Denise Goldberg's blog

Friday, May 31, 2024

painted

As I walked in the Strawberry Banke community garden in Portsmouth on Wednesday I saw a bearded iris that looked like a painting. Its center petals were yellow while the outreaching bottom petals wore a light violet with an edge of brown.

What a beautiful flower!

bearded iris

Monday, May 27, 2024

morning iris

The perennial garden at the Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens is a home to bearded iris.

My first iris-seeking visit to Stevens-Coolidge this past Friday evening showed lots of buds but only a few flowers in bloom. When I headed to the garden early this morning I found many of them in full bloom.

I love this one wearing pure purple!

bearded iris

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

purple

A bearded iris shows off several shades of purple.

I've always been fascinated by the shape and color of this intricate flower.

bearded iris

Tuesday, May 21, 2024

bright

Azalea and rhododendron in Maudslay State Park have started to bloom. I headed there yesterday, walking through a symphony of colors.

flame azalea

Sunday, May 19, 2024

tree peonies

The tree peonies at Long Hill are starting to bloom.

Friday's visit gifted me with flowers from a few plants; according to the master gardener more should follow this week. Yes, I will visit again soon!

tree peonies

Wednesday, May 15, 2024

photos! Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Monday's visit to the botanical gardens in Boothbay, Maine was well worth the drive.

I enjoyed walking through the gardens and down the trails, enjoying the spring flowers and the trolls.

tulip

To see more photos, click here to jump to the gallery Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens :: 2024.

Tuesday, May 14, 2024

bleeding hearts

The shape of a bleeding heart flower shouts the origin of its name.

bleeding heart flower

Monday, May 13, 2024

trolls in the garden

Today I visited the trolls at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. It's a bit of a haul for an out-and-back visit but I needed a change of pace.

Five giant trolls are scattered across the property, created by Danish artist Thomas Dambo. They seem to be quite friendly.

This is Soren, who sticks up for the BRANCHES of the tree.

A description of him from a sign in the garden:

Soren is a very curious troll; his head is always turning and twisting, searching for places ever higher. He dreams about drifting around on a cloud in the sky, and when the wind is blowing, he loves to celebrate with a dance.

Soren, who sticks up for the BRANCHES of the tree

If you'd like to visit the trolls yourself you can find information here.

Sunday, May 12, 2024

dreamy

Soft clouds decorate the sky about the (tidal) Merrimack River at the north end of Plum Island.

view from the north end of Plum Island

Thursday, May 09, 2024

dogwood

As I walked in the garden I looked up.

I saw dogwood in bloom. It was wearing shades of pink, highlighted against a bright background.

dogwood

Monday, May 06, 2024

listen...

The ocean was loud today.

I could hear the crashing waves as soon as I arrived, even with a buffer of sand dunes between me, the beach, and the ocean. It was a wonderful day to walk by the sea, to look, to listen.

approaching low tide, Plum Island

north on Plum Island