A nearly cloudless sky led me down to the Christina River in Wilmington this morning. Past the tents set up for network TV to broadcast with the Wilmington skyline in the background, past the restaurants with outdoor seating areas, and continuting south along the Riverfront trail, my goal was the DuPont Environmental Education Center.   Once an industrial "brownfield," the environmental area opened in 2009 with a marshland creating a natural area to replace an industrial wasteland. There is an education building with a permanent exhibit  highlighting artwork featuring wildfowl paintings.    A stairway leads down to a loop boardwalk around the marsh. At this time of year, the birds have pretty much eaten all the wild rice and seed grasses, so the only visible fauna was some ducks swimmin... 01/16/2021

It was a sunny afternoon today, so I took a walk at nearby Bellevue State Park.  It's been a few days since Christmas Eve and the terrible wind and rain storm and I saw the effect it had had on some of the grand old trees in the park. And they seemed to have fallen over across the paved walking paths with uncanny accuracy. Upon closer examination, they were sadly lacking in solid roots but instead had gaping holes under where the roots should have been. Only one had been sawn into pieces, probably because it had fallen on a pathway next to the round barn where the State Park patrols drove.I suspect that in the next few weeks, if the weather allows, they will come in with their chain saws and work on the remaining fallen trees. But I really don't mind walking around the trees across the ... 12/29/2020

 When you see the network reporters broadcasting Joe Biden items from Wilmington, Delaware, watch the background.  If you see a waterfront scene with a city skyline in the background, they are at the Riverfront. I spent some time there last week as the sun was going down, and caught up on the latest developments in this area with 3 hotels (built in the last few years), a convention center, restaurants, riverfront walk, nature center, Delaware Children's Museum, condos, apartments, a new bridge from the south end that is lit at night, and the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Amtrak station.  There are a couple of old gussied-up cranes from when this was a big shipbuilding area starting around WWI. But right next to the cranes were 4 white tents, 3 of them sealed against the weather. I could hear one ... 11/24/2020

We had a misty hike through the woods and gardens at Winterthur Museum and Gardens this morning. It wasn't quite umbrella weather, just mist and lack of sun in the sky. One can now tour inside the mansion. You can use an app they provide, or just wander around several of the rooms which are usually open on the Yuletide tours. My friend noted that she preferred to see the top of a lovely table without it being loaded with (fake) cookies and cakes.  They have guides in each room in case you have questions. Some guides are more helpful than others and since we seemed to be the only visitors, they were having a jolly time chatting to each other as we approached. But aside from this quick mansion tour and an extended hike on the grounds, I was especially interested in seeing a new exhibit in... 10/28/2020

A trip to Marini's produce stand today included a short visit with Norman, the resident pot-bellied pig and local celebrity.  He was busy noisily chomping on grass and didn't give me a nod, but I had to give him a short visit and admire the pumpkin display (just out of his reach).  Continuing down Veale Rd. on my way home, I stopped at a traffic light and took a minute to peruse the peloton of skeletons at the corner of Silverside Rd.  I didn't get a chance to take a look at the miniature old fashioned horse drawn hearse which could be seen from another viewpoint on this Brandywine Hundred corner property, which thrives on holiday displays. That was a lot of bikes today (they continue out of picture frame). 10/26/2020

Walking around Bellevue State Park this weekend, one could see evidence that families were trying to get their children, from infants on up, out in the fresh air. I got the feeling that a lot of the visitors who crowded the parking lot were unfamiliar with this State park. Some held maps of the trails as they walked, and most of them stayed in the area around the pond. As usual, I took my favorite path around the back of the round barn, past the clay tennis courts, and through the woods. I only ran into a couple of people back there in the woods, and it was very peaceful--just as I had hoped.  There were signs to activity to come, as the Bellevue Mansion grounds have turned into a popular wedding destination. A custom tent that looked quite permanent had been built, and workers were pre... 10/26/2020

This gem at 114 Walls Avenue in suburban Wilmington, Delaware is a solid example of "the way they used to build them" back in the 1950's.      But all the updates are there: heating, air conditioning, roof, new sewer line, plus a security system, dishwasher, gas range and best of all--hardwood floors throughout. Not only that, but there are 3 bedrooms and 2 baths, plus a large basement.  Step outside the sliders to the patio and you will find a landscaped yard with a tidy shed, and a gate leading to a crescent shaped off street parking space for this corner house. Time to make an appointment! 10/22/2020

