Wednesday, September 03, 2008

Pink and The Tracks to Nowhere In Particular



Well, I'm running consistantly a little behind lately, what with deciding it might not be a totally horrible idea to get myself some extra sleep now that summer's drawing to a close.

So, these are actually yesterday's photos, but still an enjoyable bunch, I think.

The pale pink morning glories are coming on strong now, which is fun, as they are a nice addition to the color range of the species. Actually, as you'll see, Pink seems to be something a theme today.

Of course the hot pink and blue vines from earlier in the season are still going on like crazy and now leaving the fencepost (yes, there really IS one in there somewhere...a garden lantern, too) to twine and vine their way around some sky-bound sunflower stalks.

The weather's a little cooler now. Yesterday morning I almost wore a flannel shirt (albeit with shorts) for the first time since spring. But after I got dressed, it felt like a warmer-than-necessary choice and I changed to something lighter. I shouldn't have second-guessed, though, as clouds moved in to make it a pretty cool afternoon, with temps in the 50s; the flannel would've been just right.

The cooler temps are encouraging the dianthus to another round of flowering for September. This will be convenient, as I was pricing plastic flowerboxes today with a thought toward transplanting these guys to the balcony at my next location. That they are flowering again will make them easier to find in the current chaos of the fence garden.



I'm also considering one of those clay strawberry pots with assorted planting windows (they are on sale at the local nursery) as a new home for my sedums and hens and chicks, but I don't know how well this sort of planter might winter and what I'd have to do to encourage that sort of survival.

I'm thinking maybe some sand inside, below the dirt, would be more "flexible" during winter freezes and thaws, but I'm not entirely sure.

Here's a variety of sunflower I've shown previously, but didn't include in yesterday's full array of the sunflowers. This one's located down at the very far end of the fence garden.

Behind it you can see that large planting of boneset I featured recently when it was just starting to bud.


The later part of the morning had me venturing up-Cape, on newly-vacated local roads, as I headed for the Registry of Motor Vehicle, as t'was time to renew my auto registration.

On the way, I found this lovely and massive planting of impatiens. It's one of my favorite flowers, but I had no shade for a change this year, so we didn't get to play together as we have in past years.

I'm happy to say it was not the Waiting Room To Hell that the RMV can often be (actually, they are pretty efficient there and I've rarely had complaints, of course, part of that comes of being properly prepared with something enjoyable to read, in this case, one of James Patterson's Alex Cross novels, Cat and Mouse.).

On the way to work from there, I made a stop by a favorite spot of mine, along the abandoned tracks of the Cape Cod Railroad.

Almost all of the rails on the Outer Cape (my standard stomping grounds) were long ago removed and turned into bike trails...which is lovely and fun, but a little sad if you're a rail fan, as I am.

This spot is accessible from an old rest stop parking area from Route 6, and the old railroad bridge that crosses the Bass River is a popular fishing spot, although no one was around when I visited.

There is still some freight service in the Yarmouth area, but the tracks to this remainder of the line have recently been cut...and as you can see, are pretty seriously overgrown.


I've been trying to identify just what these little wildflowers are growing along the trackbed, but to no avail. They are also growing pretty wildly on Not Wisteria Lane, so I had hoped to figure out what they were...but have not been able to narrow things down much further than this family, which frankly, I could have guessed without benefit of a detailed Google search.

As I mentioned, the weather caught me a little off-guard yesterday, as the forecast had a great big orange sun icon all across it. However, there's a storm out in the ocean that's swirling around and occasionally backs some cloud cover in overhead, which helped to keep our temps on the cool side. There's no rain in forecast to benefit us, but the occasional cloud thing is continuing again today.



I was wandering the garden at work later in the afternoon and noticed that the kousa dogwood's berries were coloring up nicely. Like the other dogwoods, this one is a beauty when it blooms in late spring, but I think I like it best for these "dogwood crunch berries", of which the local crows seem quite fond.

I noticed, too, that the cooler temperatures of this end of the summer seem to be encouraging some of the roses out there to another flush of blooming.

