Plant ID Needed

 I believe this is a weed but maybe not.  Anyone recognize it?

What about this?

This is not!

A Visit

Friends from Maryland came to visit on Monday afternoon and stayed until Wednesday morning. We haven't seen them since moving to NH in 2020.

Fran and Ray

They got to experience the Memorial Day program here in town including the hot dog lunch.  We then took then to VINS (Vermont Institute of Natural Science) to see the turtles, raptors, owls, and other birds unable to survive in the wild after being injured. Sorry no photos of those, but there's a wonderful canopy walkway there that starts on the ridge, so no climbing to get to it, and heads into the trees as the land falls away below your feet.

Eventually we were 40 feet in the air. There's a web to experience and we designated Dan to climb in.  No coaxing required.

Getting out was trickier than getting in.

The walkway then leads to a tree house - 100 steps up! Fran opted out.

The view of the Quechee River was stunning.

After a thirst stop outside the entrance gate, we headed east and took a walk onto the bridge over the Quechee River Gorge.  We could hear these falls from the treehouse.

Then it was on to Lebanon for dinner at the Three Tomatoes Restaurant.

A wonderful day was had by all.

Look at These Faces in the Garden

 

One thing that surprised me about gardening here in NH, was how long pansies live.  In MD, pansies don't survive the summers.  Here in NH I can move pansies to the garden and they live all summer and come back each spring.  I think some of them are hybridizing if that's possible, because there are some mixtures that weren't there last year.

They are a delight!

Memorial Day 2023

 Though today is the federally celebrated Memorial Day now, our town won't be celebrating until the 30th. Sunday the 28th we had a chance to attend a celebration in Norwich, VT because Dan now plays tuba in a community band that was booked to serenade from the Norwich Green gazebo.

The parade from the cemetery was late starting.

They gathered then at the Town Hall memorials.

Taps was played and a 21 gun salute.

Then the band played.

Free hot dogs, chips and drinks were served by the Boy Scouts.

A nice dignified celebration.