WALNEY POND - LAST POST UNTIL THE NEXT VISIT

I am always drawn to the water lilies. There is a large carpet of them on the pond and you can see those photos here if you missed them.

I found this graphic online.

More facts can be found here at the Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens in Washington DC. We were here once and are way overdue for a visit. It's a marvelous place!

The next photo is called the Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera). There is a lot of information here. It is one of the tallest and most beautiful eastern hardwoods, with a long, straight trunk, a narrow crown that spreads with age, and large showy flowers resembling tulips or lilies. It is a tall straight, deciduous tree that grows to 150 feet tall (sometimes taller), has a medium to narrow crown and distinctive, star-shaped foliage. The yellow-orange, tulip-like flowers are often missed because they are up to 50 ft. or higher in the tops of trees. Their cone-shaped seedheads remain after leaves have fallen.

The trees are native to eastern North America. Specifically their natural range extended from southern Ontario and possibly southern Quebec, south toe Florida and Louisiana, and west to Illinois and Michigan. They are a common sight in the eastern United States, thriving in various habitats like woodlands, protected by hillsides and wooded valleys.

Introduced into Europe from Virginia by the earliest colonists and grown also on the Pacific Coast. Very tall trees with massive trunks existed in the primeval forests but were cut for the valuable soft wood. Pioneers hollowed out a single log to make a long, lightweight canoe. One of the chief commercial hardwoods, Yellow Poplar is used for furniture, as well as for crates, toys, musical instruments, and pulpwood.

I was too late to see it blooming on this particular visit, but I went on a hunt through my old blog and found the following two photos taken in 2009.

I got the settings wrong on this photo as it was a bit washed out to look at. I tried to darken it a little but need an expert. I need to find the book! It's a Pickerel Weed and I go into more detail at this post if you scroll down.

Shared before but wanted to include this pretty pink Swamp Rose. This link will give more info where I go into more detail.

I first shared the photo (taken at Walney) and the quote here, but felt it worthy of doing so again

We have been coming to Walney Pond for many years, and if you want to see those posts you can click here. Much too many to see in one sitting but you may enjoy one or two.

Thanks so much for visiting, and a thank you to all those who comment. I hope everyone has a great day!

PHOTOS FROM WILLIAMSBURG ON 4-25-25

I didn’t take as many photos on our short trip here. I was having problems with not being able to walk too far because of my knee issues. Gregg dropped us off not too far from this courtyard. The part of the street you see is blocked off to thru-traffic. There were no regular shops on my side as they ended at the road on my left, and to my right it was the start of the historical colonial homes. There were only two tables in use in this courtyard,  I was sitting on a wooden bench in an area all to myself.  It was relatively quiet in my tiny bubble (also where I was privileged to witness the bee swarm I mentioned in this post). I sent my family off to look around the shops, assuring them that I would enjoy my time in this one spot. I love to people watch, and dog watch! I had a great time and not too long afterwards, Gregg after much waiting and circling around, found his parking spot and joined me. We have the app on our phone that locates each other. This is how he found me. I could also follow him and could see how far away he was. It's comforting to know where we are located and is a big help at such times.

Below is a close-up picture of the dog in the above photo. Williamsburg is a very dog-friendly place. People are very responsible and take care of them. I have never seen anything untoward in all the time I have been visiting Williamsburg and all the dogs, I have seen at least, have all been very well behaved. 

We always took family and friends here when they visited us. 

Years ago we lived an hour away and now it is about three to three-and-a-half hours from home, depending on traffic.

In the photo below, on the right of the picture you can see a round piece of art on the brick wall on the right. I wrote about it before, and it shows it in better detail. That post you can find here.

Last dog for today. I loved that expression. I felt she was saying, "I've had enough of this. I would like to go home now and find a cool spot to lie in by the window so that I can watch the world go by, just like that lady over there.” Our eyes connected and we understood each other. 

One last look at the shopping area and...

as our family joined us, Gregg left to get the car again. He told us to walk up the road and turn left on another road. We were to walk to the end of that road where he would pick us up. One of the buildings had a figure of a sheep placed in a prominent spot. These usually show what is being sold inside. It is part of Williamsburg where you often see people walking around dressed in colonial costumes. To step inside these shops it would have been like stepping into the 1700s. We needed to purchase tickets at the visitor center for access. No one felt like it as the general consensus was that time was getting late, and we still had three-and-a-half hours on the road. We had already driven over three hours from the Outer Banks, where we had spent a very nice few days with my sister-in-law and her husband.

