Tuesday, May 3, 2022

LATEST WALK AROUND GREEN SPRING GARDENS ON 4-15-22 - PART 1

We were at the gardens on April 14th.  It was a gorgeous day and far too good to stay inside.  
I also wanted to see the dogwoods while they were still blooming.  We are thinking of planting them to replace the two trees that we had to cut down.  The white ones are my favorite as they were the first kind I ever saw.  We drive out into the country and see them growing wild in amongst all the other trees.  It is a lovely sight.  
The pink ones are spectacular too and these were at the lower end of the garden.  
We have both in our neighborhood, which look stunning.  Our son and daughter-in-law mentioned them, how beautiful they looked, when heading over recently.  
But, I have a bee in my bonnet about the white and would like to plant those.  Dear Other Half doesn't have a strong opinion and would be happy with both.  Looking at these, however, well.....
We usually take the pathway next to the old house, but we wanted to go to the ponds today.  We walked the narrow road down the hill instead.
A kind person had found a pair of sunglasses and popped them on top of the sign where, hopefully, they will be found before their owner leaves the garden.  As you can see, the garden gates are closed at five.  We have in the past arrived at a later hour and was glad we read the sign.  You can still walk around, probably until it starts to get dark, and we have left our car on the other side of the gate.  It is only a short walk to the garden.  One time we wanted to go during that golden hour for photo taking, and remembering the sign, we parked beyond the gate.  We did not have a problem finding a spot as most people had left by then.
I did not think I would be seeing any more daffodils, but there were many on our way to the ponds.  


I have seen paler daffodils - narcissus? - but not the frilly kind.  The closest I could get to identifying these was Double Daffodils - Sir Winston Churchill.  
You can see if you agree at this link.  The website here has them for sale.
There are many benches throughout the garden, and we always make use of one that is right next to the water.  
Gregg is taking photos of the fish.
I am sitting on our favorite bench.  From where I am, it is a good place to watch for activity on the water.  I was hoping for birds but came across something very interesting.
A couple were on the edge peering down and then the gentleman exclaimed very loudly.  He turned round to where I was sitting, and said there were huge fish just under the surface, come and see!  His excitement and enthusiasm made me smile and as I recognized another nature lover, I walked over.  We chatted for a while and Gregg joined us.  The gentleman told me he thought they were American Carp.  I couldn't get a decent photo of the big ones but they were well over four-feet in length.
The smaller swam towards us and stayed in place for a while, opening and closing their mouths as they usually do.  It didn't take long to realize they were waiting for us to feed them.
I thanked the couple.  We have never seen fish this big before and we look into the water on every visit, checking out the much smaller ones.  These were a surprise.  The Great Blue Heron we occasionally see fishing will have a hard time picking one up for dinner.
We also got a decent photo of a Male Northern Cardinal, as curious about us as we were about him perhaps?
And I'm thinking this is a House sparrow.  What do you think?
And an American Robin.  Gregg took the bird photos.
We leave the pond and walk along the trail through the wood.  The bark of trees interests us both and Gregg also took the next photo.   On doing a little research (please let me know if you think it is something else), this is a River birch tree, also known as Water birch, Black birch and Swamp birch.  River birch is a strong but knotty wood.  It is sometimes used to make woodenware and furniture, but it is not usually used for commercial lumber.  Native Americans would boil the sap to make a sweetener and would even eat the inner bark when food was scarce.  It is also a food source for many wild birds and even deer.
One last photo taken by my Dear Other Half, and that is one of the creek.  There is a bridge we cross over before going up the hill.

I will end here as there are more photos to share.  I hope you have enjoyed Part 1.

Thank you for visiting today's blog post.  
May your day be a happy one.




39 comments:

  1. Yes, that is a House Sparrow for sure. They are chatty and friendly little birds, but will kill baby bluebirds in their nest for no reason. The fish are huge! I have never seen the frilly Daffodils either, what a beautiful and unusual sight! I don't know if I have ever seen a dogwood that is such a deep and intense pink.

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    1. Oh dear, isn't that is a sad part of nature. I have heard that wrens and some other birds do the same and I would never have thought that. Yes, I loved those frilly daffodils and I agree about the deep color of the dogwood pinks. Thanks Ginny :)

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  2. What an absolutely delightful place to visit - and to find other nature lovers too. My greedy self would like both a pink AND a white dogwood.

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    1. I am thinking pink and white now :) Thanks Sue!

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  3. Another blog I was just reading posted about dogwood as well. It sure is pretty. Looks like a lovely day there and so many interesting things to see. I've always called those flowers double daffodils.

