Skywatch Friday

Not taken today; it's been rainy this week. This was taken at the end of a glorious week of summer sun. Summer? Yes, that's what it seemed like. Fortunately for the gardens, Spring has returned with a bit of rain to help those plants grow!

This was taken on one of the ridges above the Mohawk River valley to the west of me. In Rotterdam Junction, to be somewhat accurate.

See all the participants over at the Skywatch Friday page. Definitely worth a visit.

Iris

A close up of one of the irises in the front garden. It's interesting how all the separate plants know that they should bloom at the exact same moment.

Lily of the Valley

We are a little behind Eric's Le Muguet, but Lily of the Valley do bloom here. And they smell wonderful, too. Very fragrant. If you decide to grow these, be aware that they spread readily to other parts of the garden - you may see these everywhere in your garden within a few years!

I don't know of any traditions regarding Lily of the Valley. I was fascinated to read Eric's account. I also had no idea they were poisonous until I looked them up.

Roku eats chives

It's no mistake. Roku is a Japanese Chin dog, and he likes flowers. His favourites are dandelions and chives. Our chives have spread about and there is a clump hanging over the sidewalk and he grabs one just about every time he goes by.

That dog loves his veggies!

Tiny crab

This fellow was washed up by the waves and seemed to be a bit dried out when I found him. I have no idea what he is other than a crab of some sort. I'd say he's about as large as a US quarter dollar coin.

We re-hydrated him in a container and then put him back after taking his portrait.

Photo taken in New London, CT at the Ocean Beach Park.

Sea gooseberry

Last week, I spent some time in Connecticut, in the Mystic area. Naturally, we spent some time at the seashore. My little one was fascinated by these clear blobs washed up on the beach. I didn't know much about them, only that they hadn't stung me when I was a child, and so I let him pick them up. This is a close-up of one.

My research (thank heaven for the Internet!) tells me that this is a sea gooseberry, scientific name Pleurobrachia pileus - one of a very large group of comb jellies. As far as botanists are concerned, these creatures are not jellyfish. Great. Now I have to undo 40+ years of misinformation!

We tried to bring some home in a jar, but they disintegrated overnight, so I didn't get many photographs of them. It was very difficult to focus in the bright sunlight, but the adventure of picking them up and putting them in tide pools was well worth our time. Especially when Mommy got that look on her face... Boys can be so gross sometimes!

Fair winds and following seas...

I've been away for a bit and this is the reason why. There is a connection to the area. Current US submarines are nuclear powered - that is, they use a nuclear reactor to make steam (to make electricity, not bombs) - and the research facility for naval reactors is quite close to my house. Additionally, the Navy has a reactor prototype facility about a half hour away. A fair number of Navy submariners are in the area, despite being some 200 miles from the sea.

My oldest is a sailor in the US Navy, and his submarine is deploying, so I took a trip to say hello and goodbye. It's a very bittersweet moment. I watched for a long, long time.

Fair winds and following seas.