Hi everyone: Don't forget to check the final posts of last week's chat for tips on ordering stuff through the mail and what to do when a package has been tampered with and/or items never arrive in the first place! Also, OG is back and had a lovely time and may post photos if she can find some without total strangers blocking the views! Brenda/dibnlib: Americans aren't "allowed" to go to Cuba because - oh don't get me started. But a friend of mine did go there - he had to go somewhere else first and then pop over to Cuba on the QT before heading back to the States. Tiger: Nice to see you. Emma: "They" have just approved a bunch of wind turbines offshore of Cape Cod - one of the most famous scenic places on the U.S. East Coast! I'm fascinated to see what happens since I can't believe the moneyed and well-connected folk with fab houses in that area would allow it to actually happen. Diane: Yes, I read some comments on Trucker Steve's blog about some negative folk on Facebook, but no idea what that was all about and, like you, had no inclination to find out! He's heading to Florida next...
Since folks on here are talking about it, thought I'd mention that BP's curly headed CEO? didn't endear himself to anyone last week when he said he was eager to "get his life back" after the spill. A nice option for him when those killed and their families won't ever have that option, not to mention the wildlife.
Haven't been around much today - Farmer's Market and errands this morning, then this afternoon went on our Gray Whale "thank you to volunteers" boat ride on the Condor, which typically does whale watch cruises for tourists, etc., but was just for us this afternoon. Mike, our main GWC guy, works (unofficially) with the captain of the Condor during Gray Whale season. The Condor calls us when they see whales heading our way while we let them know when we have whales around Coal Oil Point. A win-win arrangement for everyone. Today, we left the harbor and immediately found ourselves in a pod of dolphins - a huge pod of about 700, Mike estimated, in full hunting mode. Just an amazing spectacle; we were surrounded by them. The dophins on the outer edge of the pod were leaping out of the water in coordinated groups of four or five - one of the rangers said she'd seen that behavior before and speculated that it may be a way of driving the fish into a particular position to facilitate feeding for the rest of the group . We could see fish jumping - literally for their lives. Other dolphins were behind the boat and still more right beside us, riding the wake from the bow . Immediately in front of the bow the dolphins were swimming (all this very fast) upside down, their bellies exposed and our guide explained that this was normal hunting behavior - that they can better see the fish from this position. Just amazing. Then we headed 9 miles out to track two humpback whales - a cow and calf pair, which we followed for about 30 minutes, watching the mother roll on her side to feed on krill; then saw the calf breach, which was a real treat. They served us wine and food, but I didn't partake since we were in a heavy swell and my innards were feeling a bit odd. That wasn't helped by the diesel fumes or the very strong perfume that two young women were wearing. I haven't had problems on boats before, but as they say, there's always a first time and this was it. Suffice to say I made it to a quiet corner at the rear of the ship before.....
Probably going to bed early tonight! Granddaughter and OH arriving Wednesday, so a busy week ahead. Take care all!
Morning all damp and cloudy here, but not cold. We didn't have the thunderstorms yesterday, but persistent rain all afternoon. The flowers look to have survived ok, and everything is looking very fresh.
OG - that is a stunning pic of the paoeny ... what beautiful deep colours ... mine are all quite pale colours. Loved looking at all the various garden pics from your trip.
Alan - beautiful photo of your clamatis bloom, too. I took a few pics of my clematis blooms the other day, but they don't come up to your standard.
patriciat - sorry to hear about your 'war wound' .. hope it isn't too inconvenient for you.
Enjoyed everyone else's chat etc
Take care
Joan - avid bird and nature watcher in Northumberland!
Index Thread
What beautiful flowers, everyone - great pics. I do love both clematis and peonies. My latest poppies are just coming out, I will post pics tomorrow.
Yesterday dressed up in skirt & blouse instead of the usual trousers and top, and went to Norton Priory which is near Runcorn in Cheshire: they were having a day to celebrate the opening of their famous walled garden over 21 years ago. We were specially invited also, as we had contributed to the provision of a special bench in the gardens to celebrate and commemorate the life of an old friend, Margaret, who was the Director of Norton Priory for several years before retiring around about 2004, then finding that she had cancer - sadly she later died of this just as she was planning her move to the Isle of Man for her longed for retirement. The bench is most unusual and had been specially commissioned- I will try to get a pic on here but its with the camera that I have trouble with.
