the gardens of Cape May- July 2012

my oil painting

 

 

Cape May

Take my hand, walk with me.
Listen to the wetlands and the sea.
A sandy cove full of wild life and flora.

A painted turtle does a flip to show his coat,
A pair of swans glide gracefully upon the moat.
The foliage is full of honeysuckles.

The lighthouse is nearby staring down upon our path.
A small rabbit makes a dash up ahead makes us laugh.
We head for the beach pick up shells along the way.

Just another day with my sweethearts, in Cape May.

Saint Eule

 white Swamp Mallow

Below is the Emlen Physick Estate which we toured...

These are not my houses,Im just visiting......I was a big fan of the Victorian era....my house is a new Victorian...simplified version ..These houses are virtually blocks from the beach and the breezes  here are wonderful.

This beautiful ironwork must have cost a fortune!

A vase an make New Guinea Impatiens pop!

fading hydrangeas still look great!

here is an example of good garden design where you have various color and texture and forms in the foliage.

I like the fact that this gazebo is painted green rather than white...what a difference!

What a stunning Japanese Maple and great contrast to the whites and greens

the music of the night

Darkness wakes, and stirs imagination
Slowly, gently, night unfurls its splendor
Grasp it, sense it, tremulous and tender
Softly, deftly, darkness shall caress you
Hear it, feel it, secretly possess you
Open up your mind 
Let your fantasies unwind
In this darkness which you know you cannot fight
The darkness of the music of the night
Floating, falling, sweet intoxication
Touch me, trust me, savor each sensation
Let the dream begin
Let your darker side give in
The power of the music of the night

Charles Hart

anticipation!

In the cool dark damp stillness and the only sound the crickets and frogs.... the flowers await pollination and call with a lovely perfume

Everything is blooming most recklessly; if it were voices instead of colors, there would be an unbelievable shrieking into the heart of the night ~~~~~Rainer Maria Rilke

easy breezy airplants

la femme paresseuse du jardin

  

In this first shot you can see my amazing success with the Spanish variety of moss...heehee.

I  used driftwood as a base for some small bromiliads 

Lazy women and men love airplants.....especially with blackspot on roses and waterlogged orchids!

 

I  just made this Tailansia tree and I hope it will fill out!

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thanks to rain...June is busting out all over

Hydrangea macrophylla "Taube" lace-cap

If you are into razors ,you'll love these....Billbergia 'Breauteana'

Blood lily

The big picture

These new cultivars are as large as a luncheon plate

These orchids are the first ones I've ever had that had an amazing perfume.Now, to keep her alive!
Her name is  Brassavola

 

Wisteria Woman

by Lisa Shields Violet lavender drug slipping beneath my skin, shucking off the stale air of too long shut in, too long shut away whispering to me to breathe deep and be. The clothes fall away till I stand like mother Eve two bites before the apple. Lips blush to rose, and the tongue tastes of sweet tart pomegranate, while a wisp of wind carries hair to frame my face. All I have been is pollen dusted, oh the wisteria sweet kissing deep, till I feel the promise of fertile, drooping fat on a vine petals that promise nothing, but hint at all. A month from honeysuckle still to come, but I can taste the nights, raise my eyes to the mantle of sky, suddenly clad in the skin of every moonlit woman, and beckoning with my being for you to dance beneath the far flung sky in the arms of a Wisteria Woman

Inspiration.!! Kuekenhof Gardens, ,Netherlands-May,2012

Inspiration

I look to you to be my guide
My heart can feel you by my side
Deep in my soul, I'm convinced 
You’ve Been My Inspiration
You’ve Been My Inspiration.

Can you realize all you are
Something more than just a star
Through ups and downs 
From Where we came
Confidence kicked in….,
And who’s to blame….? ?  

No doubt it’s you….,
You, you, you…., 
Was blessed by you....,
You've Been My Inspiration
You've Been My Inspiration             Trade Martin



                          

 

 

 

    

 

 

 

Keukenhof is one of the worlds greatest gardens! It is absolutely the best bulb garden in the world and it's only open for about 6 weeks. 7,000,000  flower bulbs are planted annually in the park, which covers an area of 32 hectares  Keukenhof is situated on 15th century hunting grounds. It was also a source of herbs for Countess of Hainault castle, which is the source of the name Keukenhof  Rich merchants took over the grounds after the Countess's death. In the 19th century,  landscape architect Jan David Zocher and his son were asked to design the grounds around the castle.The garden was established in 1949 by the then-mayor of Lisse. The idea was to present a flower exhibit where growers from all over the Netherlands and Europe could show off their hybrids – and help the Dutch export industry (the Netherlands is the world's largest exporter of flowers). Keukenhof has been the world's largest flower garden for over fifty years.Every year they present a theme.This years theme was Chopin.....a wooden bust,flower beds shaped like the artist ,displays with black huge hanging notes and red flowers. In the middle of the garden is a free form lake. Interspersed in the gardens are the buildings.There is an orchid house, a tulip house and a buildings for flower arrangements. The orchid display is one of the best in the world.There is a wonderful playground, a petting zoo,cafes and even a working windmill and views to the flower fields .There is a calliope and sculptures. The gardens are attended by dozens of people working all day deadheading the plants to utter perfection for your visit. It was an amazing experience and I wanted a good friend to experience it with me...You should at allow a full day! Bring an umbrella and loads of storage on your memory card.

                             Orange Kaisers Crown                                             

  

  

 

I found a U-pick field by in Lisse not far from the entrance and I picked these myself and they cost 4 Euros

 I purchased this bulb at the gardens for 7 euro