DougPhoto's Blog

While biking around Owasco Lake I stopped at Emerson Park. Glad I did. There at the head of the walkway leading from the pavilion to the lakeshore was the fountain garden in bloom. For the last several years due to budgetary constraints the park has been underdeveloped. But as this photo shows this year the park gardeners have brought back the beauty.

Wednesday while biking through the city I stop at Hoopes Park. Glad I did. There at the entrance were two parallel beds of canna lilies. Standing as sentries at a gateway they formed an impressive appearance.

Hoo
pes Park Entrance

Canna Lily

Canna Lily 

Yesterday while biking through the Town of Owasco came upon this deer grazing under a crabapple tree in the front yard of 50 Hazelhurst Avenue. The deer seemed as surprised to see me as I was him. He was kind enough to pose for me.

Yesterday while walking pass William H. Seward park two lily-like plants caught my eye. Glad they did. There in the corners of the flower bed surrounding Seward's statue were two hostas that would make Austrian botanist Nicholas Thomas Host proud.

William H. Seward Park

Northeast corner

Southeast Corner

Hosta flower

Yesterday after exchanging books at Seymour Library I exited by way of the recently dedicated Charles B. Goldman garden. Glad I did. There in the northwest corner was blooming a magnificent thistle.

Charle
s B. Goldman Garden

Red Horse-Chestnut tree

Flower of the Red Horse-Chestnut

While checking out books at Seymour Library the librarian mentioned that I should drive by her home and take a glimpse at her red horse-chestnut tree. Glad I did. There near the curb stood the tree in full bloom.

Wonder if this buckeye beauty brings a feeling of good luck to all who glance upon it. Know that I left smiling.

This morning took an alternate route for my walk. At a crossroad noticed an overgrown yard had been cleared. Glad I did. There now uncovered stood a stunning, small tree. On this one’s breath is visible spring morning, its long pendulous clusters of sunny, yellow, pea-sized flowers hung still.

Once home research identified it as a Laburnum tree, poetically named the “golden chain tree”. The web site also noted that the small pea pods contain cytisine, an alkaloid that is toxic to children, adults, and livestock if eaten.

This morning on the way to the Memorial Day parade two large blossoming trees stood out in front of me. Stopped to stare. Glad I did. There is front of a quaint steel gray cedar shake bungalow were two mammoth horse chestnut trees.

If you are as old as I am, you might remember collecting the chestnuts in the fall and using them as slingshot ammo. Or perhaps recall the girls using them to fashion necklaces.

For years this old-fashioned flowering shrub graced the front yard of my boyhood home. Several years before my parents moved on a landscaper removed the bushes.

Yesterday going for the evening newspaper a billowing American flag caught my attention. Glad it did. There along the front porch walkway were three spireas. Cascading from their graceful, arching branches these self-reliant plants were displaying their delicate flowers.

Walking to the corner in midafternoon looked into a neighbor’s yard. Glad I did. There in the partial shade by the front porch was a bleeding heart with all white flowers.

Hundreds of patrons visit our library daily. Wonder how many take the time to stop and look into the gardens. Glad I did. This rhodendrun bush is just inside the brick wall border.