 Good news for those who have been waiting for a chance to see the exhibits inside Winterthur Museum in Wilmington, Delaware.  The museum is now open on a limited basis for tours.    But my purpose today was to check out how the creeping colder temperatures were affecting the gardens.  There were touches of gold appearing on the trees today, and although the gardens were not crowded, there seemed to be an increase in foot traffic on the paths and a little more action in the Enchanted Woods, an attraction geared to the younger set.  Even the koi had to work their way around leaves that had fallen into their pond. The colchicum that had a field to themselves on my last visit now clung to their blossoms among the forest floor around the Glade garden. The old greenhouses still were covered ... 10/18/2020

When I heard about a new tour exploring hidden and lost features on the grounds of Rockwood Park and Museum, I had to sign up for this new walking tour of this 1851-54 Rural Gothic Mansion. Joseph Shipley of Wilmington had visited a home outside of Liverpool England and just had to build one just like it on a hill overlooking the Delaware River.  Originally consisting of many family farms, the now 72 acre property offers hiking and exploring, as well as Mansion tours (maybe in 2021) and a converted and expanded barn housing facilities for wedding and other gatherings. The barn also houses historical materials relating to the house. A large portion of the archives were given to the University of Delaware by a group to which I used to belong, the Friends of Rockwood. The Friends' dispute ... 10/04/2020

Last night, Delaware Shakespeare took advantage of the sculpture garden behind the Delaware Art Museum, and performed out-takes from many different plays written by The Bard.  The program described it thus:Shakespeare in the GardenA Collaborative Event with Delaware Art MuseumSaturday, September 26 and Sunday, September 27, 2020Copeland Sculpture GardenDirected by Bi Jean Ngo.  OPENING in front of “Orifice II”WelcomeA Sculptural Gesture Warm-up, Sonnet 18Split into small groups to be guided to individual locationsAt “Orifice II” by Joe MossAn original dance piece inspired by the sculpture and Shakespeare’s use of the phrase “O” (which he uses a lot, normally in big, open emotional passages)Dancer/Choreographer – Ashley SK Davis“O” Soundscape created by Emily Schuman . At “The Crying Gia... 09/27/2020

 I began at noon today to walk the trails at Winterthur Museum and Gardens. The Museum and all the other buildings are closed, so trekkers needed to turn their attention to the great outdoors today.  I started out on a shady path leading up a hill.    Not sure I ever took note before of something that looked like wild begonias coating the forest floor,  but there they were, by the score.   Rounding the bend to see the field where the Temple folly sits, it is now surrounded by a field of Goldenrod, with a path carved through the field for access (and looking like a toy in the distance). Walking through the field, I  could hear the buzzing of insects, but the milkweed pods sat untouched. Then I spotted some orange milkweed bugs on one of the pods. The milkweed in my garden did not do well... 09/20/2020

I warn you, don't get TOO excited about this on the spot report.  I was near the Wilmington Riverfront this morning,  so I thought, "Why not see how close you can get to where Joe Biden is speaking tonight?"  The answer: They sure have a lot of those black mesh fences.  I parked north of the Chase Center by one of the riverfront restaurants and walked down, seeing they were stopping cars. I guess if I had a Planet Fitness pass (which is facing the Chase Center), they would have let me drive through.  The Wilmington police posted along the route mostly said "Hi!" or waved when I waved at them. I got past the 2 hotels on the Riverwalk, but when it came to the Westin, which is connected to the Chase Center, lots of Jersey barriers, more black fences, and guards.  I spoke to the guard in th... 08/20/2020

It seems I have been laboring under a misapprehension. When I saw a praying mantis, I thought, "How nice--they are eating bugs."Backing up--I have had a mealy bug problem with my Gerbera daisy plant.  The flowers are shriveling up and there are white bugs all over. I don't like to use insecticides, but I found an old spray can in the garage and went out to the patio where the Gerber sits on the wall. What to my wandering eyes should appear but a praying mantis, perched on a flower. "Great--he's going to eat the bugs," I thought.  So I went inside and Googled mantises. (Now this gets gross)  Those buggers kill hummingbirds, sometimes sucking their brains out. And my Gerbera is next to a honeysuckle loved by hummingbirds.  Looks like I have to move the darn plant now.  Sigh. 08/12/2020

