Lights and Bulbs

I’d like to start with a very big THANK YOU to all of my blogging friends who sent well wishes, comments, emails and even birthday cards (I LOVE to get real mail!) to help me make the leap from 59 to 60!  It was truly painless and actually quite enjoyable, as we spent a little vacation time with family and friends at the beautiful Wequassett Resort on Cape Cod!

Weather, in typical fall style, ranged from stormy …

to lazy~walk~on~the~beach~day perfection!

~~ cape cod national seashore, nauset light beach ~~

Off season time means most of the creatures we encounter are natives.

And of course the resort facilities are very peaceful too!

Beach decor, Wequassett style:

~~~~

A few of my favorite things were waiting for me.

(thank you kids and Mr. Fun for my wonderful presents!  I love them all!)

And much to my delight, the nearby famous Nauset Light was open for climbing!

The light is painted red and white, which is also the light pattern.  Red, white, red, white, red, white, continuously.

I waited patiently to capture the light blinking red.

And although a ship at sea would perceive this as a two lights blinking red and white, the lights are actually on a spinning base.  The original fresnel lens is on display at the nearby National Seashore Visitors’ Center.

Do you see the two lights in the light chamber below?  They are spinning quickly and powerfully.  As the weather was cool and the crowds minimal, I had no problem dashing to the top to peek out the circular windows.

Step up to the window.

The light is visible 18 miles out to sea, and the keeper has quite a view.

We hiked down to the beach, where I noticed signs of special visitors!  If you see little puffs that look like smoke just above the surface of the water, you are seeing whales spouting!  Look just below the horizon to the left of center: (I was so excited that I stopped looking through my lens and just watched, so this is the only photo I have as evidence, but they were there, swimming along, just off the beach!)

It was hard to leave all this beauty but I knew my own yard needed some attention.  After all, I had that bin of 310 Colorblends bulbs waiting for me, and I promised you a look inside.

This Dutch newspaper covered the most perfect bulbs I have ever seen.  These were recommended by Carolyne Roehm’s gardener, and so far I’m very impressed.

Only time will tell!  Here’s a look at what I choose.  You can see them all on my Spring Bulbs pinterest board.

I created an instruction sheet for my own gardener (you didn’t seriously think I was going to plant those all by myself, did you?).  I added info as to where in the yard they would go, and then he of course told me what was wrong with my plan and we fought it out for awhile.  I love my gardener even though he thinks my yard is his.

He did save some of my knockout roses after others contracted the horrible Rose Rosette disease, and I am looking out the window right now at some that are still blooming in sheltered, sunny locations in my yard.

I may add more next year…not sure because it was heartbreaking to see them affected!  Bees love them as they bloom so profusely and continuously.

While I was “planting” the bulbs I also updated the foundation plantings, adding more mini boxwood in front of my non-blooming hydrangea.  They were hit by the late Spring freeze this year, and I’m hoping they will not have the same fate next year.  There was not a single blooming hydrangea in our town this year!

The old holly trees near the front door were so leggy that I okayed their replacement.  I didn’t watch as they came down, but I’m thrilled with the new ones.

My front door pots need some work before winter hits.  The pumpkins and annuals will go, and will probably be replaced by smaller evergreens or pinecones if the soil freezes before I get to this task!

I had the horrible hinoki (don’t EVER plant them!!) yanked out from the area near the kitchen door and neat, green ilex planted.  There’s another non-blooming hydrangea and my birdbath, which the birds and chipmunks LOVE!  And a large space still waiting to be filled with a witch hazel bush which better arrive soon before the ground freezes!

I happen to know that the fairies planted this bag of Hocus Pocus crocus all around their house.  Notice how green the tree was a few days ago?

Overnight the colors changed and this year my little maple is this color!  It looks like the inhabitants borrowed one of my remaining roses and a pumpkin from the porch to decorate their own yard.

The leaves fell from the birch at the corner of the study and my other weeping maple turned this beautiful burgundy color.

With the cold weather comes the return of the winter birds and my feeders have been emptying quickly.  My theory is that frantic feeding this early means a severe winter.  We shall see!  At the prompting of my squirrel I filled the bunny on my back deck, and the birds have been swarming around there too, competing with the chipmunks for seeds.

And every morning I sing,

… there she was, just a-walking down the street, singing do wah diddy diddy down diddy do …

… and they’re eatin’ my birdseed, and messin’ up my lawn, singing do wah diddy diddy down diddy do …

Don’t they know what month it is?  🙂

Thank you for still being here and again for all your good wishes!  I’ll be back Monday with some fun! 

Have you been to the Wequassett or do you have another excellent resort to recommend?  And has your garden been put to bed for the winter and your bulbs safely tucked into the ground?

here’s a little video I took of the Nauset Beach waves:  (click on the title)

ocean waves: nauset beach

Linda 🙂

p.s. the winner of my birthday giveaway is Bonnie!  Be sure to visit her and read her wonderful blog.

joining Metamorphosis Monday