Gail's Garden Blog

gfreiherr
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Reflections on a Wedding
Posted: 02 Nov 2010

It's almost here!
Posted: 30 Sep 2010

I'm ready and waiting
Posted: 27 Sep 2010

The Wedding Planners
Posted: 14 Sep 2010

Spring fling in New Jersey
Posted: 31 Mar 2010

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Gail's Garden Blog

Day Dreaming...a return to the Amalfi Coast

Category: Vacations | Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 9:08 pm

This afternoon when I was reorganizing and backing up digital photographs I came across our photos from a cruise we took to the Mediterranean in 2007.
It was one of our favorite cruises. It certainly brightened my day (it's cold, gray & flurring again). For those of you who are color deprived I will share some of my favorites from our day on the Amalfi Coast.

We took a 9 hour bus tour from Naples and toured a good portion of the Amalfi Coast, spectacular scenery. We stopped in Sorrento, Positano, & Amalfi.
It is a very winding narrow road. Several times our driver had to get out and direct traffic so we could continue.

( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

The arm you see in the bottom right corner is the guy sitting in front of me...if the windows of the bus were open we could shake hands with the people on the bus that is passing us.

( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Most of these photos were taken from the bus window.

Church in Sorrento ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

ceiling of church ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Garden in Amalfi ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Enjoying the view ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

more of the garden ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Amalfi Coast ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

City of Amalfi ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

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Amalfi ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

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The end of a beautiful day ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Back on the ship in the Port of Naples. Hope you all enjoyed the tour. Today was a great day to go through the photographs...lots of color.

We also visited Sicily, Santorini, Mykonos,Athens, Rhodes, Rome & Ephesus on this cruise. Those photos must be on my other computer.

Last edited: Tue Feb 16, 2010 9:22 pm

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The sun came out today!

Category: Sharing Garden photos | Posted: Sat Feb 13, 2010 11:01 pm

We did have an hour of sunshine today and I could actually see my shadow. (FYI...I am not that tall or wide!) I took my camera out to see if there was anything blooming and there was not. But it was nice to be outside. Molly & I went for a nice long walk. The forecast for tomorrow & Monday is snow/rain and we will be driving to Atlanta (3 hours away) to take care of some wedding plans and pick up the Dress. Hope it will not be too messy on the roads.

( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Yesterday I went to Home Depot and treated myself to some plants and told my husband he did not have to buy me any flowers for Valentines Day.

calla lily ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

helleborus ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Happy Valentine's Day to you all.

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An Icy Wonderland

Category: Sharing Garden photos | Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 12:25 am

This weekend we had 3 inches of snow, followed by freezing rain. Fortunately we had plenty of warning because we don't usually have much snow. The temperature stayed below freezing so it created an icy wonderland. We were fortunate that we did not have to get out on the icy streets. But it didn't stop me from getting out with my camera. I just walked in the crunchy snow.

We had a wolf moon and despite the cloudy skies due to the storm. The moon seemed very bright.
"Native Americans call the first Full moon of the year as wolf moon. It is generally unusually brighter and bigger. According to the astronomers, the wolf moon is almost 30% brighter as well as 14% wider than regular full moons. This happens because the moon revolves round the Earth in an elliptical orbit and at the time of the wolf moon it comes closer to Earth than usual. According to the Native American folklore, hungry wolves howl in chilly wintry nights glaring at the full moon. "

I did not get any photos on the evening of the 30th but I was out early in the morning to catch the moon before it disappeared from sight.

Wolf Moon...Jan.30, 2010 ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Wolf moon...Jan 30, 2010 ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Here are the photos from my walk around the neighborhood:

( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

view from the deck ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

The sun came out on Sunday afternoon and the ice crusted tree & shrubs sparkled like diamonds. Unfortunately, I could not get that sparkle to show up in the photos...it was just magical.

( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

sunset Jan 31, 2010 ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

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It was a busy day at the feeders

Category: Visitors in the garden | Posted: Sat Jan 30, 2010 3:20 am

The birds and squirrels must have sensed a storm was coming. There was a lot of activity at the feeders and on the ledge. I filled the feeders this morning because they were predicting 3-6" of snow. That is a "major" snow storm for East TN. We have lived here 9 years and have never had more than an inch or two. I restocked the seed on the ledge 4 times.
They were flying in and out like rush hour at the airport. When the flurries started around 2 p.m. it got even busier.

finch feast ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Waiting in the wings ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

4 pair of cardinals perched in my dogwood ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

pine warbler ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

female cardinal ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

red bellied woodpecker ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

lunch bunch ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

I had to keep shooing the squirrels away.

( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

They would just run up the tree

( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

or sit on the fence post and wait until I was gone.

waiting to get back on the feeders ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

It is still snowing but now they are saying it may turn to freezing rain. I am glad I don't have to go anywhere tomorrow.

