Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Northern Lights, Tomato Worms & Old Westbury Gardens

Hello Blogger Friends!  How's that for a post title?

I don't have any pics to post for Bloomin Tuesday this week.  I have been too busy battling the dreaded tomato worms in the veggie garden.  Those things give me the willies.  I hadn't been out to my yard in a few days and could see from the deck the other day that one of the tomato plants was looking pretty stick-like so I have been in battle mode ever since. 

Anyway, I just saw a news blurb that the Northern Lights may be visibile in the skies to the north over New England tonight and tomorrow night and wanted to share for anyone who will be able to see them.

http://wbztv.com/local/northern.lights.weather.2.1840062.html

Can you believe I let Hubby take my camera to Vermont on his latest hiking adventure?  Maybe it was meant to be - he's in Vermont and may have a better view than me here in Mass.  Here's wishing for clear skies!

I recently came across photos from the Pancreatic Cancer Walk that me, hubby and the kiddies did with hubby's family in 2007 in honor of hubby's Mom (who I never got the honor of meeting.  She passed away from Pancreatic Cancer 4 months before we started dating).  You can't tell from these pics, but I believe there were several thousand people here.

This place is absolutely breathtaking so I thought I would post some pics in place of my regular Bloomin Tuesday post.  The walk wound it's way through the grounds of the mansion.  I'm no world traveler, but this is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.  Old Westbury is a mansion in Long Island, NY.  Here's the blurb from the website:

Old Westbury Gardens, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is the former home of John S. Phipps, his wife, Margarita Grace Phipps and their four children. Completed in 1906 by the English designer, George A. Crawley, the magnificent Charles II-style mansion is nestled amid 200 acres of formal gardens, landscaped grounds, woodlands, ponds and lakes. Westbury House is furnished with fine English antiques and decorative arts from the more than fifty years of the family's residence.

I was here before I really got obsessed with gardening and before I got my good camera so these aren't the best pics.  If I went there now, I'd take about 500 pictures:









Looking at this next photo, in the distance on the other side of the pond you can vaguely see structure.... that is the pool pictured above from the gazebo in the woods.  Yeah, I could definitely live here:












7 comments:

Gatsbys Gardens said...

What a life that must have been on a property such as this. Good luck with those tomato worms. I haven't seen them in my garden in several years. You are going to have to get another camera!

Eileen

Diana LaMarre said...

I love that fist garden with the tiny grass border. Beautiful! I don't know if you have noticed, but I really like grass borders!

Your are a wonderful wife to let husband take your camera to Vermont on his latest hiking adventure. I hope I never have to make that decision! LOL. Lucky for me, my husband knows zip about digital cameras and would never even ask to take it.

Karen said...

What a grand garden! Even though it is way beyond what most people could ever dream of, isn't it fun to tour places like that? We've gotten many good ideas (downsized tremendously!) from gardens we've toured. Now I have some more! Thank you! Karen

The Idiot said...

Tomato worms? What the hell are tomato worms?

Bloody hell, I've just found out about cabbage moth, and now you hit me with this. I need a drink...

Anonymous said...

Wow Tracy, that is one fabulous garden. I'd love to visit there sometime. The flowers all seemed to be in shades of pink and purple, like a theme. I'm so glad you agree with me about summer, because there are so few of us around here. Everyone moans and groans over the heat and humidity, forgetting how long and cold winter is. I can't even stand to see photos of snow in the summer!

Bub said...

Tomato worms - another very good reason for me not to do stuff in the garden.

Diane at My Cottage Garden said...

Lovely garden tour, Tracy. I've also been busy, so haven't posted anything for a while. I will try to post some in the next few days though. I'll look to see if you post some August pictures soon.