Journeys and Flowers From the Gardens

4:42:54 PM EDT
Feeling Happy
Hearing Englefield's Jardines Ballet

The Long Wait Is Over...

The pastures are greening and Lillies adorn them. Roses are blossoming along with Gladiolus, Dahlias and Cannas. Spring is here at last!

We have new roses to replace those that did not survive the drought. The Yellow Strike It Rich are exciting. The Miss Behavin are stunning. Old Champion is just beginning to blossom again. The Orange Garden is twice as big as last year. The large display of Cannas will arrive in a week or two.

We hope you enjoy the views. It is early but there are beautiful days ahead.

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click Here)

Written by symphonycomposer Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

9:04:53 PM EST
Feeling Happy
Hearing Englefield's Winterland Symphonic Suite

The Birdies Are Hungry...

Our Avian friends eat two 25lb. bags of bird seed per week and maybe more! The colder weather might be responsible. It seems  they have called their friends to join them. The feeders are more crowded than ever. Not uncommon to see thirty or forty Red Wing Black Birds feeding in the early afternoon. Probably more than forty Wrens feed in the mornings.

Old Mr. Owl returned last week. Odd that our last picture of Mr. Owl was in January of 2007. He was in the exact same place, the big Sycamore Tree in front of the porch and after darkness fell.

The Mourning Doves are  now perching in the open feeder as never before. Previously always on the ground eating spillage. I always thought they were too big for the feeders and they are obviously not. One picture shows a large flock of Doves not previously seen. Typically one or two pairs will appear.

Robins are unusual this year. They never feed at a bird feeder. Always they appear in large flocks in the pastures. Yesterday a lonely Robin was feeding in the front yard.

The Mocking Birds (State Bird of Florida) are rare this year but Woody Woodpecker is one of our most frequent visitors.

In one of my journals I reported seeing a Bald Eagle last week at the roadside. A truly magnificent creature.

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click Here)

Written by symphonycomposer Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

8:52:20 AM EST
Feeling Happy
Hearing Elgar's "Crown of India Suite"

The Closing Pages Bring Fond Memories

First - Yesterday while driving home from the golf course I spotted a Bald Eagle at the side of the road. I turned the car around and went back with my cell phone camera but he had flown away to a far distant tree. How beautiful he was with white head and massive white tail feathers.

Secondly - The gardens have been my first "green thumb" endeavor. One garden became the first of nine gardens. At age 70 I have acquired my first digital camera. It should be obvious how much fun the experience has been. A wonderful way to share otherwise not easily done.

This Journal concludes the Album Review. We now look forward to Spring and contemplate what we "canna" do to maintain your interest. Here is my plan:

The Orange Garden will be much larger because the Cannas have self propagated. Many were relocated from the Rose Garden last month and still more must be moved. The Walkway Garden will be a multi-varied rose garden to greet us and our guests. Those of you that remember the Copper Canyon display will see an increase nearly five fold in late summer. The propagating Butterfly Gingers will be plentiful at the Walkway Garden because the fragrance is magnificent as we pass them by. I've given numerous Gingers to our neighbors. Surprising is the Impatiens that have re seeded themselves and now flourish in the misting Greenhouse.  We've added six or seven new "Knock Out" Roses to the Walkway and Red Gardens because they are so trouble free and disease resistant. More will be added to the Gate Post Garden.

See you again in the Spring unless we take an exciting trip that is worthy of a Travel Journal.

Keep cool or warm if you prefer.

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click Here)

 

Written by symphonycomposer Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

9:33:46 PM EST
Feeling Happy
Hearing Englefield's "Vistas" from White Face Mountain Symphony

Rather Amazing the Variety

This update on the 2007 Garden Review shows me (and I hope you also)  the amazing variety in the 9 Englefield Gardens. Far better than I imagined.

My thoughts as I searched the files:

 "Flowers are a blessing to be sure!"

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click Here)

Written by symphonycomposer Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

9:54:39 AM EST
Feeling Happy
Hearing Englefield's Concerto for Piano & Orchestra

A Delightful Look Back on 2007

Because of the drought in the SE during the past summer, the gardens were less prolific. Yet, looking back through the files I was surprised at the number of beautiful photos I had taken. Today, therefore, we are showcasing the best of 2007.

There are so many great pictures that we are posting them on both AOL Journals and will continue to update the Journals over the next few days. If the pictures are enjoyable you may see another set on the "Visions" Journal with a link on the side of this page. The title is Englefield Archives.

Cooler weather provides a well deserved respite for the gardener. Yet, with time on my hands I feel compelled to share during the bleak season the beauty of blossoms past.

I hope you enjoy the lovely display.

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click Here)

Written by symphonycomposer Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 0 comments: Add your own

2:03:49 PM EST
Feeling Happy
Hearing "Snowman" From Englefield's Winterland Symphonic Suite

Good Weather, Family Gathering & Aquarium Visit - A Happy Holiday!

Patricia insisted we stop at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chatanooga enroute to Ohio. We did and it was fabulous! Enjoy the pictures.

After visiting with brother Bob and his lovely wife Ruthie in Springfield, we met daughter Carolyn at the Columbus Airport. Her flight from New York was delayed by weather and arrived three hours late.  We didn't mind at all. We shopped and talked, drank cappuccino and browsed throughout the airport until she arrived.

We gathered on Christmas Day at my son Rick's house and opened presents and enjoyed a fine Christmas dinner.

The following day Carolyn, Rick, Patricia and I went to Columbus and visited the Easton Town Center Mall. It was fabulous, big and had every store imaginable. At lunch time we met at the Cheesecake Factory with Olev Viro, conductor of the Greater Columbus Symphony Orchestra and violinist with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Olev and I discussed my symphonies and a myriad of other topics related to classical music. He is a fine fellow with a very promising future.

