The Queen of Seaford: 2025

Sunday, April 20, 2025

Photo-a-Day Week 16

Happy Easter weekend and Happy Passover. Spring is in full swing and my garden is popping with new growth and lots of blooms. Let's jump into the photos from this past week.

Day 104-

I love our views. We have no curtains in our living area and two walls of windows. The views of the lake are wonderful. Sometimes there are birds on the deck, Great Blue Herons on the dock, and sometimes a flock of ducks is passing by; there's always something to see. Where do you enjoy your morning coffee?

Morning Coffee with a View

Day 105-

We had a pine tree hanging over our driveway since Hurricane Helene came through at the end of September. This week, we were able to get someone to come and take it down and remove it. Left on the driveway was this tiny pinecone. We usually only see the mature cones once they fall to the ground.

Tiny Pinecone

Day 106-
Morning light hit the white of these Rain lilies, Zephyranthes atamasca as they were peeking out of the Ostrich ferns, Matteuccia struthiopteris. The white really popped. These ferns really are aggressive in moist areas. I was glad to see the lilies still there.

Rain lilies and Ostrich ferns

Day 107-

The farm up the street just got this cute little donkey. I assume it was brought in to guard the two Brahman cows in this pasture. I was surprised to learn that donkeys are often used to protect animals in the pasture.

Guard Donkey

Day 108-

Continuing down the street where the donkey resides, we come to Cokesbury College. This historic building is often used for events at Christmas as well as for weddings (right Pam?). The building was completed in 1854, establishing a women's college by the Freemasons. The link above gives a bit more information about it. I will add some photos of the interior from an event at Christmas at the bottom of this post.

Cokesbury College

Day 109-
I need to let you all know, this photo was taken by my neighbor, Debi. We were both trying to get a good photo of this Bluebird and its mate. We were at our neighborhood gazebo for Happy Hour and this pair of Bluebirds were all over Debi's golf cart. They kept flying to the tree and back to the cart. Every time I tried to get a photo, they flew off. Debi was able to get this shot and a few others. I appreciate her sharing her photos with me.

Bluebird

Day 110-
I was down on our dock as the sun was setting. I thought the clouds and water were rather picturesque. Most sunset photos are vibrant reds and oranges and purples...this one was shapes and grays.

Sunset

That's a wrap for this week. Below are some interior photos of Cokesbury College from this past Christmas. Debi (the one mentioned above) is playing the harp for an Open House event for the holiday. Enjoy--

Sunday, April 13, 2025

Photo-a-Day Week 15

And just like that (snap) it is Sunday again! Let's take a look at the images from last week's photo-a-day challenge.

Day 97-

My Amaryllis bloom had faded and drooped down. It was time to cut it off and clean up any other dead leaves. As I removed it, I thought it was kind of interesting, time to take a picture!

Amaryllis

Day 98-

Once again we had some rain. Many of the blooms on my Fringe Tree, Chionanthus retusus fell on the driveway. Almost looked like it snowed! A break in the rain means it is time to play.

A Break in the Rain

Day 99-

A few birthdays ago my sister in law gave me these small wooden mannequins and an air plant for each to hold. These mannequins have hats and scarves to wear for change of season. They also have eye stickers, making them look even sillier.

Silliness

Day 100-

I should have taken the feeder down once the top piece broke off but I thought the birds could get the remaining seeds until I could put up another feeder. This silly squirrel got caught inside the cage trying to get to the feeder. It took a few minutes for it to get free. I changed out the feeder as soon as he was gone.

Caught

Day 101-

I have a few Tulip Poplars, Liriodendron tulipifera, in my backyard. They are quite tall, and I don't often know it is blooming until I see some of the flowers on the ground.

Tulip Poplar

Day 102-

Up near the street I have a native Smokebush, Cotinus obovatus, and it is really coming into its own. It has taken a few years to get some growth on it. The fall color is wonderful, salmons and peach and golds- really a nice display! The tiny blooms are worth revisiting as they do get that 'smoke' appearance as the blooms open.

