But for some towns north of the Boston, along the Merrimack River, there truly is no joy in Mudville today, with totals ranging from 7 inches to as many as 13 inches over the border in New Hampshire and the raging river is wreaking havoc along its banks as it races toward the ocean. Yikes.
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Today was notable around here, in fact, for being the first day in a while during which the focus of the day's weather was more about not raining, with a few showers passing over, as opposed to the other way around, as it was earlier this weekend.
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Now that the robins have moved into the andromeda in front of the house, I'm paying closer attention to them as a species. I suspect there's another pair of them nested up out back somewhere, based on this sentinel who was flying around keeping an eye on me out there this morning.
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I noticed peony buds for the first time this morning on the plants out back. They're only tiny little things just now, but they put it in my head to check all the other plants, and I found these, much further along, on the skinny plant at the meadow's edge. There it's nestled behind a rose bush, and it seems to strain a little for light...already measuring in at least three feet tall.
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Here's a look at the pathway garden from the front parking area by the house. This bed includes a great assortment of things like cranesbill, siberian iris, bellflowers, primroses, sweet william, and a large bush near the top of the photo I'm uncertain of. Anyone able to recognize this plant? I'm thinking perhaps Solomon's Seal, but only know that from catalogue shots.
Since the andromeda and nest are just off-screen to the right in this shot, we may not be walking through here too much in the coming weeks, if these robins are anything like others I have known.
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Here's a closer shot (with flash) of the blooms that shrub is currently sporting. I only discovered them as I ducked down behind the bush for a little cover as I tried to stake out the robin's nest. They were working on it tonight, and I was hoping for a picture or two.
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While crouched (yah, you can easily--and rightly--imagine that didn't last long) behind the mystery bush, I discovered this lovely yellow lamium in bloom. This plant came to our garden in the Adirondacks from our Aunt Jerry in Maryland, and it quickly revealed itself as a great ground cover, and I've carried it through (and probably left some behind in) many gardens since then. I enjoy having some of it in my garden, because it makes me think of her. She was, I believe, one of our family's great gardeners.
I have spoken to other gardeners in the years since who do not share my fondness for it. Invasive, they say. A nuisance. But I'm a big fan of an eager plant, especially if it's attractive...as long as you give them the space they need. I also try to focus them a bit, with a little pinching and paper clip pins for guidance.
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It was pretty clear this robin was keeping a careful eye on me, while the other darted in and out with mouthfuls of construction materials.
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To be honest, I'm pretty sure one of them was in there working when I snapped this photo of the nest. I can see the picture as well as you can, of course, and admit its impossible to be sure. Maybe the nest is hidden enough to be successful. By the way, the nest is that big dark thing at the bottom of the picture, nestled inside the branches, and kind of slope-y looking. Go figure.
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Hopefully, they will decide I mean no harm, as I check the gardens and snap a few photos. But we'll play all that by ear (I have a pith helmet if need be...).
It's just another aspect of the great garden adventure.
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