I found a plant outside one of the shops called Wax begonia.

This field of wildflowers took my interest for a while as we waited for Gregg.

The buttercups were everywhere...

and so were the dandelions.

The next one is Sweet vernal grass. 

Next you can see the trunk of a Black Walnut tree.

For some reason I took not the whole tree but the bottom and some of the branches and leaves further up. Everyone’s energy level was a little depleted by this time, or perhaps I was projecting. At this link you can see more info. 

If you click here you will find every post on Williamsburg that I have ever done in the lifetime of this blog. Too much to see in one sitting but if you see something of interest, it will give you a lot more information than I have shown today.

I am at end of our latest trip to Williamsburg. It was short but very enjoyable. I know we will be back there again one day.

I am including another collage above and the signature below, which I put together with the app on my iPad. I never get bored using them, and these clever apps make it so easy to do. 

Take good care of yourselves everyone.

HAPPY SUNDAY EVERYONE - A FEW PHOTOS FROM GREEN SPRING GARDENS

We were over here last Wednesday (3-19-25).

This is another house on park property grounds. It is not as large as the house I like so much at the top of the garden, which is older and I just like ‘old’. This is a stone’s throw from the ponds, and it is very pretty.

As we had planned, Gregg dropped me off at the road closer to the ponds. However, not only is the drop-off point a no parking zone, but it is also a private road and has an electronic barrier to prevent other cars from using it. Fortunately, we do have public walking access. The private home on this road is lovely, and I took a close-up photo of the old bird house as I walked by. It has character and will look very pretty when all the flowers bloom around it. I will be sure to take another photo.

I started walking as Gregg drove up the road to where he parks the car in our normal spot. I had my cane and I assured him I would not rush things (something I am prone to do), that I would be as slow as a snail. On that promise he left me to it. Thank goodness for cell phones and GPS trackers as we could keep an eye on each other.

At the first pond I could see no birds or turtles but there were a few people around. On the other side I spotted a small group of young adults who were chatting. I was heading to the first bench where I was to meet Gregg, but there was a couple sitting there. The gentleman had a walker. His wife smiled and asked if I would like to sit down. She would have had to move so I thanked her and said I was heading to the gazebo where I would be meeting my husband. And to myself I must text Gregg and tell him that. But half-way there and as I half-turned, Gregg surprised me. He was much faster than I expected and was at my side before I reached the gazebo. We saw an empty bench on one side of the second pond, and I asked him if he would like to go there. It was a little further but because of this beautifully warm, sunny day, it was preferable to sitting in the shade of the gazebo. We sat down on the bench and started looking around. This is the same view across the pond that I shared the other day.

We spent a good 20 minutes or so looking across. There were two geese and nearby, a gentleman with his granddaughter. It was fun to watch their interaction. Grandfather was sitting on the bench and granddaughter, a little more active, playing nearby. She was about five years old and very interested in the geese, but had been told not to go near them. They were still snoozing.

The lady and gentleman I had spoken to before, caught up with us and we talked with them for a few minutes. They were about ten years younger than us. We didn't want to keep them too long because the gentleman was holding tightly onto his walker, obviously was not in good enough shape to stand too long in one spot. That was my way of thinking anyway and maybe I was projecting, but looking at his face it seemed so. It was, however, one of those very pleasant interactions that we enjoy when we are around and about. 

Gregg and I stayed for a few more minutes on the bench and watched them take the same path that we would be taking. They said hello to grandfather and granddaughter but didn't stop and kept moving forward, very slowly. We gave them their space and didn't continue with our own walk until they had left the area. We followed their tracks around the pond, walker and footprints.

On our side, three ladies make their way towards us and said hello in passing. We noticed grandfather and granddaughter had left the bench and that was our cue to move on. I had it in mind to sit where they had and take photos of the Canada Geese. By the time we reached that bench, the geese had awakened. We both had fun observing them for a while and taking photos. 

I called him 'the Protector'. 

He stood guard the whole time we were taking our photos from the bench.

Protector paid us no mind...

and seemed to be watching the same scene as we were. Across the pond we can now see the bench we had been sitting on originally. A young family had arrived and were playing ball with their toddler. We heard the clang of the metal bat several times and watched as little one swung it near his mom a little too close for comfort. His parents were doing a great job teaching him. Judging by his excited giggles, he was having a great time. We enjoyed watching them for a while and they brought back memories of happy times we had with our own son when he was that age.

