Possibly the most lavish blooming time is over, but spring is still astonishing here in northeast Ohio. Driving through Cuyahoga National Park with my granddaughters today I saw many people on the short piece of Bath Road between Riverview and the Akron Peninsula Road. The herons are still flying overhead, still on their nests. I see families of geese looking like toddlers now, where only a few days ago they were a mother sitting her nest and a gander standing guard. All manner of birds are singing in the morning. Thousands of peepers enliven our evenings.
Many wildflowers and blooming trees have come and gone but the new daffodils we planted last year came up and bloomed their best, after we had given up hope. The Redbud tree I planted so long ago but could never see from the house is beautiful and visible this year due to the loss of the Norway Spruce which blocked it before…It’s an ill wind, etc. And the aliums I planted two years ago and have not yet seen, surprised us yesterday with their nice purple balls of flowers. The deck is planted with flowers and herbs and one pepper plant. I’ve rather given up on tomatoes and cucumbers. They don’t do well here. We had a tough winter and some things died which have been living for years. Two different sorts of sage need to be replaced.
Driving through the valley today I saw that turkey buzzards were flying overhead. They are not here in winter. There is always a celebration in nearby Hinckley when they return. Read about it here: https://www.tripsavvy.com/buzzards-of-hinckley-752532.
Most of my family are at Lake Chautauqua today, putting in the dock and getting the house ready for the summer of 2018. I will be going there on the 9th of June to see six dear friends from my favorite book discussion group who are coming for a week. One of our group is coming from Maine, driving her truck, and bringing lobstah for us all. Exciting! I haven’t tasted a lobster in years and I’m sure these will be delicious! There is even a hint of lobster bisque later on. Besides Maine, I have friends coming from Canada, the Pacific northwest, Tennessee and Virginia.
(The photo of blue hydrangeas is from last summer at Chautauqua.)
Andy and his friend Istvan (Hungarian for Stephen) are getting ready for a two week Great Lakes Sailing trip and are testing Istvan’s sailboat, the Circe, at Lake Chautauqua this afternoon.
After this long hiatus, I have decided to blog again. There were some serious health concerns in January – not mine – but I think things are much better now. And I wish all of you good health and a very happy summer!
I;ve not been among the Bath road birders this year or last; my footing is not stable enough. But I do love driving past and seeing the people and the nests with a bird on duty.
Wonderful to see you back!!!!! And such a lovely posting. Is the Lake Chautauqua where the C. movement began? I thought that was in NY? Does the lake span the two states? Can you tell I’m not good in geography?! I love that you are all getting together. Think of driving from Maine! What a sport she is!
It is where the Chautauqua movement began and it is in western NY state. That’s our summer cottage. The lake is narrow, and seventeen miles long.
The same to you, too – good health and a very happy summer! Seeing you blogging again is great, I did miss your posts.
Thank you, Meike! I’m glad to be blogging again, too….
Seven of you who like to discuss books, all together at once! That sounds too wonderfully stimulating and nourishing! The anticipation will be sweet as well.
Your descriptions of the flora and fauna are very appealing – I can just imagine your joy, and maybe surprise, at seeing the purple balls!
Buzzards coming “home” – now that was surprising to me, I mean, that people would celebrate them. I guess I have been taking them for granted, but now that I read the little article you linked to I will try to appreciate them more than I have.
So lovely to see and read your post here.
I know it is an older photograph but I did enjoy seeing the blue hydrangeas.
Wishing you a good summer
All the best Jan
Kristi! That’s not a scream that’s a squeal. So glad that you have decided to blog again. It is so true that blogging in troubled times is not much fun. Wow…lobster coming straight from Maine. I had not remembered that you had a Maine connection and many other connections as well. Spring is certainly very welcome this year having taken extra time to arrive. I do not know how a community celebrates the return of the turkey buzzards/vultures. I hate seeing them return.
Love,
Vee
I saw your comment on Vee’s blog and decided to visit as I’ve not been here before. So happy that you have decided to resume blogging.
What fun you will have with the ladies from your book group as they arrive from all over. Your friend who is driving her truck from Maine with lobster for all sounds very intrepid. The hydrangeas are beautiful. I love them and especially the blue ones.
Ah! She’s back! Hooray. (there, I knew I included your blog in my Thursday bookmarks for a reason, even if there was nothing new all winter long.)
Counting the sleeps until we all get together next month, and discuss books. Ha, and everything else, and drinking prosecco, and eating butter tarts and lobstahs.
Oh, I am also looking forward to this…..You are all friends I don’t see often enough……