Saturday, May 30, 2015

SPRING SPRANG AT THE CASA


I must admit, that when my laptop went...it drove me nuts!!!!! I lost all my pictures, but the tech peoples were able to recover them thank goodness! I am always traveling everywhere with one of two cameras handy, so I took lots of pictures while I got a new laptop.  I do believe we are now at the point where here in the northeast, were going from spring right to summer now. This week saw temps in the 90's already!!!! I told the pool boys to get busy and get the pool open damn it!!!!! If your familiar with Greek mythology, there is a story about Persephone, whom Hades fell in love, and wanted to marry her and live in the underworld, but her mother Demeter, Goddess of Nature and Harvest, also loved her and didn't want her to go and live in the underworld. So Zeus settled the quarrel.He stated Persephone would live six months in each world, six on earth, six in the underworld. Hence the seasons. When fall arrives, this is when Demeter starts felling sad because her daughter in leaving, winter,  her deep depression, and spring heralds Persephone's return again, hence all the beauties of spring. Well Demeter must have been extra happy this year, because around the Casa du Borghese, I don't think it ever bloomed so brilliant as it did this year, and I can finally share some snaps from the grounds.
 
I call this a peppermint bush. Looks like peppermints no?
 
I have no idea the tree in the above picture, but at the one entrances to the grounds is where it lives, and the color was fantastic. Here are two types of Magnolia that are on the grounds......
 
And the other....
 
some bluebells, but don't quotes me...
 
A Dogwood petal floats in one of the birdbaths. The stand was from a floral stand, and I went and bought a clay pot water dish for the top, and voila it fit right in. There are several baths around on the grounds.
 
This white bush is sooooo fragrant, and in the upper right, you can see a little beetle.
 
Now this bush also smells lovely. Not sure the name, but it is of Japanese origin I understand.

 
some wild violets at woods edge....
 
and some Wisteria...
 
 the fragrant lilac.....
 
the Dogwoods


 
I thought the and Rhododendrons and Azalea were so beautiful this year...
 
a moth on the screen....how cool and close....
 
 
the stunning Clematis vine....
 
no idea, but so pretty....
 
Some of the bounty, some Lily of the Valley for my abode...
 
 and some peonies and  clippings from a Fire Thorn Bush, I took to our host in Rehoboth Beach.....
 
 
Fire Thorns are used as barriers, this evergreen vine with thorny stems blooms white flowers in spring,  and can be trimmed to any shape. The bushes are covered with fire red berries in the fall attracting hummingbirds. They look great in arrangements...these went to Rehoboth Beach for our hosts home. Just watch those thorns though....their long and sharp! Here on the grounds now blooming are the mini Irises and rose bushes, which are just starting. Of course Bonnie and Clyde are back again with new off spring....
 
 
some of the Yellow finch from this morning....
 
Lately, when my blueberries start to get a bit wilted, I will cut in half and place on the sill in amongst the seeds. It is bringing Robins to the sill.........
 
I read blueberries are a special treat for certain birds and shouldn't be feed them all the time. In addition to all the birds I already attract, I now am getting Warblers!!!! The Lad will JUST LOVE  all the morning racket when he comes next visit.

39 comments:

  1. Very Spring-y! And I love your Bird Visitors!

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  2. How beautiful Mistress!!!! When you do these post, it always makes me feel so happy! They do take very good care on your grounds, I can only imagine how pretty it was all at once! Love the clematis.....one of my favorites.

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  3. Mistress,the only thing missing is a scratch and sniff feature.

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  4. Gorgeous! Our spring comes and goes so quickly. 90 expected today!
    Loves the birdies. xoxox

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  5. Anita is right, I can almost smell the flowers. What a lovely post. But your right, what happened to the spring weather??? Love your birds too!

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  6. It still amazes me how close you can get to those birds! Do they fly away if you get close to the glass! Beautiful flora. Mu favorite is the dogwood petal in the bird bath.

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  7. Love that you took such close up pictures, the magnolia shots are stunning. Love the yellow finch shot!

