharing the recipe next Monday.  

Our son and daughter-in-law came over to help dad celebrate his birthday. Always lovely to see them at the best of times, but this was even more special and they are such great company.  I had chats with my dear niece in Germany, and another Facetime with my brother-in-law over there. We had a phone call from an old friend who is moving back to Virginia soon, to this area, and we will be making plans to see each other.  I have loads of letter writing needing to be done, sadly lagging behind, but I get some comfort that this blog is a good way for family and friends to catch up with us in the meantime.

After last week's walk around the nature refuge, we went back to Green Spring Gardens.  I wanted to check out this particular plant to see how the blooms were progressing.  Still not fully in bloom but it's coming along.  This plant I have mentioned before, "Edwordia Chrisantha", which I have shared photos of, and will be sharing again in a post.  
A young lady started chatting to me about it.  It is the 'friendly' plant I call it, and is the second time someone has come up to me when taking photos of the soon-to-be-in-full-bloom-but-not-quite-yet blooms. We chatted for about 15-20 minutes.  She told me she only lived three-quarters of a mile away and came often.  She was drawn to the plant just like I was. Neither of us had seen it anywhere else. She also told me what a lovely scent it had, which I wasn't aware of, and I checked it out.  Yes it has a delightful scent.  She also told me about another favorite of hers and where to find it.  It is called Korean Spice Viburnum.  It was in one of the small alcove-type gardens we walk by and quite often sit in.  It also blooms but not yet.  The leaves were only just starting to grow.

 I will be going back in another couple of weeks to take more photos of the Edwordia Chrisantha, and this one now. The rain is going to hang around for a couple of days, so will have a rest from walking.  We want to go to Huntley Meadows to see what birds are visiting on their way up north. 
And as far as our own birds are concerned, the Grackles have arrived!  They are a bit naughty!  There is a large flock, at least a couple of dozen of them, that stop by twice a day.  They are voracious eaters but I am enjoying their interactions.  It's like everyone is a boss, no one seems to back down, all lay claim to their own patch and refuse to give it up. Lots of fluffing up of feathers and strutting around going on.  And the Cardinals come round well after they have gone.
I have started Spring cleaning and got into some closets, but before I bore your socks off any more, I'll quit now.  It has been a good week and has gone quickly.  

Thanks for listening to my rambles and I do  
hope all is well where you are.






48 comments:

  1. This is one of the weirdest plants I have ever seen. And now, parts of it are FURRY!!!

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    1. Yes, it definitely has the "lamb's ear' texture going on there :)

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  2. nice photos - the first signs of spring - good luck with spring cleaning - I'm in the midst of clearning out my largest closet myself

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  3. Another lovely post. Thank you - and a very happy birthday to Gregg.

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    1. Thank you Sue :), you are very welcome and I appreciate the birthday wishes for Gregg.

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  4. Grackles!! Around here, they multiply like rabbits. Everywhere you look, they are there! I still like 'em. Most people don't. That flower is so unusual! I appreciate your 'record' of its progress.

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    1. Thank you Anni, I am glad you like my ongoing progress of this plant/flower :) And grackles aren't everyone's cup of tea I know.

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  5. I don't mind a nice rainy day so long as it doesn't turn into several in a row.

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  6. Hello Denise,
    Love the sweet deer photo and the lovely bloom. Cleaning out my closet is something I need to do. Happy Birthday to Gregg. Take care, have a happy day!

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    1. Hi Eileen, so glad and thank you for the birthday greetings. I will pass those on :) You take care and have a happy day also.

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  7. Beautiful plant there. It is good sometimes to venture into another shop and have a look around, it's amazing what can be found sometimes.
    Nice to talk to family - Happy Birthday to your husband and trust he had a wonderful day..

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    1. Thanks Margaret, always lovely to talk to family :) and yes, it's nice to have a change when shopping. This place has a lot of interesting items I don't get to see in my regular stores.

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  8. first and foremost, happy birthday greg, you always look so happy and i know you make denise happy. we recently went to target, the first store i have been in in ages. i went to get something i could not find on-line and came out with 1/2 a cart full!! they have the best stuff for the little ones easter baskets, it was fun to shop again and i don't usually like to shop.

    my grackles and starlings have arrived too, they empty the suet in a day but the hubs continues to fill it!!

    awwwwww, spring cleaning, i did a few posts on that. we have been cleaning for 2 years and if i never clean this house again, it will be just fine with me!!

    have a great day denise!!