Another ten to 15 minutes rest and we decided it was time to walk back. Nearer to our exit spot I told Gregg it would be a good idea for him to go ahead and I would meet him in the same place where he had parked the car before.

I wish I had asked him to leave the camera with the zoom lens as there was now a pair of ducks on the other side, with several turtles sunning themselves on the bank near them. Maybe I missed them before. Not very good photos as my cell phone gets a bit fuzzy when I try to zoom in, but it's a memory.

Two more ladies passed by, smiled and said hello. We were all enjoying the warmth and sunshine. I was looking forward to reaching the car. The spot I was to meet Gregg was not very far away by this time. I was staring down at my feet while walking, and when I looked up, he was heading my way. It was good to be in the car and heading home after such a lovely walk. 

My two last photos show English Ivy trailing on the ground.  Other names are Common ivy, European ivy and Poet's ivy. Botanical name Hedera helix.

I also saw new buds on the trees. This is a Red maple. It is also called Maple tree, Swamp maple, Soft maple and a Water maple. Botanical name Acer rubrum. A common tree in North America and its sap can be made into maple syrup. The leaves are very toxic to horses I read. According to the US Forest Service, red maple is the most common tree in eastern North America.

That's all for now. 

Thanks for looking, enjoy your day 

and have a great week ahead.

SHE HEARD…

And she stopped…

and she heard what the trees 

said to her,

and she sat there for hours

not wanting to leave.

For, the forest said nothing,

it just let her breathe.

by Becky Hemsley 

I have shared Becky’s poetry on here before. She is an author who lives in Leicestershire, UK, with her husband, two boys and their dog. She was formerly a primary school teacher for 15 years, but now writes full-time and has written four collections. The first - entitled 'Talking to the Wild', which features the poem 'Breathe'. Also, another book now which is a follow on, 'What the Wild Replied. I treated myself to these two books. I can highly recommend them. She also has two further regular collections, and one of loss and grief poetry, as well as three children's books, one of which is an illustrated version of 'Breathe'). She is drawn to, and moved by, nature and its consistencies with human emotion (this I can attest to). In her words, "I often think the phrase 'human nature' is a good one to describe my thought process when writing. I aim to make a difference with words by helping people realize they are not alone."  She really is an amazing poet and sounds like a wonderful human being.

WHEN YOU ARE SAD MY LITTLE STAR

An old photo of mine and a favorite I have shared before.

"When you're sad my Little Star, go out of doors.  It's always better underneath the open sky."

~Eva Ibbotson~

A Countess Below Stairs. 

If you click on the author's name under the quote, you will see where I got the following information from. There is a lot more to read.

"Eva Maria Charlotte Michelle Ibbotson (née Wiesner; 21 January 1925 – 20 October 2010), was an Austrian-born British novelist, known for her children's literature. Some of her novels for adults have been reissued for the young adult market. The historical novel Journey to the River Sea (Macmillan, 2001) won her the Smarties Prize in category 9–11 years, garnered an unusual commendation as runner-up for the Guardian Prize, and made the Carnegie, Whitbread, and Blue Peter shortlists. She was a finalist for the 2010 Guardian Prize at the time of her death. Her last book, The Abominables, was among four finalists for the same award in 2012.”

SATURDAY MORNING AT THE BIRD FEEDER - THE SQUIRRELS HAD A PARTY

It was wild!

Nope, we're not doing word of the day today.

The American Robins flew in to check out what all the commotion was about.

The Mockingbird turned up for a few seconds.

The Robins turned up with friends and had their own party. 

Everyone was all of a tweeter.

The inanimate object was by this time standing upright and wasn't talking, Kissing Bunnies were okay too. Big Bunny is still staying away, but this little guy turned up. Everyone was keeping a close eye on him. He told everyone he was innocent and that he didn't know anything.

I have noticed how you all tip toe and jump over those leaves. We keep sweeping them up and they keep falling. That's why they call it "Fall!" 

Tell them they have very good fluffy tails. They would be great for sweeping. All they have to do is waddle backwards! 

And that's how it goes at this week's Saturday Morning at the Bird Feeder.

Have a great weekend everyone 

and thanks for stopping by for another whimsical tale.