November in AZ is one of our best months weather-wise – no more monsoons, lots of sunshine, cool – walking weather in the 60s but not too many flowers. The flowering bushes we you have to grow to love. We do have some gorgeous deciduous trees, but mostly we are centered in a National Forest of conifers.
They look better up close.
So today I am taking you back in time and traveling to look way back into early fall in Delaware. To help host us on the trip, I’m linking it to Cee’s Flower of the Day Challenge where you’ll love her wine-red December dahlia. Restless Jo’s Monday Walks, which has moved to her new location as Still Restless Jo. You won’t want to miss this amazing walk and a piece of cake as a reward at the end. I couldn’t skip, Photos by Jez, Fan Of… and Bushboy’s and Ju-Lyn’s Changing Seasons. All of these are fabulous challenges for your enjoyment and participation. And now on to a place with beautiful fall flowers.
#Delaware Trip Winterthur Gardens #2
In September 2016, I visited my mother’s only cousin and my oldest living relative at 90+ years old. Because of all the old links, I trashed it, but many of you did not know me in 2016, so I’m repurposing it and posting it again. These photos are pre-Cee training, so they are not edited or cropped.
A Winterthur Garden Stroll
In Winterthur Garden visit #1, we visited began our tour in the Enchanted Woods. I arrived in Delaware in early September, too late for spring flowers, and too early for fall trees. Did I enjoy it anyway?
You bet. I hope you will, too.
“Let’s start at the very beginning…A very good place to start.”
Too Many Choices!
Winterthur Garden beautifully paved paths meander for miles. I did not worry about getting lost with all these signs. – I should have!
Down by the Quarry Garden
On the first day we walked, we headed towards the Quarry Garden. We walked mostly in the shade which meant that we walked for hours in about 75-degree weather. This is heaven for me because it is 75 degrees where I live for about two hours, four days a year.
We had not walked too far when Hal informed me that when he walked with his YOUNG friends, they took off and left him to take pictures while he checked out the various benches. I was quick to take a hint, and I headed off to the Quarry. I did not want HIM to think of ME as an OLD friend.
As you can see, the gardens were not crowded. We ran into another couple out on their morning walk. A couple of families, thousands of crickets, birds, and other noise makers were there, but other than that we had the entire 1,000 acres to ourselves.
Stones are everywhere in Delaware: streets, houses, churches, fences, and pathways. The quarry must have done a lucrative business. I could not wait to get closer to the stream.
I maneuvered myself along the stone path by the water without falling one time. Since I can fall just standing still, this is quite an accomplishment. I never stand near cliffs or on tall bridges without railings.
Focus on Flowers
Age is not the reason I struggle with names of plants, in fact, names of almost anything. Details escape me. I’m too busy taking in the vista. I hope you’ll forgive me and just enjoy these summer flowers also.
The delicate purple tips fit perfectly on the mild summer day. I traveled light on this trip, so I took all these pictures with my iPhone.
The garden was more natural, not groomed like Longwood Gardens. Hal said he would rather have a job here.
The water trickled down the rocks into a larger stream eventually winding down to the quarry lake. As a child, I would have dipped my feet into the water and squished muddy sand in between my toes. I contented myself with admiring flowers.
Time slipped by quickly. I did not worry about Hal. What I really mean is that I forgot about him, but eventually I came back to reality and headed up the hill towards the Enchanted Woods where he waited on a bench watching the kids playing. As I ambled back, every flower along the path called out like a child, “Look at me, Marsha. Take my picture.” So, I did.
They did not stay segregated like they were at Longwood Gardens but mingled freely together.
Some of them looked large in the picture but do not be fooled. They were tiny.
If these were children you would rumple their heads, they’re so tiny and sweet. Since they are flowers, I let them be.
As I approached the top of the knoll, I could see Hal enjoying a bench, but I still did not hurry. He seemed to enjoy the fact that it took me so long to get back. We came back for another walk two days later.
Thanks for joining us on our seasonal stroll. Thank you, Hal for such a wonderful day.
Now it’s your turn.
Do you have a post that no longer gets any views, but has beautiful things you’d like to show the world? Instead of trashing it, try changing it up a little. The other advantage is that you can still find those pictures if you want to. Be like my Great Depression Grandma and repurpose.