In the spring, I had all the plants lined up for the pots on my patio. I was especially excited to place a colorful Caladium in a pot with a dark red Ipomeum (Sweet Potato Plant.) All was good for a while, then the Caladium began to wilt and appeared to pass to another plane.  But then, a few weeks ago, what should rear its brassy head, but the Caladium. Looking bold and beautiful, it began to rise out of its earth-bound plot.  I could not believe what I saw.  Well, I could believe it, because plants are known to do their own thing and in their own time.  Like a lot of people.  It's all good. 07/24/2020

I must admit, this latest effort to save my tomatoes did not cost anything. I already had this netting in the garage from some long-forgotten project.So I wound the netting around the two tomato cages and tied them to the cages with some wire. Who knows what the varmints will try next. Someone suggested that it could be a groundhog. I can't say I have seen any around here, but I did see a mole or vole the other day. Another suggestion was marigolds around the veggies. Tried that years ago and found the local slugs love marigolds. And something has been snapping off my green beans. Wonder if I should cover them with a layer of netting. Tomorrow is another day. At least my flowers don't seem to be someone's dinner. 07/08/2020

Today was the Presidential Primary in Delaware.  I was going to vote absentee, but they sent the ballot so long ago, that it got misplaced. So I had to go down to Brandywine H.S. and place a vote in person. I was impressed at the number of both volunteers and citizen voters. 3 cheers for all of you!And then I came home to face a problem on the home front. A few days ago I took a picture of a nice GREEN tomato in my garden. Then I found that it was completely gone 2 days later. Not still there with a bite taken out. GONE!  Must have been a fairly large squirrel? rabbit? something!So I looked at another green tomato, not quite as large as the first one. How to protect it?  First I wound a piece of binder wire from a bunch of broccoli. No, still not enough. Then I wrapped it in plastic wra... 07/07/2020

Actually, this is not much of a report, since it is so warm outside. I chose to stay inside and avoid the heat and occasional drizzle today and send this remotely from hiding.Luckily, the garden is doing fine on its own.  A new variety of pepper looks great--Italian Frying pepper. And the Better Boy tomatoes are still very green. But the bush beans have already provided a tiny harvest and look like there are plenty of blossoms waiting to become beans.  And the perennial lily is trying to outshine everyone. 07/01/2020

Mt. Cuba Center outside of Wilmington, Delaware has recently re-opened to the public. A friend who volunteers in the garden there invited us to visit the grounds the other day.  And yes, this is another DuPont family legacy (Lammot duPont Copeland was President of the DuPont Company), although the house is not an historic mansion, but a Colonial Revival home built in 1935. One of the most interesting areas is around the pond, which contains several varieties of pitcher plants.  The formal gardens were designed by Thomas Sears, and then in the 1950's, Marian Coffin refined the design.  By 1983, the decision was made to concentrate on wildflowers and plants of the Appalachian Piedmont, resulting in the sometimes jam-packed variety of plants seen today.  One of my favorite wildflowers is t... 06/18/2020

While looking out my back window the other day, I saw what could be considered a fortuitous sign.  There were, at one point, five goldfinches around the poppies that had finished blooming a couple of weeks before.  Watching what one of them was doing, I saw him pecking at the seed heads. Wait a minute--I thought, poppyseeds?  This old Chicagoan of Polish descent felt a sudden kinship with this bird.  I was brought up on poppyseed streudel!  Are these birds Polish?  So I (of course) looked it up on Wikipedia, and found "A goldfinch in our lives is usually a sign of good luck and fortunate opportunities coming our way. It could be an announcement of prosperity and abundance ...They are a reminder to enjoy life more and be happy for the fact we have a life."But I already know how lucky I a... 06/12/2020

I always loved blue and white and yes, I am a fan of Delftware, the tin glazed earthenware which the Dutch developed in the 15th century to satisfy the market for rare Chinese porcelains. So it is only fitting that when I noticed that my blue hydrangeas were blooming, that I brought some inside and put them in a Delftware vase, along with some spiderworts.  I did this in spite of the fact that the spiderworts are really getting on my nerves. The darn things spread their seeds all over the place and I find they are crowding out many other plants in my garden. I have been either pulling them out or snapping off their tall stems daily. But that's another story.  Enjoy the blue and white!  06/08/2020