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Molly had a rough day

Category: Sharing Garden photos | Posted: Fri Jan 29, 2010 1:47 am

Our golden retriever, Molly, had a rough day. She had surgery to remove a cyst growing inside her eyelid. While she was under anesthesia they also cleaned her teeth, aspirated another cyst and took x-rays of her hips to check her dysplasia. While she was recovering from the anesthesia she awoke & bit down and snapped the tube in her throat so they had to use forceps to remove the tube. She came home with 6 medications and one of those "lampshade" collars. She is sleeping it off right now. She is suppose to wear that collar for two weeks until she gets her stitches out. She can have it off if we are watching her. I think we will be spending a lot of time watching her.

Molly recovering from surgery ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

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Fun weekend in Atlanta making wedding plans

Category: Sharing Garden photos | Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 2:18 pm

The weekend began with a miserable 3 hour drive to Atlanta in heavy rain and gusting winds. It was quickly forgotten when we entered the wedding show at the elegant Four Seasons Hotel.

Four Seasons Hotel...Atlanta ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

We were greeted by waiters passing trays of champage cocktails garnished with lovely orchids. As we walked around admiring the amazing displays created by the wedding vendors we were treated to an amazing array of appetizers, pastries and wedding cake.

Unfortunately, I did not have my camera :( . Each corner of the grand ballroom featured a wedding display in each of the four seasons. The flowers, tablesetting and accessories were just stunning. It was like being in a fantasy. I wish I had photos to share. I am running out of adjectives trying to convey the beauty of the event.

My daughter, Kindra's, wedding will be October 2nd at the Cator Woolford Gardens. The wedding, cocktail hour and dinner will be in the gardens...weather permitting. (I will be asking for your prayers as the day arrives.) The dancing and cake cutting will be inside in their atrium room.

The Cator Woolford gardens are on the grounds of an old estate which has become the Frazier Center...a center for handicapped childen and adults. The funds they raise by renting out the gardens goes into the budget to run the center. It is not a residential program...the activities run from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Part of their therapy includes planting in the gardens but they have a staff that maintains the overall landscaping and maintenance. We love the gardens and the concept that supports the Center.

Cator Woolford Gardens...Atlanta ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Yesterday we met with the florist, loved her ideas and personality. My favorite was that when we moved into the atrium for dancing she and her staff would break down the flower arrangements and make small bouquets to pass out to the guests as they leave.

To be continued.

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Think Spring - 2009 garden revisited

Category: Sharing Garden photos | Posted: Sun Jan 17, 2010 2:20 pm

I saw a robin at the bird bath yesterday. They are suppose to be a harbinger of spring, I won't get my hopes up just yet but a girl can dream. Droopy you asked for flowers...here they are. I like to use smilebox by Hallmark because its easy to load your photos & I like having the music option. It's a fun way to share photos. Just click on the link below and sit back and enjoy.

http://smilebox.com/playBlog/4d54517a4f5467794e6a453d0d0a&blogview=true

Last edited: Sun Jan 17, 2010 2:54 pm

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Birds of a feather forage together

Category: Visitors in the garden | Posted: Thu Jan 14, 2010 3:39 am

I was reading an article on how birds survive the cold, harsh winters and was interested to learn that some of the birds at my feeders are food-caching birds. The White breasted Nuthatch, Blue Jay, Tufted Titmice & chickadees are scatter-horders, a behavior which helps to guarantee their survival.

Blue Jays harvest several thousand acorns each fall and bury them in the ground. Blue Jays have a gular pouch under their tongue so they can store seeds & nuts. They can store up to 5 acorns at a time.

Blue Jay ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

All this time I thought the squirrels were responsible for all the holes in the grass!

Who Me? ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

The chickadees, titmice, & nuthatches store and harvest hundreds of seeds throughtout their territory. Hiding it behind bark, in cracks and crevices of trees or knotholes. They have the ability to keep track of the the seeds & nuts that they hide.

Black-Capped Chickadee ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Tufted Titmouse ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

White breasted Nuthatch ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Tufted Titmouse ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

The peanuts are always the first to go. Now I know why these birds are so busy going back and forth from the feeders to the trees.

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Squirrels just wanna have fun, part 2

Category: Visitors in the garden | Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2010 10:04 pm

It was only a question of time before the squirrels found the food on the window ledge. On my third attempt I was able to capture these photos.

A guy's gotta eat ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Is someone there? ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

This squirrel was stalking the feeder while his buddy was working the ledge.

turning around ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

getting a drink ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

Lots of action on the ground the chipmunk came out to eat & drink.

chipmunk licking the ice ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

chipmunk licking the ice ( photo / image / picture from gfreiherr's Garden )

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African Violets

Category: Sharing Garden photos | Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2010 1:09 am

My grandmother introduced me to african violets, saintpaulia. She always had her bay windows filled with violets in white milk glass planters.

I have had good success with violets, even though I tend to neglect them for most of the year. I have about 25 plants and most of them bloom at least 4 or 5 times a year. When they are not blooming I move them to the upstairs bathroom & a spare bedroom that have the right lighting.

Below are the plants that are blooming now.