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Finding Spring in the Snow: Happiness is the Color of Daffodils
Read moreDaffodils in Early Spring With their creamy yellow centers surrounded by snow-white petals, Daffodils bring smiles of joy and unbridled happiness in anticipation of spring. Saturday and I’m dilly-dallying the day away. Frivolously, I might add, and contentedly I must add, for I am alone with she who loves and adores me. Just the two […]
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Happy Highlights: Newborn Kittens Video!
Read moreWelcome to my journals! So good to see you here. I am “Most Beloved,” she who lives in the big house at Gardens at Effingham. I write a great many of the stories here, recording my observations, snapping photos, and keeping a daily journal about the gardens. My journals are my sketchbook where I keep […]
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A Photo Gallery of Midwest Gardens in Bloom
Read moreCelebrate the Seasons through Flowers At Gardens at Effingham, we celebrate spring, summer, winter, and fall through the joy of our perennial gardens. Enjoy the gardens in full bloom through this photo gallery of the seasons. Spring Beauty Spring and summer bring a spectacular display of early, mid, and late blooming flowers, shrubs, and trees: […]
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Seeing the Gardens: A Cat’s Eye View
Read moreSeeing the Gardens: A Cat’s Eye View …Says She, Making a List Doves in the ground applesYellow and red chrysanthemums Orange Canna Lillie still bloomingLilirope (lily turf) blooming. Birds—little birds and songbirds—bathing in the water garden fallsChipmunk? Not yet, though perfect day for sunningSquirrels? NoWhite moths, YesYellow Goldfinches? Now brown Apples groundedThough still some red […]
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The Cat, Considering Fall, Wists Melancholy
Read moreFall Brings Melancholy and Reflection Fall brings melancholy and reflection. Earth, plants, trees, and flowers all begin to prepare for whatever journey life intends for them. Seeds scatter, birds migrate, bumble bees still cover themselves in pollen from flowers still blooming. Lavender is blooming again, still a dark purple, still vibrant and healthy, but fewer […]
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The Cat Writes a Poem-A Cat Tale for Spring
Read moreFrom the Journals of Most Beloved- Spring Journals A mid-spring’s day, a perfect day, a day neither hot nor cold; exactly as I like it Watching birds. Robin. 2 mourning doves. A small song sparrow. Courtship of the mourning doves. Choosing a nesting spot. The intentional delivery of a well-chosen site, one safe and out […]
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Happy Spring and Artful Blooms! A Poem by the Cat
Read more-by Most Beloved Celebration in Spring Blooms A Poem by the Cat Celebration in Spring Blooms by Most Beloved The serviceberries opened their white blossoms this week. A gentle breeze scatters their petals and airborne, they sift and drift down, joy in their flight, celebration in their journey. Most Affectionately Yours, Most Beloved
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A Mother’s Day to Remember-Cali Cat Has Kittens
Read moreMother’s Day Surprise A glorious May Mother’s Day, replete with brilliant blue skies and wisps of sun-drenched clouds, became gardens requiring enormous clean-up once the storm had passed. We had walked in the mid-afternoon, savoring the sun and remarking on the cerulean blue sky. But we had no longer returned home before the skies grew […]
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Most Beloved’s Wish List for Spring: “David Austin Roses-A Photo Gallery of English Roses”
Read moreSpring Planning (and Wishing and Wanting More Roses) It’s that time of year all over again where I’m curled up fireside, nestled on the pillow in the basket near the hearth. Snow, ice, and now gusty winds are not my cup of tea, so I’m here ruminating about what roses we need in the Gardens […]
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From the Journals of Most Beloved-Dreaming of Roses
Read moreSomewhere between here and there– Autumn in the Midwest November now-Late fall, crunchy leaves, shades of muted yellows and browns, trees standing stark against this November gray. In the midst of a dreary rain on a late fall afternoon, one must dream forward to an invincible spring, one where everywhere the gardens awaken. Only a […]
Gardens at Effingham: where cats write the tales
Gardens at Effingham 