As always, I wish I could share with you the fragrance. It was a small pleasure that helped perk up a low moment in my afternoon and I know you'd have enjoyed it, too.

12 comments:

Birdie said...

There isn't a trail that exists that doesn't beg me to follow. I have insatiable curiosity about what lies around the bend. I'd have been long gone down that abandoned track.

While a red rose inspires passion, I think that creamy white rose is peaceful. Are those pink tones visible without a camera?

Greg said...

Birdie, I share that curiosity about paths, to be sure. Only a lack of time on this particular visit kept me from exploring further in each direction...well, that and my hesitance to cross the bridge on foot (Bass River is tidal and was rushing in below, which would only have encouraged my natural sense of vertigo in such situations).

The pink on this rose is pretty delicate, but certainly visible with the unaided eye that cares to look.

The Hunky Gardener said...

I think the mystery plant is a Sickle-Leaf Golden- Aster, Chrysopsis falcata?

The chilean bellflower is 2 separate vines. I am trying to track down seeds for it and my friend from Chile is asking her mom to send seeds but it may be illegal!

The passion vine is not really invasive but very vigorous. It can grow 20 ft in one year! Judging by your pictures I am sure you would do fine growing the 'Heavenly Blue' morning glory.

Glad you are getting some much needed rest!

Java said...

Lovely pictures, as usual. It was fun to see some flowers from the world outside your garden. There are a lot of impatiens growing around here. It seems to be a favorite flower in this area.

Joe Jubinville said...

I won't be breaking out the flannel for another three months. Is yours the classic lesbian red plaid like mine?

All the pinks cheered me up this morning.

There is something haunting about abandoned railroad tracks to nowhere. Wouldn't it be cool if you could follow them to the past.

Patrick said...

It looks like we're going to have a mini-heatwave here, but the highs may be in the 70s next week, after/if Hannah storms through. I'm already clammy, and it's not even ten am yet.

I am always sad to see rails going to waste too; the romantic in me hopes the growing energy problem will bring the trains back, but in the meantime, I'm grateful for the bike trails.

Hope there is the scent of many roses in your day today. Sounds like you could use it.

Unknown said...

Gosh, those really do look like Crunchberries, don't they? :)

And that rose... oh, my. Just marvelous how they pose like that.

lostlandscape said...

If someone comes up with a scratch-n-sniff blog sidebar widget-thingie I'm sure you'll be among the first to adopt it...something to go with your blog soundtrack. Definitely could be useful for the roses.

Now, you probably didn't think you'd hear it coming outta me, but I think my favorite of what you've posted today has to be sunflower.

Greg said...

Java, having had many shady gardens (in solar conditions, not moral ones), impatiens and I go way back - I just love her ability to mound up en masse like this.

Joe, my flannel moment came and went, it seems, as we are into the sunny 70s today, with more tropical type flavor as the weekend's upon us. It sounds to have found Patrick...and arrived here this afternoon (Thursday).

And you, my friend, thanks for the wish of roses...I found a great hedge/portent of them, about which I'll tell you more later! Definitely a good thing...

Jenn, I'm not lyin--that's why I call 'em that!! The rose was quite cooperative!

James, maybe I'll invent this widget of which you speak! I'm actually not that surprised: this is the least yellow of the sunflowers, after all! ; )

Anonymous said...

My favorite here is the Glories! What do you do to get them to grow this abundantly? I know what is. It's YOU!! You LOVE flowers....just like I do. I love them SO much they grow for me in sand!! LOL Of course I don't torture them that way, but things grow so easily for me because I love them...Just as you do. Take care of yourself my friend. Remember you are very very worthy.

Lona said...

Loved going along with you on your day with pictures.Your Morning Glories colors mixed together makes a beautiful mix.The rails look so sad unused but nature added beauty along them. Great pictures!

Jess said...

I wish you could share the fragrance, too! By now, smellovision was supposed to have replaced television (I saw Elmer Fudd read about it!). If only it had, the technology might be available for all of us to share such wonderful scents!