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    1. Thanks Debbie, I will pass your wishes and along to the birthday boy. He certainly does make me happy, has always had a very positive attitude. Hubs is a good friend to the birds like yours :) Ah yes, Target is a great store and I need to go check it out. It has been a while since I went to one. You have a great day too Debbie!

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  9. I can't wait to see more photos of this plant. I have never seen it even in a photo or ever heard the name. happy to hear of your meetings with family and I think all in the black bird family are just like the grackles. the bickering with each other over everything. bob and I are both grackles, we bicker all day every day

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    1. I look forward to sharing those photos Sandra, but it will be next week now. I haven't had time to put another post together, and tomorrow will be an oldie. You made me smile about you and Bob being grackles :)

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  10. The chrysanthia caught my attention.

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    1. Hi Christine, it is a very unusual plant but pretty in its own way :)

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  11. A light rain makes spring even better. The rain cleans off all the dust from winter . at least that's what happens here.

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    1. I agree with you there Red, it makes everything feel fresh and clean :)

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  12. I am so glad spring is on its way, dh said he saw a bird at our feeder with a black back and orange breast, but I don't think it was a robin, still wondering what it could have been. we also saw a pileated woodpecker; they are shy and only stay a brief moment, looking forward to more photos, if only we have more space to plant more plants, lol

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    1. Hi Linda, me too :) I wonder what that bird was, a Baltimore Oriole maybe? I am not sure where you live and don't know enough about their range to be sure. I have only seen a pileated woodpecker once and for a few seconds but it was very exciting to me. That was years' ago. I would love to get one of these unusual plants into our garden :)

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  13. I am terrified of ticks and when I see deer, it reminds me of ticks. -sigh- So I find it hard, to see them, as sweet.

    Hooray for a Celebration and hearing from friends and family.

    We are under rain clouds here for a couple of days. It will be lovely, when the sun comes back out again.

    Loving this flower! Awaiting more progression pics, of it. :-)

    🌸 🌷 🌼 🌸 🌷

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    1. I don't blame you for being scared of ticks. I hope to be sharing more photos of the flower soon. Wishing you lots of sunshine today and this weekend :)

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  14. It sounds like you've had some good times with nature walks and family and wonderful critter sightings. All good! Thanks for stopping by my blog today, too!

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    1. Hi Jeanie, thank you and also for stopping by here. I enjoyed my visit to your blog today :)

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  15. Grackles can be bossy.


    After a damp day I hang my jeans up on the back of a desk chair. They tend to dry out by morning.

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  16. Again I wish for Scratch and Sniff app for the computer/ I have not heard of either of these and wish I could smell them.

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    1. Those computers will have that one day Rose, I am certain :)

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  17. Rambles are a good thing, Denise, whether through the woods or park or in a blog post. Grackles are annoying at feeders and such seed hogs as well. I didn't know the cardinals would come out at night. The Edwordia Chrisantha plant looks very interesting and thanks for the link with more information. It's been a rainy day here in Nashua as well today.

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    1. Hi Dorothy, yes a very good thing and now the weather is getting better, there will be many more :) The photo of the cardinal was still early evening, just before 7.00 p.m. I've noticed them early in the morning, during the day and in the twilight hours. I hope you get sunshine tomorrow.

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  18. Grackles are like a bunch of unruly teenagers in my book. You characterize them quite well. I run them off whenever I see the crowd getting big.

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    1. All I have to do is get up and walk by the door and they fly away :) I like to watch them for a while though, as I do all the birds. The Doves were making me smile today.

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  19. That is such an interesting plant/bloom. I can see why you'd like to see it in all it's glory. Birds have been entertaining us this week. Glad you've had a good week. We had salmon for dinner tonight. I'll look forward to your recipe as we just winged it!

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    1. Thank you Ellen, the recipe was a very simple one but will be happy to share what we did :)

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  20. Happy birthday to the birthday boy!

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    1. Thanks Jenn, I will pass your greetings onto him :)

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  21. Belated happy birthday wishes to Gregg.

    All the best Jan

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    1. Thank you Jan, I will let him know and all the best to you too :)

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  22. It's lovely hearing about your days, Denise. I identify with the hemming issue and the rain, my fellow shortie. Wonderful times with family are always special. We filled the feeders yesterday as the grackles have cleaned us out. More seed is on the list!

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    1. So glad you enjoyed it Martha Ellen, and you made me smile on our hemming issues :) We have more seed on our list too :)

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