THE HEART AND SOUL OF AMERICA - RT 55 TO OLD APPLETON

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful.
-- Norman Vincent Peale

 

THE FALL LEAVES HAVE FALLEN

SPECTACULAR SUNSETS AROUND ANNAPOLIS

Being surrounded by the waters of the Chesapeake Bay, the sunsets are a double delight
with the reflections created by the many creeks, rivers, bays. 

THE SNOW MUST GO ON! ALSO KNOWN AS THE BLIZZARD OF 2010

Gareth's car - somewhere out there!

Underneath the snow, a holly tree.

                                                            

                                                   Having fun in the snow with Jessie.

                                    A house down the road - an unplowed driveway.

                                                            Walking down the street.

Knee deep, down on the dock.

Sun setting over the sod farm down the road.

MORE WHITE, OVERNIGHT!!

ART IN THE WINELANDS OF SOUTH AFRICA

Statue garden in the magnificent gardens of Grande Provence, a wine estate in Franschhoek, South Africa.

WINTER - IT'S IN THE DETAILS

THE WONDERLAND OF WINTER

Thankfully winter is not just about the cold and the end of the growing season in the garden. It is also about the snow and the winter wonderland scenery, this year has been an exceptionally white winter which is such a treat.

 

The back garden, flowering beds in the summer lie dormant and buried under a blanket of snow. The wooded backdrop offers four seasons of splendour, from the vibrant lime green new leaves in spring, the lush canopy of dark green in the summer, the brillaint shades of reds, oranges, yellows and golds of the fall, and now the naked silouette of the branches, exposed under a bright blue sky, and dusted with white snow.

Jessie loves running in the snow, eating the snow, digging in the snow, in fact she just loves the snow!!!

FALL SPLENDOR

Fall leaves in the back yard.

FALL LEAVES KEEP FALLING - in my garden

The end of the summer is marked by flocks of Canada geese flying overhead in their V-formations, heading south for the winter. And the most spectacular display of leaves that turn every shade of yellow, orange, red, brown - nature in all it's glory. A few in my garden.

CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW - CREATING A DISPLAY FOR THE CITY OF DURBAN

Last year, I fulfilled a lifelong dream. Not only did I get to visit the Chelsea Flower Show in London, but I also spent two weeks as a volunteer worker on the spectacular display garden for the City of Durban, South Africa, done by the Durban Botanic Gardens. Although I now live in America, I flew in as a South African to help get my hands dirty.

Here are a few photographs I took showing an empty slate. Then a few of the actual teamwork involved in a project of this magnitude, the display coming together, the team, the Curator of the Durban Botanic Gardens, Chris Dalzell, being congratulated by Queen Elizabeth on the Silver Gilt award, and a few of the magnificent completed display garden. I got to meet the Queen, she is lovely.  Well done to all involved, and thanks for the memories.

And this year, Durban went on to win a Gold Medal, congratulations.