Two Victorians

A couple of interesting houses in the West End of Hartford.

The Annual Garden Mid-Season

The annual garden at Elizabeth Park got a late start this year,

but it is coming along.

The Night Sky

On my walk last night, the moon was in the middle of an interesting cloud formation.

Not sure I captured the mystery of the feeling, but maybe this gives you an idea.

Pick Your Own Cherry Tomatoes

At The Hickories organic farm in Ridgefield, Connecticut.

Echinacea and Guests

A big Eastern tiger swallowtail butterfly spends a lot of time 

flitting from one coneflower (Echinacea) to another.

A monarch butterfly made a cameo appearance.

Bumble bees are full-season residents.

But a yellow jacket was an interloper.

A green dragonfly paid a house call.

As did a silver-spotted skipper butterfly.

And a camera-shy goldfinch (through the window)!

Day Lily Season

 

Always interesting to see the variety of day lilies in July.

The Heron Caught a Fish

On recent visits to Elizabeth Park, the great blue heron was either hiding or just sunbathing.  

But, on my most recent trip, after fifteen minutes of posing, he flew over to my side of the pond, stared at the movement in the water that indicated fish below . . .

 . . . and speared one.

Preparing to eat a fish involves some complicated juggling.  He has to maneuver the fish into

 a head first position.  This was an early move in his juggling act.

I was fiddling with my camera's controls when he lined the fish up and swallowed.  (I am SO mad at myself!)  But, I did manage to get an image when the fish was on its way down his long throat.

Bees Bees Bees

I have never seen so many fat and happy bumble bees as I saw in my visit to Lavender Pond Farm.

And a solitary silver-spotted skipper butterfly.

Lavender Pond Farm

A visit to Lavender Pond Farm in Killingworth, Connecticut, was a real treat.

Visitors generally wore masks unless they were in family groups.

The farm was crowded but everyone kept their distance.

Follow the Leader

At the rustic stone bridge in Elizabeth Park.

A Masked String Quartet

On a rare quiet afternoon in the perennial garden of Elizabeth Park, 

an appropriately masked string quartet set up and began playing. 

Quite lovely. 

Hartford Riverfront

While waiting for my car to be serviced, I walked to Riverside Park along the Connecticut River.

The Hartford skyline was south of me.

Marquis de Lafayette

So far the cancel culture mob has not figured out what is wrong with Lafayette.

He still sits astride his horse where Lafayette Street and Washington Street meet Capitol Avenue.

Bushnell Hall -- the city's principal venue for live music and theater -- is seen beyond the statue.

The Capitol is out of sight on the left and other state buildings are on the right and behind me.

Goodbye Columbus

Historical statuary is under assault all around the country.  So, last month I went past the Christopher Columbus statue in downtown Hartford to photograph it in anticipation that it would be under fire.

Called that one right.

The Capitol

Hartford is Connecticut's capital city.  I drove past the Capitol and stopped for a photograph.

I liked the way trees in Bushnell Park framed it, and the clouds were good,

but the sun was lighting the other side of the Capitol.

So, I drove to the other side.  The light on the face of the Capitol was better, 

but the framing and clouds weren't as good.

Which do you prefer?

Union Station

Union Station is the lovely brownstone railroad station in downtown Hartford, where Amtrak runs a spur line.  Hot Tomatoes had a good thirty year run at the near end before calling it quits in 2017.  

Unfortunately the most recent restaurant, a taco place called Chango Rosa, expired in March.

Times Are Changin'

For years the railroad bridge splashed a huge advertisement for a personal injury lawyer.

There is a new ad, still for a personal injury lawyer, but now it features a young female lawyer.

The Next Generation.

Byron

Byron worked for me three decades ago.  Today Byron is a pastor, owns several investment properties, and is sending his first child off to college.  Nice to see you again, Byron.

Why?

Driving on the highway, I have seen this row of brightly painted doors but I didn't know the location.  

So, on Saturday I went looking.  Found!  But, they seem abandoned.  Another mystery.