flea

We spent the week in Annapolis MD (briefly, for my grandfather's 90th) and Cape Cod.

The Good:
Swimming lessons at the beach, small group, with teachers who are challenging, but good at motivating (quoth Casper!). Both kids learned a lot.

Whale watch off Provincetown, with very frisky humpbacks, at sunset.

Visit to New Bedford historic district and the very nice whaling museum.

Flying our kite at sunset at Nobska Beach.

The familiar places: drawbridge and ferry, Candy Ice Cream (a store), Pie in the Sky, swimming out to the jumping rock with the kids for the first time, seeing LuSeal and Bumper at the aquarium, measuring the kids on the wall where my first height marker is at age 2.

The Bad:
Waking up at 2:30am the day we left, and being up continuously until the end of the birthday party that night.

It was ridiculously humid, even for the Cape, and fairly warm to boot. Swimsuits hung in the sun at noon were not dry by dusk.

There was some very dubious pork sausage involved in one night's dinner.

Dillo's fairly new "beanie boo" tiger got left on our final airplane flight when he fell asleep. Luckily this $6 guy was easily replaced on Monday morning, and Dillo took the situation well.

The Ugly:
The usual problems that might be expected when one vacations with one's mother, in a house one's mother owns.

Pondering the possibility of doing same for three weeks in a row next summer, so the children could attend the Children's School of Science.

Last night we went to Elmo's. The family in the booth next to us had a daughter of perhaps 5, named Evelyn. Their 10 month old son was named Paul, which was in fact a hot contender for Dillo's name. As if that wasn't enough, as we left, I heard a voice calling "Evelyn! Get in the car!" from across the parking lot. Yep, another family, this time with a daughter maybe 7.

Prior to last night, the only child-Evelyn I'd ever heard of was a little girl just Casper's age whom we met at a party a couple of years ago. It was a little strange.

I have received my John Scheepers/van Engelen bulb catalogs in the mail (excellent prices for bulk, especially!), so am deep in fantasy-garden mode. I realized that my mother has a garden in Cape Cod what needs plantings, so if I make some recommendations, she may follow them!

For the (tiny, part shade part sun, good old soil) front yard: Some taller species and Kaufmannia tulips: T. ophanidea flava, T. marjoletti, The First. Good old daffs like Actaea or Pheasant's Eye, more King Alfred and Mount Hood, plus tazettas Avalance and Falconet. Maybe some real tulips: I especially love Angelique (a double late), Apricot Impression - heck, there are pages and pages of great tulips. One can hardly choose. Bigger crocus here: c. vernus Jeanne d'Arcm Twilight, Yellow Mammoth.

For the side (basically foundation plantings along a porch and next to a glassed-in below-porch greenhouse type room): I'd do daffodils and daylilies. I like Hyperion and Happy Returns; I am less wild about orange daylilies and HATE pink ones; wee ones like the ubiquitous Stella d'Oro wouldn't be appropriate. For daffodils, in this context I'd want a clumped mix of standard classics: King Alfred, Mount Hood, Marieke.

For the bed in back: I'm thinking rock garden type things. It's on a slope, facing south and east and with good sun, probably pretty well-drained. So miniature daffodils, species tulips, grape hyacinth, dwarf iris, and crocus. Tulips: I could love almost anything here. I especially love T. bakeri Lilac Wonder, T. humilis Persian Pearl, T. linifolia, T. saxatilis. Daffs: Little Gem, Topolino, Segovia, Hawera, Baby Moon. Crocus: C. tommasinianus Barr's Purple or Lilac Beauty, c. crysanthus Prince Claus and Cream Beauty. Rock Garden Iris: i. reticulata Pixie and Clairette; i. cycloglossa. Muscari armeniacum and M. neglectum (best name evar). Dutch Iris: Blue Magic, Carmen, Rosario.

For around the edges of the lawn, especially against the fence/hedge next to the Kellys': peonies and heirloom species lilies. I really only like double peonies. Available cheaply are: Bunker Hill, Dinner Plate, Festiva Maxima, Raspberry Sundae. The lilies are average 4 feet and multiflowering, with pendant blooms. I like Black Beauty, l. speciosum album and rubrum. L. citronella and davidii are lovely if I can wrest myself away from the whole pink thing I have going here.