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    1. Thanks Ann, I saw double daffodils when I did more looking-up Ann :) They are very beautiful! I would like to check that blog out. Could you give me the address please?

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    1. Estou feliz que você gostou deles. Muito obrigado. Um abraço e continuação de boa semana :)

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  5. Of course I enjoyed this walk with you!! That carp is humongous isn't it?!! Pink or white blossoms...either one, would be great. My druthers would be white 'cause when the blossoms fall to the ground, you'd have "snow" in May.

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    1. As I enjoy your walks Anni :) Always enjoy them. Yes, I am thinking either they are both gorgeous. It is a hard choice but how you describe the 'snow' in May, awesome!

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  6. Hello Denise, What a lovely outing and a beautiful place. The Dogwood blooms are beautiful. We have a pink one in our yard but there are plenty of wild white dogwood trees in the forest next to our home. That is a big fish. Take care, enjoy your day!

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    1. Hi Eileen, thank you. Your garden must look stunning :) You take care and enjoy your day also.

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  7. your after hours wander paid off well with photo ops.. wow! flowers, trees, bark, fish and the beautiful evening light. we do the before places open, or used to when we went walking. now i can't get bob to go anywhere at all. we used to park outside the gate and walk around it so I could get sunrise pics and sun paintings. you do the evening thing. the last time i did the evening was taking our dog Max to the park, no camera back then

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    1. That sounds very nice. I love our walks but am slowing up some. Just can't walk as far as I used to but am enjoying what I can. Evening walks are so peaceful and calming.

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  8. I absolutely enjoyed this walk with you, Denise.

    The dogwood trees are so pretty - they don't grow in our part of the world so these are a joy to see.

    Happy Monday!

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    1. Thank you Veronica Lee :) I am happy you enjoyed them. I left a message on your blog as I enjoyed your post very much. I am not sure if it published. I couldn't remember if you monitor your comments but I will check back again to make sure. I always like to return visits and am always grateful for yours :)

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  9. We saw some house sparrows today when we were taking a walk along the Rhine river. Haven't seen American robins over here though, but we have lots of magpies and blackbirds here.

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    1. I remember magpies on our trip to Germany Angie. Always enjoyed looking at the birds in other parts of the world. How lovely taking a walk along the Rhine River :)

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  10. You capture such lovely detail in your garden photos. And so much beauty. Love the birds as much as the blooms. (And thanks for stopping by!)

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    1. Thank you Jeanie, and I enjoy my visits to your blog. A lot of beauty in yours too :)

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  11. Looks like a great spot to walk and enjoy. Oh how I love dogwood blooms. They are so pretty. Those fish are something.

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    1. Thanks Ellen, it is always a treat for me to see the dogwoods and yes, those fish are something indeed :) They were quite a surprise.

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  12. Such a pleasant interlude! Thank you, D

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  13. Thank you Linda, they both have their beauty don't they? :)

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  14. Denise, that was the best trip! The pink flowers I like best! But those daffies!!!

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    1. Hi Jenn and thank you :) Those pinks and daffies, they are lovely?

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  15. You and your husband share such beautiful photographs, Denise! How neat to see such a large fish there. I love white dogwoods as well, but those pink ones you featured are stunning. And the daffodils/narcissis are lovely Our dogwoods in our garden were gifts from our birds. Most of them are along the fence. I'm sweeping up the blossoms daily as the warm spell has signaled them to say goodbye.

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    1. Wonderful gifts from the birds Martha Ellen, though the sweeping up of leaves is probably a monumental task :) Thank you! I have been watching the crepe myrtles fall in yesterday’s windy weather. They looked beautiful.

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  16. I've always thought the dogwood blossoms were beautiful. This is a pretty color. Have never seen it in this color before. It's nice that they have those benches throughout the garden to just sit and relax. Oh, and that red cardinal! Thank you for sharing that precious bird. Do you know it is a dream of mine to see the red cardinal one day? I don't get to see them here in California.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Hi Sheri, it is a beautiful color isn't it? Those benches not only give us a bit of a rest but the opportunity to really take in what is around us. You are very welcome and I hope you will get to see the cardinal one day :)

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  17. I grew up seeing the white dogwoods on the mountains down home, and I loved them. But OH, I so love pink dogwoods. Pink like the ones you showed. Mine is not the color pink I want. But guess what? I am now wishing I had planted a white one, too because I love them both.

    Love those daffodils...I never tire of them.

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    1. That sounds wonderful Rose :) and I never tire of the daffodils either. I just might plant a pink as well as white, who knows :)))

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