Doodads all over the place

Posted by msjadeli on May 16, 2023

The new banner features two gifts my sons and daughter in-law gave me for Mother’s day. The thing that looks like a house on the stump is a butterfly house from older son. About 2 feet to the right is that beautiful orange volunteer that draws butterflies from near and far. The gardening frog is my younger son, his wife, and granddaughter. All of them signed a card, even the baby. The smiling sun is from a long-time friend of mine from a few years back.

Where do I begin. I guess on Saturday, when we all met up over at Blandford Nature Center. No time to get fancy with clickable captions or I would never get this post done.

moss roof with dogwood at blandford 051323 — one moss roof on visitor center please notice the dogwood in glorious full bloom

resized american toad at blandford 051323 — The critters that stay at the nature center cannot be released into the wild for various reasons. This American Toad looks like his/her eye is messed up. What a cutie!

resized turtle submerged at blandford 051323 — Not sure what species of turtle he/she is but this is a shot while the turtle is submerged. About half of the 2 dozen or so critters at the nature center are inside at any one time. They are rotated to outdoor enclosures so they don’t get too bored.

resized large felled oak at blandford 051323 — impossible to show the scale but this is a HUGE tree that has been cut down (I hope for a good reason!)

Yesterday I decided to take a drive to Saugatuck to take pics at The Felt Mansion/Estate. I’m never disappointed when I go there.

resized felt mansion tree 1 051523 — The main reason for visiting was to get pics of this tree, which is about 100 years old. It was a baby when the mansion was built. The black maple has seen hard times but it’s still going strong.

resized felt mansion tree 3 051523 — close-up of the trunk. You’ve seen pics of her here before.

resized felt mansion pond fountain 051523 — I walked the walkway out to the center of the pond and laid on one of the benches in the sun for awhile. Nobody else around. Perfect peace!

resized blossoms floating in fountain felt mansion 051523 — Could anything be more evidence of god. Nature’s art. Blossoms floating in the fountain.

resized planter greyscale felt mansion pond walkway 051523 — one of the planters in the center of the pond where the fountain is. I love the textures and made it greyscale.

resized plant at felt 051523 — not sure what this is but it is gorgeous! This is growing under Lady Felt’s window

resized lady felts window 051523 — Lady Felt’s window, the one that looks over the pond. I can’t help but notice the fuzziness here and there in the image. None of the other pics taken there have it.

Now on to today, taken about an hour ago.

resized old lilac bush 051623 — lilac bush/tree in full bloom.

resized lilacs closeup 051623 — blossoms close up

resized strawberries in tub recently weeded 051623 — tub of strawberries, recently weeded and fertilized

resized tomatoes planted 051623 — just planted (DEEP) heirloom Mortgage Lifter variety tomatoes. Where will I put the 30 some other plants???

resized witch hazel 051623 — 9 of the 10 witch hazel look like this one. something is nibbling at the leaves but nothing major at this time.

resized witch hazel new growth 051623 — the 10th witch hazel. The top looks dead and I was worried, but today I see it is sprouting from the base. Yes!

resized iris and apple trees 051623 — iris full of grass but looking good with apple tree (and mown field) as background. the iris grow around most of the concrete structure where the chipmunks have made base.

18 Comments Add yours

ghostmmnc says:

May 16, 2023 at 3:34 pm

Your yard is so interesting with all the plants and trees. I’ll bet the lilac smells so good.
I seem to remember the mansion place. Very pretty there. What do you figure makes that one photo fuzzy in spots? Maybe moisture on the camera lens from the water fountain? 🙂 (or something else… )

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1. msjadeli says:
  
  May 16, 2023 at 3:38 pm
  
  Thanks, Barbara. The mansion is said to be haunted by Lady Felt. No, not moisture from the fountain as that pic was taken after the pic of the flowers under her window. I think it is her presence. Also, as I looked up at another window, the curtains were moving almost as if a fan or A/C was on, but why would that be on when it was low 60’s outside? Maybe all innocent but….
  
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  1. ghostmmnc says:
    
    May 16, 2023 at 5:48 pm
    
    That’s kind of what I was thinking. I bet her spirit is still hanging around. Cool you saw the curtains moving, too. 🙂
    
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    1. msjadeli says:
      
      May 16, 2023 at 7:57 pm
      
      🙂 I know you know about these things.
      
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      1. ghostmmnc says:
        
        May 17, 2023 at 10:40 am
        
        Yep! 🙂
        
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christiansmusicmusings says:

May 16, 2023 at 6:19 pm

Great pictures, Lisa. I always enjoy you doodads! That maple tree at the Felt Mansion/Estate is one majestic tree! I also like you clip of the fountain and I’m glad you stood dry walking over that narrow bridge leading to it! 🙂

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1. msjadeli says:
  
  May 16, 2023 at 7:59 pm
  
  Christian, I’ve been too nervous to walk out there any other time. This time it was like the fear disappeared. It’s a beautiful place and that tree is the only one left of all that they planted when the mansion was first built on the terraces. Thank you, and glad you like the pics 🙂
  
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memadtwo says:

May 16, 2023 at 7:32 pm

So much beauty! And magic too. (K)

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1. msjadeli says:
  
  May 16, 2023 at 8:04 pm
  
  It is a tiny piece of paradise that I’m blessed to call home.
  
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  1. memadtwo says:
    
    May 17, 2023 at 8:33 am
    
    And I’m glad you share it with us.
    
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Badfinger (Max) says:

May 16, 2023 at 10:27 pm

I love the tree…that is so cool. It does like it’s been hit a few times but it’s strong.

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1. msjadeli says:
  
  May 16, 2023 at 10:32 pm
  
  When I see the “split” at the top and the power lines near by, I really hope some azzholes from the power company didn’t do that. But looking at the trunk I think it got hit by lightning at some point. Yes, it feels and looks very strong yet. May it live another hundred or more years…
  
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  1. Badfinger (Max) says:
    
    May 16, 2023 at 10:44 pm
    
    Oh I didn’t see the power lines or didn’t pay attention…my first thought was lightning but your explanation is more likely.
    
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    1. msjadeli says:
      
      May 16, 2023 at 10:45 pm
      
      I wish someone would be around there once in awhile who has some history with the place. I have questions I’d like to ask.
      
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      1. Badfinger (Max) says:
        
        May 16, 2023 at 10:46 pm
        
        Yea that would be interesting to see what happened with that…the place would have a lot of history.
        
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Sadje says:

May 17, 2023 at 12:25 am

Lovely pictures Li.

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1. msjadeli says:
  
  May 17, 2023 at 2:52 pm
  
  Thank you ❤
  
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  1. Sadje says:
    
    May 17, 2023 at 7:02 pm
    
    My pleasure, always
    
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