A few other blooms we saw in the Conservatory while visiting the Chrysanthemum Festival last weekend ... loved all the vibrant colors and rich textures!
Longwood Gardens in bloom - Quick shots, November 2011 /
Chrysanthemum Festival - Longwood Gardens /
Lovely start to the day - Nantucket in the AM /
Woof Cottages on the Wharf - Nantucket /
A happy find: if you like beachy destinations and traveling with your furry friend, the Woof Cottages (Part of The Cottages & Lofts at the Boat Basin) are definitely worth checking out!
Located along the wharfs of historic Nantucket, these quaint cottages are cozy & full of character - and your best friend is greeted with a custom name tag and gift bag. Sweet stuff :)
Along the Trail - It looks like the trees got the memo /
Autumn is here...
Along the Trail - Mother Nature's Light Show /
With the forecast calling for lots of rain over the next few days, it was nice to have such a colorful sunset to hold us over for a while...
Itty Bitty Teeny Tiny Wildlife Rehab /
Little orphans from the latest round of storms ... with a wildlife rehabilitator at our environmental education workshop today.
Too cute!
Along the trail - Stormy Fair Hill - Mobile Pics /
With the Susquehanna Super Hike just a month away, vivid race reports and related forum posts have scared me into doing some prep work. Which mostly involves walking EVERYWHERE.
Tonight I hit some trails in Fair Hill after work, to both train on some rocky inclines, and see how I fared pace-wise on them. A significant thunderstorm hit while I was out (and at the furthest point from my car, natch), which added to the fun.
I always love a good summer storm, and tonight was no exception. I was deep in the woods for the worst of it, and the towering old trees provided a safe haven. The arching full rainbow and filtered golden light in the aftermath made the temporary dampness worthwhile. Gorgeous.
The hike: http://runkeeper.com/user/Tossey/activity/47020744
Along the Urban Trail /
I am generally not a morning person - to drag myself up way before work to get in some exercise is rare. I'll take a good late night run, thank you.
But sometimes necessity forces a morning jaunt, and when I do get out there I am usually pleasantly surprised - by a glimpse of the sunrise, or critters I don't usually see - and vow to get out early more often.
Yesterday was one of those mornings. After finding that White Clay Creek State Park's gates don't open until 8 a.m.(!), I hit the random trails off Creek Road just north of Newark. The blend of urban graffiti and wildlife, gravel access roads and lush, dense trails that reminded me of the Pacific Northwest was an unexpected mix. Great fun :)
Wheeee! Feels good to be jumping again! /
My Pony Club and eventing days are long past and I just started riding again recently. At first, I was seriously rusty and felt like a rag doll flopping around up there. But with consistent work and regular lessons, those flakes of rust are gradually falling away and I'm feeling secure and confident. To be jumping again totally rocks. No better feeling than to be flying with a horse!
On the best days I have time to ride both /
Like today :)
On the road - Open window, Simple pleasures /
The weekly South > North commute is always more enjoyable with the Old Girls as backseat drivers :)
Longwood Gardens - Fountains & Fireworks - Mobile Photos /
Always enjoy visiting Longwood Gardens - from the Conservatory to the imaginative treehouses to the meandering trails lined with a kaleidoscope of color - it is a botanical masterpiece.
Last weekend was the first time I've experienced their fountains & fireworks show, and I can think of no better way to celebrate the 4th of July. Magical.
Along the Water Trail - Paddling Trap Pond /
Enjoyed an evening paddle yesterday with good friends on Trap Pond, another one of Delaware's hidden gems. The tranquil pond features the northern-most stand of baldcypress trees in the U.S., and paddling among them can feel otherworldly.
It is a perfect spot for wildlife watching as well. On our wanderings last night we spotted a bald eagle carrying away a struggling fish, a sleepy fawn curled up at water's edge, a not-so-busy beaver who slid into the water right next to us, a brightly-hued prothonotary warbler, and many ducks, frogs, and great blue herons.
Simple pleasures - Warm stones, cool shade, itchy back satiated /
Along the Trail - White Clay Creek Commute /
After a crazy spring of sickness and injuries, it felt great to return to my two-wheeled commute today. It's hard to beat as far as scenery - from the farm in Landenberg, I pass through open farmland, down to the White Clay Creek Preserve, and follow a trail along the creek all the way into campus in Newark.
It's a great way to wake up in the morn, and unwind in the afternoon.
St. Jones Reserve in Dover - Hidden Treasure /
There's so much to love about St. Jones, tucked just south of the Dover Air Force Base. Trails through a sprawling marsh full of scurrying fiddler crabs, native plantings & blooms covered with bumbling bees and delicate moths & butterflies ... and, of course, the horseshoe crabs :)
Chester County Sunset - Hilltop, lone tree, sinking sun /
Along the Water Trail - Morning Paddle in Assawoman Refuge /
A still morning in the marsh surrounded by jellies and dragonflies made for a lovely start to a quiet Sunday on Delmarva.
Much Love to Savannah Animal Hospital /
Their staff in Lewes is always so professional, and more importantly, kind. Thanks once again for treating our old gal like family & making her comfortable.
This time it was Indy who made me make the trip, but all is well & nap time is in order.