Bluebird houses in Dunstable, MA

On Sunday afternoon we went for a nice walk in the woods along an old abandoned rail line in Dunstable, MA as part of the Arch Bridge Conservation area. This line bordered a former quarry and in that area we came across some Bluebird houses. It is an excellent example of ecological succession, since the quarry is no longer being worked shrubs and small trees are taking hold along with plenty of grasses and windflowers, a perfect habitat for bluebirds to nest.

Late bloomer

The last of my perennials came into bloom just before Hurricane Sandy blew in, my chrysanthemums or "mums" for short. These plants originated in the orient over 2000 years ago, passing through Europe on their way to the North American continent.

My favorite genre for pleasure reading are the cozy British mysteries or the classics by the grand dames: Christie, Marsh, Allingham, and Sayers. There's Miss Marple out in the garden tending to her chrysanthemums and Michaelmas daisies (Asters to you and me here in the states). These are the two famous late bloomers coming into flower in time for Michaelmas - the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel on September 29th. Hooray for these hardy plants giving us one last burst of color before winter sets in. They are inspiration for us all, it's never too late to bloom where you are planted.