We’ve been having a few days of freezing fog lately. Makes for some neat photos. Make sure you click the 4 corner button near the bottom right to view full screen — looks better that way.
If the above slideshow doesn’t work for you (mom), these same pictures can be found on our flickr site – click on our flickr photos at the right.
Perhaps it is the cooler temps and soggy ground – (stereo)typical weather of New England states – but whatever the cause, the fall color has been vibrant this year. If only our trees were a little bigger.
The cabin blends nicely with the natural color. Almost like we planned it. Maybe Anne did – I’m a little color challenged.
It’s tree blooming time. Plums and wild plums appear to be the first to bloom.
And then I might place my money on the cherry trees, but the red buds aren’t too far behind. The crab apples have sprouted small clusters of leaves. I’m not sure, but I think they will leaf out more before blooming. The plums are very fragrant, or they would be if it would stop raining long enough to smell them. We did need the rain, but I’d like to have it stop now for a bit.
At the end of the comfortable season last year, Anne cleaned out and trimmed back an unruly and overgrown corner of our property. In the process, some attractive trees were exposed and the space was transformed from eye-sore to natural wonderland. But it was a dead-end wonderland as the trickle of the stream isolated this spot from the rest of the property. All we could do was turn around and walk back along the same path. The solution was to incorporate some railroad ties into the landscape.
With the addition of the bridge, the steps beyond seemed like a natural extension. Now we have a wooded/shade garden area to consider. I can smell the hostas blooming already.
Or is it just “Willowrama?”
Regardless of the term, we do have quite a few curly willow cuttings growing inside and more out planted in the garden. The garden is still dormant, but we expect some good growth from these cuttings. Then we will plant some around the property and pot some for sale at the local farmer’s market. Anne has already sold a few cuttings on Craiglist (Cedar Rapids, IA). They are fast growers and offer attractive twisting structure during Winter. The picture above shows the catkin or bloom of the willow.
