Sunday's Excursion

Not wanting to sit around or do 'chores' on Sunday afternoon we decided to take a drive......... yes along the Colonial Parkway. We had a destination in mind, but first let me take you down this beautiful drive. We start at Yorktown.

Then we drive along the York River (see Yorktown Onion post) and as we head to Williamsburg the parkway becomes more tree lined and lush.


After we pass through Williamsburg, we find now there is a river on our left (the York was on our right).
This is the James River.

From one end of the parkway to the other is twenty-three miles of peaceful, quiet, scenic views, and lots of history. As I said, we started in Yorktown, drove through (under) Colonial Williamsburg, and at the other end is Jamestown. Both Jamestown and Yorktown have the actual village -- and then there is a recreation of what life was like. Yorktown Victory Center and Jamestown Settlement are wonderful re-creations. Yorktown Battlefield and Jamestown are part of the National Park Service. At the Jamestown site there has been an archaeological dig that has been going on for a few years. They have recovered a good number of artifacts and found the original fort walls. Be sure to check this link for all sorts of info on the dig.

Closer to the end of the Parkway is one of the oldest continually worked dairy farms. The family that owns this farm also owns Oleta Bus lines.
When the kids were in middle school (a hundred years ago) a bunch of parents chartered a bus to go to band camp and the charter was trip leased out to Oleta. This is probably one of the nicest group of folks and the nicest buses we have been on in the life of a band parent. I remember chatting with the bus driver and he was telling me about the history of the farm. I can't find info online to verify it now, but he said land for the Parkway used to be part of their farm. I would recommend this bus company in a heartbeat. Very nice to work with.

At the end of the Parkway you either go into the National Park at Jamestown or take a left and go on the ferry. We are going on the ferry.



Now it is our turn..............


Once underway we go past the Jamestown Settlement and can see the replicas of the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria........... WHAT!! Just kidding, can you name the three ships that brought the colonists in 1607 to Jamestown? They are the Susan Constant, Godspeed, and Discovery.



Here is the original site of Jamestown- part of the National Park Service.



As we cross the James River enroute to Scotland we pass another one of the ferry boats.

Why have we taken this trip? What is across the river that would interest us on a pleasant Sunday afternoon? What indeed! Here is our destination. And our bounty.


College Run Farms, a nice family farm.



This is half of what we picked, and of course while picking strawberries one needs to sing..............................

Yorktown Onions

This afternoon my sweet husband and I took a drive along the Colonial Parkway to see the onions. What a splendid show there was! The onion pictures are done in a table instead of a collage so you could enlarge each separately. In addition to the Yorktown sign at the top and the Lady Victory at the end, I included a groundhog with a bunch of Canada Geese in the middle of one of the battlefields. There is also one of a guy out into the York River a good way, fishing. He was out there a good way. Enjoy the onion photos. Sorry for the multiple tries at getting this posted, I was so concerned about getting the photos up that I didn't check my words too closely. (Also tried to publish within Microsoft Word which didn't work either, ah...another learning experience.)




Here is a link to the first posting I did about Yorktown Onions and here is a link to the county fact sheet with a little history about the onion. For those who are not familiar with these Alliums, check out the fact sheet.

Blue and White

The colors that have been showing their 'stuff' in the last few days are blue and white. Of course I had to cut and bring in some of the Hydrangea macrophylla 'Nikko Blue'. You may recall I had forgotten to add the Aluminum Sulfate at the correct time, so I added some in the early spring. I think I will add more again, I want a rich blue color.


There are three Gardenias
in my garden. One is blooming
really well right now, it is
Gardenia 'August Beauty'.



Ok here is one I want you to guess what it may be...........

A Lily you guess? Nope, it is Hosta 'Frances Williams' I am always surprised to see how early the hostas send up their flower stalks.

In the same bed as the hostas is one of the Hydrangeas and a lot of Artemisia 'Silver Queen' (which I pull up in the early spring so it doesn't take over the bed...it is one of the rather invasive Artemisias)


These are some Forget-Me-Nots, though these are the annuals--and I believe it is the Chinese variety, the centers of these are not yellow with a white ring....so I am supposing these are Cynoglossum amabile.


Also in the bed with the Forget-Me-Nots is some Lacey Leaf Dusty Miller, Senecio cineraria.


I know many have Knockout Roses --I don't have any of them, but do have two Carpet Roses. This is White Knockout Rose, ROSA x Noaschnee. I have no problems with the Carpet Roses, little upkeep- I do prune a little in the winter (though the bunnies help with that).


Scattered throughout the garden, both front yard and backyard is Japanese Aster, Kalimeris pinnatifida. It spreads like Mums...not invasive, but there is enough to share with many many fellow gardeners. If you drive up my street you will see many offspring of these plants. This is a nice filler plant and it blooms from late May/ early June through the first frost! I will share more photos as it fills in during the summer. The bloom is a little bigger than your thumbnail, very delicate.

So- Happy Blue and White Day! Hope to be off to the Colonial Parkway to check out the Yorktown Onions this afternoon.