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Marsha Ingrao - Always Write 
44 responses to “FOTD, Fan Of, Monday Walks, Changing Seasons: Remembering Fall”
Thanks for taking us along on your walk, Marsha 👏 What a great setting & so many summer flowers 😃
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Thanks, Jez. I took a clue from Bushboy and refurbished a post languishing in the mire of my 9 years of posts.
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Wow, that must be a lot of posts 😲
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It’s over 9 year’s worth. I love to talk!
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What a great post, Marsha. Thanks for the tour and the lovely photos.
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Thanks for the kind words, Susan.
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Beautiful flowers Marsha
That’s a great idea, repurpose old posts
I like it
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Thank you Alison. And thanks for reading and commenting. 🙂 You’re a dear. 🙂
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I love the feature on stones you have encountered – such an interesting contrast to the delicate flowers. Not something we often focus on with all the other beauties taking centre stage.
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I’ve developed a great appreciation for stones living here in Prescott where the stones rule! 🙂
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Woohoo! Thank you for sharing your very unique landscapes.
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Thank you, Ju-Lyn. Thanks for checking it out!
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What a lovely stroll through such a beautiful garden! I much prefer gardens like this that are left to their own devices to some extent rather than groomed to perfection:)
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I love both, really. I have seen a lot of “left to their own devices” and I’m NOT a fan of Johnson grass! LOL
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I don’t think I know Johnson grass?
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I’m so sorry! It’s an experience that never ends if you’ve seen it once. The roots grow to China and the blades grow in and through the stems of the roses. Scroll down to the third picture in this post. https://alwayswrite.blog/2020/09/06/in-the-garden-labor-of-love/
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Thanks for sharing that. Comments seem to be closed on that post but it was good to see you honouring local heroes like that 🙂
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Thanks, Sarah! 🙂
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Lovely garden!
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Thank you, Ute. You are one of the few people who have actually known me that long! 🙂
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♥
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This is fabulous Marsha. I am same as Hal and prefer a rambling garden to a neat and ordered garden. Lot’s of colourful flowers and scenes. I would have gone into the stream 🙂
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I may have. It was five years ago. I tend to do that sort of thing. 🙂
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I need to make a trip to Winterhur; looks like a wonderful place for a stroll…
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You would love it, my friend. I’ve been there winter, summer and fall. All are gorgeous. 🙂
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thanks for the tip!
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You’re welcome! 🙂
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I really like how you noted the way the flowers whisper and call out to you! And excellent photos of those blooms
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Winterhur Looks like a great place to visit any time of year – and good idea to revamp the post from 2016!
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Thanks so much Yvette! I thought it was better than trashing it, or just putting it back in place where no one would see it. 🙂
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I use to live nearby Winterthur some 40-ish years ago. It was always a lovely afternoon and the special exhibits extraordinary.
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Thank you for commenting. Winterthur is so beautiful. Since Hal used to work for DuPont, he has taken me to many DuPont landmarks.
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What a great walk and with the addition of flowers, you can’t go wrong 😀
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That’s what I thought, and it was just sitting in my ready to trash file. 🙂
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spectacular garden tour and loved all of your great pics up close and personal! beautiful.
💖💖💖 don’t worry about the names of the plants .. I’m happy to remember mine.. lol 💖🤣
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I recognize roses and now dahlias, hollyhocks, and a few others. 🙂
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Good enough for me!!! 💖💖💖 I love them all! 💖
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Not sure that I could even find my earliest posts, Marsha, and my photos are a lost world, but I’m very grateful to you for including me on your stroll. I love your enthusiasm for life, and for the beauty that surrounds us all. Wishing you a wonderful week ahead.
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Thanks, Jo. I wish you a wonderful holiday and winter season. I hope your weather continues to be as gorgeous as it was during your walk. 🙂
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This is a lovely post, Marsha. I loved the flowers and your comments about Hal.
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Thank you, Robbie. It was so important for me to meet him since 2011 was our first meeting. I knew his parents since his mother was my grandfather’s oldest sister and lived in our state. He had grown up and moved away when I was a small child thrilled to be sitting on his dad’s lap pulling nickels turned into dimes out of his huge ears.
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Lovely memories, Marsha
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Thanks, Robbie. 🙂
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