Native Smokebush bloom

Day 103-

Afternoons and mornings the sun makes shadows across the driveway. Our house is situated on the North/South axis, front facing South. Fall and Spring with the low angles of the sun make the shadows longer. Small windows of light caught Fiona as she waited for the disc to be thrown. I thought this photo worked well with the black and white filter.

White Dog and Shadows

Another week done, stay tuned for next week's photos.

Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Do You Fling?

Spring is really moving along. Before you know it it will be time for this year's Garden Fling. I look forward to this every year. We Garden Flingers, my tribe, gather together to tour a new city each year. Fling members of that city host us, sharing incredible gardens- private and public- of their city. Have you been to a Fling? No? If you share garden information or photos on social media, be it Facebook, Blogging, Instagram, YouTube, or even BlueSky, you should look into coming to the Fling. There are still some spots available for our Memphis Fling this year. It will be June 5 - 9, with an extra day on the 10th. All the information you need about a Fling can be found on that website.

Here is my final post from last year's Fling. Remember I shared our visit to Heronswood? Our next stop after Heronswood was Dan Hinkley's home, Windcliff, and his neighbors, the Brindleys.

The buses had to off load us into smaller buses to get up to their properties. While waiting for our turn on the smaller bus, we looked out over the Puget Sound, what a gorgeous view!

Cute General Store at the landing

Lots of kayaks and even a seaplane

Native American influence

Once on the bus and up to the gardens, we could go to either garden as they were next door to each other. I chose to go to the Brindley's garden first. When they planned their garden they had the expertise of their neighbor Dan Hinkley to lend his knowledge.

What an amazing garden!

Persicaria 'Painter's Palette'

Another Persicaria, like shrubs!!

These Persicaria were in the front yard along the house garden. They are so large, they looked like shrubbery.
As I made my way around back, I was presented with an amazing view! Across the Sound, you could see Seattle. Knowing the Puget Sound, I can imagine a whale surfacing, giving a great show. I love the art feature in the garden. The sculpture moved in the breeze and brought whimsy and color into the already colorful garden.

Lobelia tupa, planted in large clumps

A view up to the house

Agapanthus getting ready to open

Large planting of Eryngium- the pollinators love it!

The path leading you towards the water

View from the deck

A garden to embrace

Pretty little fern

Lomatia myricoides

This plant pictured above was so fragrant.

Then I walked through their side garden gate that links the two properties. The front gravel area was full of interesting containers.

We also were entertained by Dan's dog, a rather mischievous pup. Apparently one shoe disappeared as he ran through the acreage of the front yard. Not sure if the shoe was ever found.

Windcliff was in the middle of a bit of a redo. We gardeners know nothing is forever. What's the adage? Man plans and God laughs...the same can be said of gardeners and Mother Nature. Even a work in progress has something to offer. I like the artwork in the garden. If I remember correctly, they used solarization heat to clear the area of vegetation.

Not all the garden was being redone, there was still a lot to take in. Walk with me through Windcliff, Dan Hinckley's garden paradise on the Puget Sound.

A water feature in front of the Sound

Isn't this blue color amazing? Salvia patens

Pitcher plants, Sarracenia ssp.

I could have shared a hundred more photos of these amazing gardens. This is what makes our garden Flings so wonderful, gardens to die for! Gardeners, that are friends as soon as you meet. Don't be on the fence about coming to a Fling...Come! Join us!

Sunday, April 6, 2025

Photo-a-Day Week 14

Our week started off wet, we need rain and were glad to have it! So without much ado, here are the photos for the fourteenth week of the challenge.

Day 90-

Taking the dog for a walk in the rain with an umbrella is not easy. The business of the walk usually involves bringing a baggie back to toss into the garbage, adding to the juggling of all items while trying to stay dry. I added the challenge of getting a rain photo.