Here is the link to Norton Priory if you are around this way sometime:
http://www.nortonpriory.org/explore/walledgarden
--we had a lovely time there and the rain held off (it had been raining here, before we left) so everyone was able to enjoy a couple of short speeches about Margaret and also the Gardens, before we had light refreshments and then a nice walk around the flowers and vegetables in the restored plots, all beautifully kept by the staff and volunteers there.
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What wonderful pics of plants and garden designs – so many green thumbers and gardeners.
OG what a stunning Paeoni (and kin I have some of that delicious sounding soup please )
Alan – how I wish I had a Clematis . I’ve always lost the ones I’ve tried to grow.
Lovely to read the chat. AQ so hope the wedding pans out EXCELLENTLT well (fingers crossed for all the organisation going easily).
George – not sure whether Bil should be Bill or whether I’ve missed something but so hope Bill is really on the mend now.
Oh, those Derby Peregrines: beautiful young birds Sandy
I’ve lost the link to Tawny Owls- is anyone able to help please?
OG, Thank you very much. That is a beautiful peony. Even though they don't last long, I do love them. I have one which originates from my parent's garden and has moved with us each time we have moved house. It has always flowered, even though the experts say that they dislike being moved.
Inherited some peonies in this garden, and loved them so much that I have now planted more.. waiting to see if they flower this summer - we are a bit behind some areas with our flowers but everything is enjoying the warm rain lately, and growing like mad.
georgeg: Sorry to hear how serious your b.in.laws operation had to be, finally. Hope he makes a good recovery.
Thanks to OG for wonderful pics of the Garden Show. Love looking at show gardens.
HeatherB: Please don't feel obliged to write every day, or reply to every post - you have to have a Life, after all! Just join in when you can.... we like to hear from you when you do.
Have worn SeaBands in the past - they help me with mild motion sickness such as in the back of a car etc. but are not enough when on a boat - just thinking about that up and down, up and down, makes me queasy!
patriciat: Sorry to hear about your wounds and the painful cure - hope you are OK now.
Diane: Golly, tornadoes. Sounds very dramatic to us, we don't get them much here, and if we do they are just tiny flurries compared. Glad you are OK and intact.
Rain started again here, this afternoon. Another visit from No. 2 Son and Wife, on their way back down from the Lake District - they have had a lovely time and have seen Ospreys on the cam at the Whinlatter Visitor Centre, where they stopped one day for lunch.
Must go and hoover something now, nothing gets done around here these days.....
The food programme is on BBC Radio 4 at the moment discussing cupcakes, I shall try to post the link in due course after the programme is over.
ChloeB & Tiger's Osprey Data Site
Sat track schedule Spring 2014
LG 7 days; RW & SWT nil; LDOP varies
Damn. Just about to hit post but hit wrong key and lost it all: Arghhh! Was looking at Norton Priory page. Sigh.
Morning all; Alan: Would hate to lose flowers to pesky storms.
Lindybird/AQ: Funny how the French version of phoney and rabbit makes things sound so much classier! We have a wall around our garden but it doesn't look anything like Norton Priory's. I notice they have a HaHa Wall?! Sounds like somewhere 18th century graffiti artists would post jokes. Were your ancestors around those parts? Nice thought re the bench - people do that here; also plant trees in memory of friends, etc. Very constructive memorials. Hope your peonies do well. Margobird: When you get back, let us know if that was a red fox in your garden?
jsb: Glad the package business got sorted out - with an apology yet! Do let us know what the consensus about cupcakes concludes. Are they on their way out?
OG: Here, coyotes often carry off small pets and have been known - rarely - to go after toddlers, mostly in houses right up in the foothills behind LA. Then there's the big debate on Whose land is this anyway? Fabulous shot of peony.
Djoan: Lovely clematis. I love white flowers.
Have lots to do the next couple of days..... Back later. Take care call and hallo to folks I missed!
Funny how this site lets you say damn, but won't let you say *** (dim. of Richard).
Its just been announced on our local news that Kielder ospreys have 3 chicks ... yessss .. my 'local' Northumbrian ospreys, although I have yet to see one 'live' there!
WOW!! Just saw on CNN that that fox entered the house, went upstairs, and attacked the babies. Awful. I thought it had got them out in the garden - and apparently the authorities had warned people not to leave their doors open. Amazing!