Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #17

Happy St. Patrick's Day, Capers! I saw lots of Irish cheer and spirit as I drove down to the shopping center to pick up our obligatory corned beef fixings. This house in particular caught my eye with its bright green lawn, door hanging, shamrocks and leprechaun. Even the garden hose is in on the celebration. Everyone enjoy this day that the Irish are so generous to share with us all. The toughness, humor, music and poetry of the Irish people continue to be a welcome addition to the American melting pot. Inniu,Éireannaigh siad Meiriceánach, agus Meiriceánaigh siad Éireannach. That is certainly a terrible translation of, "Today, the Irish are American, and Americans are Irish."

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #16

I saw this serious guy ready for some sumo action in a Caper's front yard a couple of days ago. I think he's waiting for the cherry blossoms to bloom. The azalea's in the background won't be far behind. While sumo wrestling is not the most beautiful or dainty of sports, we have the Japanese to thank for so many of our beautiful flowering trees and shrubs, including varieties of cherry and azalea. Doumo arigatou gozaimasu, Mr. sumo wrestler.

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #15

The other flowering tree that has caught my eye in the last couple of days is the saucer magnolia. These bloomed right on the heels of the redbuds. This one was still a day or two away from its peak, but full of large pink flowers. From Wikipedia, "Magnolia × soulangeana was initially bred by French plantsman Étienne Soulange-Bodin (1774–1846), a retired cavalry officer in Napoleon's army, at his château de Fromont near Paris. He crossed Magnolia denudata with M. liliiflora in 1820, and was impressed with the resulting progeny's first precocious flowering in 1826." 

I am also impressed with its precocious flowering. Next up, the cherry trees! My young weeping cherry is starting to show some pink. Forsythia is also in full color now. I'll try and get a picture of my favorite forsythia in the Cape to share with you.

I tried to find an angle without the power lines but no doing. Then I considered airbrushing them out, but I guess it wouldn't be the Cape without power lines...

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #14

Can you spot the birdie? Not too difficult in this picture, but I had a fit trying to find him with my camera lens. I could hear his exuberant song, but he was perched way up in the top of a tall tree on Gateway. I finally located him through my viewfinder.

The volume of the beautiful song that comes from such a tiny creature in incredible. I wish I could have captured his elaborate call for you. I mean, I guess I could with the video feature of my camera, but the file size of even the still shots is challenging my digital storage skills. I'm not ready to make the leap to movies.

Anyway, why take up valuable space on my computer when the sounds are readily available online. Here is a link to a website with information about this little guy, including a recording of his song. According to my handy dandy Bird Songs Bible (OK, not so handy dandy with respect to size and weight - it's a beast), the virtuoso song that caught my attention was from the throat of a common house finch. I wish this common house wife could sing so fetchingly.

Take a moment to listen to the sounds of spring in the Cape as well as enjoying the views. They are just as invigorating.

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #13

At the bottom of Summit Drive where it dead ends at Lake Claire, there is a rickety old bench not fit for sitting, and a wonderful view of Lake Claire and the Magothy River beyond it. The spit of land/beach that separates Lake Claire from the Magothy prevents it from being accessible by boat. I imagine the few homes along the banks like it that way. I also suspect it is quite shallow. Has anyone ever gone for a swim to find out? I've heard tell of kids ice skating on Lake Claire when it freezes over, but I'm sure there was none of that this winter. The next time it freezes over, I might have to give the ice skating thing a try, but not before I know how deep it is!

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #12

The redbuds are blooming! They are the first of the spectacular flowering trees to achieve their full glory in our area. I also saw a few star magnolias in bloom, but they can't quite compare to the showy redbud. My in-laws had one in their front yard that always made a lovely backdrop for Easter day pictures. Our friends on Southview had perhaps the prettiest one in the Cape until a storm took it down a year or two ago - ouch. Forsythia should be next up, bursting into yellow flames in the next few days. I saw some already popping over the weekend along with some flowering quince, I believe (looks kind of like forsythia but with fruit punch colored flowers?). It's going to start getting colorful around here!

Cape Photo of the Day - Photo #11

What better house of worship on a Cape Sunday than a sanctuary of cedars. As promised yesterday, here is my best photo of the cedar grove at the Main Beach (almost as good as Longboards Hanging from Cedars - see Photo #10). These trees are best appreciated from the ground up. I highly recommend spreading out a blanket right in the center and stretching out for a nap and a little meditation (I stretched out on the bare ground to get the picture, and it was worth it). Everyone has their own way of connecting with the universe, but for me, spirituality is often best achieved without walls.