seed pods

Tree peonies move from pristine flower to seed pod pretty quickly. I visited Long Hill Sunday afternoon to see the flowers and returned today to see them in the next stage of life.

photos! 3 gardens

Last week was rainy in southeastern Pennsylvania. Somehow visits to three beautiful gardens fit in between the raindrops. The gardens? Jenkins Arboretum in Devon, Chanticleer Garden in Wayne, and Scott Arboretum on the grounds of Swarthmore College in Swarthmore.

Photos can be seen in the gallery 3 gardens :: 2025.

tree peonies

I headed to Long Hill early this afternoon to see if the tree peonies are in bloom. They are!

Each individual flower doesn't last very long so I'm always happy to catch them in peak bloom. Since I also find the flowers interesting after they have faded I plan to visit again later in the week.

before the rain

Sometimes it makes sense to pay attention to the weather forecast. With a prediction for thunderstorms starting at 11 AM we headed to Valley Forge National Historical Park to walk early enough to almost avoid the rain.

Pre-storm clouds created an interesting sky.

2 days, 2 gardens

We walked in between raindrops, wandered in two gardens. Yesterday we visited Chanticleer Gardens and today was a first visit to the Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College.

Both gardens were delightful, providing homes for early spring flowers.

flamingo

I'm always attracted to birds wearing bright feathers.

This flamingo posed for me at the Philadelphia Zoo this morning.

azalea

Azaleas are starting to decorate the landscape with color.

I love the shades of pink in the transition of this bush from bud to flower.

dropped petals

Magnolia trees in the area are in a state of transition. Some full flowers remain while others have dropped most of their petals.

The tree continues to hold on to beauty.

tulip transition

I visited the garden of the Stevens-Coolidge House & Gardens yesterday evening as light rain fell.

I saw tulips in a state of transition. Some are still in full flower, others are fading.

wet

I headed to Maudslay State Park this afternoon hoping to walk before it rained. When I arrived I heard the rumble of thunder; I saw a jagged lightening bolt in the distance. I chose to walk, attempting to ignore the incoming rain. And yes, I did get quite wet!

It was early for azalea. I saw two bushes wearing buds and a single bush in bloom. Maybe next week...

Dogwood and other flowering trees were blooming and there were several varieties of daffodils still in prime condition.

spring green

Small leaves are emerging on broadleafed trees, showing a light green color.