That evening we met at the Granville Inn in Granville, Ohio with my brother Bill and his beautiful wife Janet along with my daughters Carolyn and Diane and son Rick and his pretty wife Jennifer. Bill reserved a private room for our dinner which was superb and filled with much laughter, mirth, story telling and joy.

Coming home we stopped at a discount mall in S. Carolina where Patricia picked out a new Wearever Pot & Pan set and I selected a new original oil painting for my studio shown above. Also enroute we stopped to visit an International Paper Co. paper mill in Savannah, Ga. I wanted Patricia to see a paper mill in operation. They are huge and unbelievable in size. I worked in NYC with I.P. Co. during the late 1950s.

Liberty was a super good traveler. But I can tell you he was glad to get home. One mile from the house his tail started wagging and he was looking out the windows knowing for sure that we were nearing the end of our journey.

Happy New Year!

Richard

Written by symphonycomposer Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 1 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

11:00:19 PM EST
Feeling Happy
Hearing Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Album

We're Heading to Ohio For Christmas

Our friends Walter & Ruby are going to be the house sitters. Walter will also watch after the gardens while we are gone. Liberty is going to make the 1,000 mile trip with us. He is a great traveler. He has let us know, when he sees the suit cases, he wants to go!

While in Ohio we'll visit my two fine brothers Bill and Bob and their families; also my son and daughters and my Grandson Ricky Englefield III.

There is not much to see in the gardens. The mulching complete. A few lovely flowers are pictured above. The rest is self explanatory. There is a picture of the No. 2 Golf Hole I now have added in the pasture. Mostly par threes and one 310 yard par 4.

We wish you all a Happy Holiday Season and a Very Happy New Year!

Richard

 

Written by symphonycomposer Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 1 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

1:53:01 PM EST
Feeling Happy
Hearing Autumn Leaves

And the Work Begins

Pictures today were taken before the recent frost. The cold weather signals the time for preparations.

To give you an idea of what I've been doing this past week we'll begin with the necessity to bring all potted plants into the garage (Greenhouse) for the winter. No small task as the picture will show. I purposely potted many plants that I thought would not survive the winter. Sometimes the temperature goes down to 18 degrees.

All Cannas had to be cut back to the ground and covered with mulch to protect the bulbs. The mulching will begin tomorrow. Most of the winter hardy plants must be cut back and mulched as well. Adequate mulching requires at least four inches of mulch for cover.

Several potted plants had to be planted in the ground this week to protect the roots from cold weather. Roses and Bougainvillias are good examples. Ground is warmer than ice cold pots.

The "Open Door" at the misting greenhouse had to be closed and all plants placed inside.The thermostat controlled heater was plugged in and so far they are doing very well.

Surprisingly the roses are enjoying the cooler weather and making new blossoms while most others have turned brown and since been cut back.

Interestingly the Copper Canyons are just now bringing forth their multitude of blossoms, seemingly unaware of the frigid temperatures.

All is well. I have also addded a new driving range in the pasture to practice golf and sometimes Patricia goes with me. The cost of gasoline made the range necessary as the golf course is 28 miles away. About $6.00 per day can be saved.

We have many roses and Copper Canyons to look forward to before we retire the Journal for the winter. One more picture of the Greenhouse will be added after I have lunch.

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click here)

Written by symphonycomposer Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 1 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

8:39:39 AM EST
Feeling Happy
Hearing Englefield's Concerto for Piano & Orchestra

Fall Flowers In Florida

I had forgotten how beautiful the gardens were last year in Oct.-Nov. Roses grow best in springtime and Fall. During the next several months we will have a gorgeous display.

It has been a long wait but at long last the Copper Canyons are budding. You might remember I propagated eleven bushes in the Greenhouse. Those in the East Garden have their first blossoms. The display will be massive and fun to see. Within a few days we will see thousands of Copper Canyons in the East and West Gardens.

My favorite Red Double Ruffle Hibiscus is blossoming again after a long dry spell.  The Impatiens have their best blossoms of the year at this time. The tall climbing Mandavillias have done well and we have two more in the Greenhouse. I enjoy seeing a plant that grows to ten feet or more with flowers to the roof top.

With a good camera and pretty flowers it is time to share.

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click here)

 

Written by symphonycomposer Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 1 comments: Show Recent | Add your own

2:21:48 PM EDT
Feeling Happy
Hearing Dvorak's New World Symphony

Flowers & Fall Weather

What a wonderful delight it is to see the gardens thriving again. Rainfall is back to normal for October. Temperatures are perfect for flowers to blossom. Several seem to think it is Spring again!

The new items consist of Mums purchased by Patricia for the church in honor of her deceased father's birthday. She says if we plant them they will blossom again next year. Also at the Propagation Farm there is a new blossoming Mandavillia that will find a home at the Walkway Garden with the others.

The very cold winter damaged our Bottle Brush. But they have recovered nicely and now we see their first blossoms of the year. It has been several months since we have seen the "About Face" Rose. They are so attractive that I  do an about face whenever I see them blossoming.

There are several nice pictures of Butterflies today. One pretty little brown Butterfly has such big eyes. A species we have never seen before.

The most impressive display comes at the West Garden by the Philippine Violets. They are massive and very pretty.

I hope you enjoy your visit.

Richard

www.symphonybyenglefield.com (Click here) 

Written by symphonycomposer Permalink | Blog about this entry |  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this This entry has 1 comments: Show Recent | Add your own