It is disappearing much...

...too quickly. Summer that is, and I think I said that same thing about Spring. But, at least my days are very full of wonderful adventures and visits from family and friends.
I have stolen a few quiet moments for myself, to photograph more of New York State's many Orchids. On Sunday my husband and I drove to Ferd's Bog in the Adirondack Mountains. It is an amazing quaking bog, with a board walk that actually floats on the bog. This keeps people from trampling the flora. Sundew, Pitcher Plant, Bog Herbs and many Grasses can be found Spring through Autumn. The walk into the bog is about 3/10th of a mile through a woods filled with Ferns, Mosses, Lichens, Fungus and many Wildflowers.
I try to go there several times each season, as there are always many wonderful surprises awaiting this avid photographer. On Sunday Calopogon pulchella (Grass-Pink) and Habenaria blepharigottis (White Fringed Orchis) were both blooming.
Our Grandchildren have been visiting with us for the past 5 days and its been a busy time, playing with them. But, alas somebody's has to do it. Certainly glad that it has been me....

The deer that sleep...

...in our meadow, that forage on our lawn, that bring new born fawns to frolic in our meadow, are welcome, now. Now, that they sleep, eat and play within our yard and not in our gardens, especially the eat part. The Repels All Spray and Granules that I have been using since March are really working and thus the deer are now really beloved. So far the Repels All is also keeping the ground hog, and various bugs from devouring our plants too.
I began my new position on Staff at a local Outdoor Educational Center and now I'm trying to maintain balance in my life. I've been "Retired" for several years and now I'm re-learning that juggling act of keeping all parts of my life in sync.
I want to share some of the garden, through my photos. It is such a joy to see Hostas, Sedum and other plants that are growing, thriving and lovely. I am not including names, common or botanical, because I don't want to look through my files for correct identification tonight. But, will upon request.
Next blog I want to share a magnificent new gardening tool, which I just purchased. I weeded 3 large and 1 small gardens today within an hour, using this incredible tool. Talk soon.

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.