The amazing Ladies of the Bog...

...are back, and as lovely as always. The ladies are Cypripedium reginae, Showy Lady's Slipper Orchids. They are the largest and most beautiful of the wild orchids of New York State.
When I first moved to the Adirondack area, several new friends asked if I had ever photographed the Showy Lady's Slipper. I had not and asked where I might find them. Several friends showed me areas, where they might be found. And a few more friends helped me search for them. It was well into June and we had not found them. I was extremely disappointed and for a while thought they might not really exist, they might be like the elusive Snipe.
The Friday before Father's Day, quite discouraged, I stopped at our Post Office. The Postal Clerk asked why I was so glum. To the answer, she smiled and said, there are hundreds on our property. She gave me directions and permission to photograph to my heart's content. Which I did then, and continue to so every year, along with about 200 or 300 hundred other happy photographers from all over New York State.

What a difference a day...

...makes, and what difference a week makes. I "retired" a few years ago, but volunteer at an Art Museum, as a docent, doing tours for elementary school children. My business as a Nature Photographer keeps me fairly busy, and I am a member of an Artist Co-op in Old Forge, New York. As a member we share time working at the shop. However, this past week was very serendipitous, and one exciting event after another kept occurring.
I learned about and became a staff member of a fairly new Nature Center, and will possibly be doing some field guides, using my photos. The Nature Center does tours for elementary school children. Hiking, Mountain Biking, Cross Country Skiing and Snow Shoeing are just a few of the exciting things offered at the Center.
Life is good... and exciting and fun and I am very, very grateful.

Long awaited Spring...

...is almost a memory. In just ten days it will be Summer. Here in the North Country, The Adirondacks of New York State, it looks like the song from Carousel, "June Is Bustin' Out All Over". It is very lush and green and leaves are on all the trees. The Ginkgo was a little late in leafing out but, it is quite lovely now. My Poppies are poppin' and the Iris are bloomin' and every plant is growing tall, full and vigorous. I am so blessed that this year the gardens are full of so many plants. The deer are avoiding the gardens and so far, so is the ground hog. I saw the ground hog yesterday. When our Grandson and Nephew come up for a visit, I will have them help me try to fill the hole that is nearest the house. I guess I better do some research and see what works best, to relocate its home enterance. Any comments would be appreciated. The Repel's All Spray seem to be detering them for now.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail butterflies are in and around the gardens, as are some species of bees. I have been seeing many species of spiders also. The Pointed Blue Eyed grass is blooming and attracting many bees, as you can see in the photo.
I have been on several day trips with my docent friends this past week. I volunteer, as a docent at a local Art Museum. I am including a self portrait, taken on our trip yesterday to the Albright-Knox Museum in Buffalo, New York. It was a wonderful bus trip to see an Exhibit of Abstract Artists which included Pollack, DeKooning, Still, Krassner, Motherwell and many more.

I began blogging...

... because I wanted to share with other gardeners, the trials and tribulations of gardening, and dealing with the "deerbeloved". I do love the deer and try to live peacefully with them. It is much easier now that I have finally found a solution to the problem, of the deer eating everything that I plant. I don't even consider vegetable gardens, because in addition to the Deer we reside with Rabbits, Ground Hogs, Skunks, Fox, Weasel, Squirrels (red, gray & black), Chipmonks, Opossum, Bear, Coyotes, Turkey and Porcupine. I love growing prennial plants, and to avoid needless disappointment, I try to plant, plants that most animals find unappetizing. For example Foxglove, Monkshood, Bear's Breeches, Alliums, and Herbs. Things that are poisonous, fuzzy, gray-green or prickly, are usually unappetizing. In addition to plant choices, I also use an amazing spray and granules called Repel's All. These things are working!!!! Last year I actually enjoyed Hosta and Day Lilies throughout their entire growing season.
I began animal proofing the gardens early this year. In March before the snow was gone from the gardens, I applied Repel's All granules to each garden. In April when spouts appeared, I sprayed them with Repel's All spray. As each plant grew, I reapplied spray to the new growth.
And....it is working even better than last year. Plants that I planted many years ago, that spouted and started growing but, were eaten before blooming...are now BLOOMING!!!
Plants that I almost forgot about...are now BLOOMING!!! There are 9 different species of Aquilegia, (Columbines) growing and blooming in the woodland shade garden. And many more plants that were also digested, before any enjoyment from this gardener.
I am so grateful to be able to live peacefully with the local fauna and truly enjoy the beauty of each prennial garden.

A few of the best plants...

that I never planted. The rock garden is above a wonderful rock wall which is now a garden itself. Within the nooks and crannies of the wall, many sedums and alpine plants now reside.
When we were in Italy, last May, we visited several fortified medieval cities, among them San Marino and Assisi. Those walls contained wonderful alpine plants, which I found fascinating.
Two of the many plants that are now residing within my garden walls are Papaver alpinum, Alpine Poppy and Corydalis lutea. (sorry but I don't know the common name of the Corydalis) The "parent plant" of the Corydalis is in the rock garden above the wall, and has provided seed for a least 6 of the "wall plants". The "parent plant" of the Poppy is gone now but its seed produced the wonderful specimen now growing within the wall. Sometimes the most delightful plants are those that plant themselves.

Many new arrivals...

...create lots of photo opportunities. Today was a "play day" shared with my friend Diane. We left home early to allow us lots of time for exploring. Our destination was Cooperstown, New York and a visit to the Fenimore Art Museum, which is where James Fenimore Cooper, the novelist grew up. The collection is an outstanding one which includes paintings by Thomas Cole, Gilbert Stuart, Benjamin West, Eastman Johnson, Grandma Moses and many other American Artists. It is always a favorite "play day" adventure. Lunch on the shore of Otesego Lake at the Blue Mingo, was as usual, a gourmet delight. We both enjoyed a Salmon and Corn Chowder, followed by Lobster Salad Sandwich and dessert of Key Lime Custard.
After driving only a short distance, we noticed a family of Canada Geese on the banks of the West Canada Creek, which included a Male, a Female and nine Goslings. Then we stopped by a favorite water fall, on the Little Black River. The rain the day before, made the falls even more spectacular. Another family of fowl was spotted at the falls, a Female Ruffed Grouse and four chicks.
One adventure after another completed a magnificent "play day" of flora, fauna and fun.

Memorial weekend flew...

...by so quickly. Lots of work, lots of play and tender, yet sad memories.
We lost a courageous young soldier, who was a member of our parish, a few weeks ago. Blaise lost his life in Iran, fighting for ideals which he strongly believed in, and will greatly missed by all members of our community.
It was also a weekend to remember those community members and family members who fought and died or fought and lived, for freedoms we all enjoy.

It was a weekend to go to "The Sand Plains in Rome, New York" to photograph the wild blue Lupine. The sand plains are, one of a few inland Pine barrens, left in the Northeast. The threatened frosted elfin butterfly which feeds on the Lupine can also be found there.

We also had time to go kayaking in the Mountains, another one of my passions. My husband and I have been kayaking for many years. We each have an Old Town Loon kayak. My husband's kayak is 17'5" and weighs about 60 pounds. Mine is 11' 1" and weighs about 35 pounds. The one thing we enjoy most about kayaking is we play on the same team but, different positions. My husband enjoys exploring while kayaking and I prefer to photograph and spend lots of time in one area. However, we always start and end our journey together.