Wet

Day 91-

As I write this, I have a white dog nosing my arm, wanting to go outside. She has been known to bump my keyboard and hit enter while I am posting something on Facebook. She gets very insistent. This photo of Fiona jumping to catch the disc was taken from a short video. I really like being able to grab a single frame of action. She does like to play!

Action!

Day 92-

If it isn't gardening, it is pets. Millie loves to snuggle into warm sheets. Every cat we have owned likes to 'help' put clean sheets on the bed. It must be a cat thing, as I have heard from other cat owners that their cats also assist in making the bed.

I love sheets fresh from the dryer.

Day 93-

This little guy was hopping around the flagstone patio one evening. I was able to get a photo of him and keep the dogs from investigating what it was. This toad was about the size of my thumbnail. I think it is a Fowlers Toad but am not certain.

Hop!

Day 94-

I have three Drift rose bushes near the front door. Before we took our trip to babysit our granddaughter, I sprayed a deer repellent on the roses and other deer candy in my yard. They came back about a week later and checked to see if it was still yucky tasting. Many of the flower buds were eaten except this one. Drift rose 'Popcorn'

First rose

Day 95-

We have glass block in our bathroom and outside the window is a Calycanthus tree/shrub. Every year when it blooms the burgundy and green colors make interesting designs through the window.

Calycanthus through the window

Day 96-

I keep my lemon tree in the garage in the winter. We have windows on the large garage doors and a side door as well, so it gets enough sunlight. When I brought other lemon trees into the house during the winter I always end up getting spider mites and they do not recover well. I pulled this one out of the garage about a week or so ago. It is full of blooms (and dog hair) and the fragrance is so lovely! You can smell these blooms all the way up the driveway.

Lemon

Week fourteen is done, will hit photo number 100 this coming week. Come back again as the challenge continues.

Sunday, March 30, 2025

Photo-a-Day Week 13

Welcome back for another week of photo a day wrap-up. We drove home on Sunday from my daughter's house. Part of the trip was through Pennsylvania.

Day 83-

I went to college in Pennsylvania, and seeing horse and buggies was commonplace. As we drove along the turnpike we saw one riding along the parallel road to the highway. It was a pretty horse and its gait was fun to watch.

Heading Out

Day 84-
Once we arrived back in South Carolina it was apparent that pollen season had exploded in our area. We had some rain and the yellow pollen of the pine trees cascaded down the driveway, forming some nice patterns.

And So It Begins

Day 85-
Several years ago, I had a lot of Muscari armeniacum, Grape Hyacinths growing along the driveway. Some volunteers appear along the other side of the driveway. I enjoy seeing them pop up wherever they want.

Volunteer

Day 86-
I bought some new shoes and didn't toss the shoe box right away. Seems it is a good fit for Millie. I still haven't thrown it away as she still gets in it a couple times a day.

Perfect Fit

Day 87-
I like how quiet the lake is, especially at dusk with the pink skies. We have very little boat traffic at our end of the lake, especially in the winter/spring. I probably should have waited a little longer to get a photo as the skies got redder and more vibrant.

Quiet

Day 88-
This time of year, it is really hard not to take lots and lots of photos of the newly emerging leaves for this challenge. I am trying to vary my photos so they are not all garden photos. This is a Netted Chain Fern, Woodwardia areolata. I brought these ferns to South Carolina when we moved from Virginia. I love their bronze foliage as they emerge.

Bronze

Day 89-
Some springs I think my garden is color coded. First comes the yellow blooms, mostly in daffodils and Edgeworthia. Pinks emerge in my flowering Crabapple and Redbuds. Now I have lots of white and green. Pictured is Spirea x vanhouttei and behind it is another flowering Crabapple, Malus x zumi 'Golden Hornet'. Also blooming in my white and green theme are a couple different Viburnum and Dogwoods, Cornus florida.

Green and White

This photo a day challenge isn't as easy as it would seem. Like I have said before, these are all new photos. My photo library is quite large, and I could easily dive in and get old pictures, but scouring my surroundings for an interesting photo adds to the fun.

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