The Years To Remember

The orchids I bought 2 months ago are holding up well. I guess I'll keep them.  I started the week off with a shift at the Discovery Center which is getting quite busy with the warming days. I've noticed  the sorts of visitors that visit the center fall into three groups.  1) Parents/grandparents with small children are most common . The kids love the scavenger hunts and the live turtles tanks. 2) Group homes for challenged individuals. They seem to enjoy the displays too. 3) Adult hikers looking for maps, trail advice, and bathrooms. It's fun to discuss which trails will best suit their needs, and I'm learning the trails first hand. I'm glad when it's busy because it makes the time go by so quickly. I usually end my shift with a trail walk and I chose the Blueberry Hills section this day.  At the high point, I could see the storm clouds in the north. They stayed up there and I had a pleasant and sunny hike. It was nice to see the vegetation greening up. I cover...

Hundreds of daffodils are blooming in the yard. A couple of neighbors commented on how nice they look. Last week I met my friend Dale for lunch and we had a nice chat. She lost her brother in law, then her brother in the month of March which has been so sad for her. We made some plans to visit a botanical garden's plant sale next month and a few other outings.  Afterwards I met Ann Marie for a leisurely bike ride on the Helderburg trail. We caught up as she tends to hibernate all winter for the most part. I organized a 3 day getaway to Cape Cod next month in the same cottage I stayed in last year. Ann Marie, Sue Ellen, and AJ are joining me, and hopefully we'll get in some relaxing beach walking and bike riding.  It is a rambling 4 bedroom cottage just a few steps away from the beach in one direction, and the bike trail in the other.  I finally got some quality time in the garden as the temperatures finally hit the 60's! I'm mostly clearing up beds, and raking leaves, b...

4/11 -  It has snowed four days out of the first 10 days of April due to a cold air system settled over the east coast. I'm thinking fondly of the biking I enjoyed in March, wondering when I'll get another ride in. Friday arrived with snow flurries and the street cleaning machine getting rid of the grit that was spread on the roads all winter. I decided on a visit to the Valentino Forest where I picked up some very distinctive rocks for my garden last year. I set off on a solo rock hunt and had the place to myself as mine was the only car in the parking area. I always pack my pepper spray and let a friend know where I was, as hiking alone can be risky. The stream was running well from all the rain we've had. It's such a pretty hemlock forest. I looked up often, trying to spot the porcupines  which live here. Hemlock is one of their favorite foods. I took the Sophie's Knoll trail in search of the right rock. I found an OK shaped one and carried it for about a mile un...

 That pretty much sums up my mood. It isn't good; it isn't bad; just blah. I'm doing all the things but I've lost my mojo. I feel like I'm just going through the motions of life and not much is happening. It would help if spring arrived properly without the shivery temperatures, the constant wind, and lots of rain. Maybe next week. The Peeping Tom daffodils are always first to show and brighten up the day. I was busy at the Discovery center putting together materials for upcoming educational visits and the Karner Blue Butterfly festival in May. It makes the time go quickly and makes me feel useful. Then off to hike the trails. I thought I picked a 3-4 mile one, but 5.5 miles later I finished. I had always wanted to see the prescribed burn areas and I came upon one. The last time I walked here it was overgrown and treed. Now it's quite bare. The burns are needed to preserve the Pine Bush and get rid of invasives. Hopefully this will fill in quickly this summer. I...

The local orchid society had a beautiful display. I went to the Garden and Flower Show again this year with my neighbor friend Annette. We had a fun time, but noted the big garden displays were not as many or elaborate as in years past. The flower designs were nice and we enjoyed the vendor fair due to so many samples and wine tastings available!   One of the nicer gardens. The sand carver was there again this year with colors in his designs! The cat was larger than me in terms of scale. I enjoyed ogling the treats even though I didn't buy any. The Chelsea Buns were the size of a dinner plate! My backyard has turned into a vibrant bird habitat thanks to the suet feeder. It has attracted so many species I haven't seen in a while; mostly woodpecker types, but some songbirds as well. Downy, Hairy, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Titmouse, and Chickadees to name a few. I turned on the Merlin app which ID's bird calls and 20 species were within hearing in 5 minutes of mon...