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  8. Couldn't be a more perfect post for such an incredible spring day! I love flowers, so this post was amazing. Great pictures!

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  9. I have one of those Fire Thorn bushes and had no idea what in hell it was. And the braches look great in that vase. In the fall those berries sure do get red!!!! The birds I find enjoy them too.

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  10. Pearl Shaghoople5/30/2015

    You mean to say you get Robin on the window sill too! What a nice picture. I wondered if blueberries may attract birds. Must be so nice to see such wonderful flowers about . I have more of a summer flowering yard myself.

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    1. Yes. The blueberries were added at a whim. I noticed them gone quickly but had no idea who was consuming them. Then one day saw it was the robins. Catbirds magpies and thrushes also enjoy the treats.

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  11. Your place is much more pretty and they really seem to like the grounds. We mostly have green shrubbery which is nice, but there are no other flowers about. Thanks for the nice post!

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  12. What an amazingly beautiful spring for you! I hope the summer doesn't get too hot.

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    1. Figures......I flash my blooms and my dear Wallingford appears for a peak. XOXOXOX

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  13. I love springtime, all the flowers and the birdsong!

    The "peppermint bush" is Kalmia (Mountain Laurel). The "bluebells" are actually Grape Hyacinth (Muscari). I think the fragrant white bush may be
    Philadelphus (Mock Orange) or maybe Choisya (Mexican Orange). The yellow pom-poms belong to Kerria japonica. And the pretty blue flowers are (I believe) Phlox...

    Now all we need to see is a photo of "Cockia Gigantea" and we'll all be happy. Jx

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    1. We can never get to see his Cockia Gigantea too much can we?

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    2. My dear Jon, you have gave me peace of mind on these breeds, and your sweet talking will not get you a peak at the Cockia Gigantea.Well, maybe after a few gins.......

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    3. I have the Hendricks and Nordic Mist blue tonic on ice as we speak... Jx

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    4. Flattery and gin will get you everywhere.

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  14. "The Lad will JUST LOVE all the morning racket when he comes next visit."

    besides you screaming in orgasmic delight, right? or yelling at the houseboyz "bitch, get me a cawfee and a cold G&T pronto!"

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  15. Great photos snaps...your gardeners do such a great job! That peppermint bush is actually Mountain Laurel. It's rare to see out here.

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  16. Another nice installment of your beautiful bloom, and how we enjoy seeing such. It does seem it's either blooms or bird.

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  17. Well, things are definitely springing around there, that is for sure! Beautiful post.

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  18. Those flowers are absolutely beautiful, and so are the birds. All I've got are palm trees. Wanna trade?

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    1. I love palm trees, but I think I would miss the color.

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  19. I used to love Greek mythology and the story of the seasons was one of my favorites! Yes.... Demeter is certainly happy in your neck of the woods.

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  20. Wow! Beautiful springtime post! I always enjoy your close up pictures. And, the fact you seem to be adding houseboys as well as new little birdies shows how talented you are in and outside of your home. :)

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  21. WOW! Do you have room for me to come move in???? It's like a Garden of Eden.

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  22. What a,wonderful post, and if anything inspired me to do more planting of perennials! I should also gets some wisteria. You don't see enough of that these days.

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  23. My word, you live in a veritable Garden of Eden! I hope you have a supply of fig leaves for Adam and Steve. And watch out for the snakes!

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    1. Snakes?!? You have experience with those I assume? Fig leaves? No why bother, we let it all hang out.

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  24. Wow! Such a stunning array of blooms, and so many that they're even managing to hide the Houseboys (who I'm sure are cavorting around in the undergrowth during their break times).
    The Casa must smell divine!

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    1. cavorting with growth indeed..........

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  25. I love the myth of Persephone and Demeter -- one of my faves!

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  26. All so beautiful!!!! Spring is one of the prettiest of seasons and is usually the shortest. Why is that? Certainly nice to live in a lovely garden.

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Go ahead darling, tell me something fabulous!