Sunrise at Lighthouse Beach

Sunrise at Lighthouse Beach
Originally uploaded by ChathamGardens

I hoped to get down to the Lighthouse earlier then I did to get a picture of the Lighthouse with the light of the beam visible against the earlier sky. But I also realized that the air was much too clear and the reflection I was seeking was just that, the light reflecting off of air particles, probably early morning ice crystals. I had captured this about a month ago, totally unexpected, and was hoping to get a similar picture from a better angle. Fortunately, there will be many more mornings watching the sunrise at the Lighthouse.

Here is the picture that I had taken in August.

Chatham Light just before sunrise

Chatham Light just before sunrise
Originally uploaded by ChathamGardens

The lighthouse was a very pretty sight today at dawn.

July Sunrise

July Sunrise
Originally uploaded by ChathamGardens

It has been a long time since I have enjoyed the sunrise, mostly because the weather has not cooperated but also because the sunrise is so outrageously early this time of year. Today it was at 5:12a and the best pictures are often the ones taken at least 30 minutes before the sun actually reaches the horizon.

Well, today was the perfect combination of excellent weather and a dose of insomnia. When I woke up at 3:00a I watched the moon setting outside of Chatham Gardens - it was too near the actual set time to get the camera set up, so I made myself a travel mug of espresso and headed down to Lighthouse Beach.

I was not disappointed. If you click on the picture I included in this posting you will reach my Flickr site with a few more pictures of another beautiful sunrise in Chatham

June 09 Peony

June 09 Peony
Originally uploaded by ChathamGardens

Growing advice for peonies tell you not to cut more then a third of your flowers in any one year, mainly because of the leaves that are lost to the plant with the cut flowers. These leaves are essential to the peony if it is to make its food reserves.

Fortunately this year my peonies are blooming in abundance and taking a flower or two from several different plants do not pose a threat to the ongoing health of the plant.

The gentle sweet scent of these magnificent blooms are gracing the inside of Chatham Gardens and will be a beautiful bouquet for the next couple of weeks.

Today was a beautiful, bright, sunny day here on Cape Cod and I was thrilled to find that the Peony show had indeed begun. Several of these magnificent beauties greeted me this morning as I enjoyed my coffee on the front porch. There are so many more buds to come, both in the front of the house and in the back that I am sure this show will have a wonderfully long run. I still marvel at the serendipity that brought me to live in this amazing place, my Chatham Gardens.

June 09 Chatham Gardens

June 09 Chatham Gardens
Originally uploaded by ChathamGardens

Chatham Gardens continues to flourish this spring with all the beauty that nature (and a very adept landscaper) can provide. If you click on the picture it will take you to the Flickr site with lots of pictures of what is/has been blooming and growing at Chatham Gardens over the last two months. But pictures only tell part of the story, for the rest of the saga you must visit in person.

Chatham Gardens is Blooming

Many of my lilacs are now in their 4th year or fifth year of bloom at Chatham Gardens and each year I look forward with great anticipation to their magnificent, though much too brief show. When I open the window near my desk, the scent of lilacs fills my room and I find myself just breathing deeply to to take in the sweetness of these lovely flowers. Maybe you can smell them, too?