Friday 26 May 2017

a side trip


Wally and I often get out in the evenings, to break up my quiet day alone and his manic day at work

There's still much to do around the old homestead, but we need the juxtaposition of change.
Note how slowly the leaves on the ash trees on either sides of the driveway are coming in, always the last to fill in. Their sweetly scented blossoms have fallen all over the driveway, and their pollen all over our car.

One of our neighbours is always doing home improvement to his pretty little property.

On the main street, this little place has done a nice job of softening the exterior with various bushes.

We enjoyed watching this small mansard roofed house get renovated.

So typical of its age, this lovely house is too close to the main street now.
I love its bay windows and other Victorian features.

A house sitting in the midst of commercial buildings, not unusual out here,
 it always has a grand lit up tree in the right window every Christmas.

Up the hill is Blair House at the Agricultural Centre.

Suddenly Wally turned into the Centre.
I just missed the prime shot of the big willow on the pond

This is where the high school graduates will take their prom pictures in the near future when even more flowers will be in bloom.

We drive past the old red barn

Built in 1912, it was originally a dairy barn. It remained in operation until the '70's.
Though the old silo is gone, it remains a heritage landmark, here at the Agricultural Research Centre.

We turn right, past the main building

We can see down the hill from whence we came

a hint at what's to come

A big maple branch blocks a stand of birch

I'm sorry I didn't get a decent shot of the front of Blair House, named for the superintendent who took care of the grounds these many years ago. This is a side shot looking towards the back.

As we left the car, I fell into a world of Rhododendrons.

We often see these and Azaleas in private gardens, and while pretty, I never really fell for them.
But up close...

OMG!

I never realized how much like lilies these really-quite-exotic flowers are.

Peeking through the massive planting back at Blair House

we wandered deeper into this magical, dare I say "enchanted", garden

It's froth of blossoms was enough to make one giddy

more varieties that I couldn't identify

a whatcoulditbe

with its somewhat bell-shaped flowers

up close

We wandered along grassy paths noting the pine needle beds that the Rhododendrons were planted in to acidify their soil.

Wouldn't you think this was a lily at first sight? 

exquisite

The place was humming

literally

an unusual amount of bumblebees
yet these flowers have no scent

I asked Wally to pose for scale.

These flowering bushes are insanely prolific

Wally suggested we pose together.

some more whatcoulditbe's with some lovely red leaves? flowers?

These tiny budding flowers

on this giant bush

Am I in Costa Rica?

I would have sworn this was a tropical flower, this crazy mottled Rhododendron about to bloom.
.
Another mystery flower in bud

up close

We were actually on our way to pick up a few groceries!

how lucky we are.

please find beauty where you are



2 comments:

Jeanne-Sylvie said...

How much i like the style of the houses in your country, especially the oldest ones.
This garden you had a walk in is a magical place with all these gorgeous flowers. Nature is such a gift and every moment spent among such beauty is a privilege. Take advantage of it as much as you can my dear, it is so refreshing for the soul!
Be well dear Lorraine!!

Enchanted Blue Planet said...

Thank you dear Jeanne-Sylvie. We owe it to ourselves to take advantage of the beauty and joy that one can surely find in everyday living. Peace dear one.

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