Cherry Blooms

The famous cherry trees around the tidal basin in Washington DC are double cherries with complex full blooms. This cheery tree in my garden has simple single blooms, I chose this version as it has a more vertical growth pattern and does a good job of blocking out my neighbor.

Enchanted Cottage

This fantastic home is set in the woods not far from National Golf Links. Both structures have strong ties to Old England. The curved roof detail on this home captures the magic of a thatch roof.

Green Velvet

The greens and adjoining lawns looked mystic in the light of another day of spring fog.

Civic Duty

The village of Southampton built this fine new police station. The building was designed by the architect Ric Stott . The structure has some very nice arts and craft style details reminiscent of work by turn of the century architect Grosvenor Atterbury who was also active in this area.

Isolated Weather Pattern

Sometimes the South Fork has weather all it's own. Today it was clear, sunny and mid 80s in the city. Out east the fog rolled in from the ocean and we did not get warmer than the mid 60s. This field near the ocean shows a layer of mist hovering in the air.

Nice Solution

I think some areas of older homes are mixed about how they feel about solar panels on roofs. If the street front of your homes faces south, it can be difficult to hide the panels and have them effective. This home took the smart solution of placing the panels on the pool house tucked in the back yard.

Where to Start ?

HAPPY EASTER !

What a Stinker

This bright leafy green plant is often the first to show in a woodland bog. The plant is Skunk Cabbage, if you break or bruise a leaf you will know why it got that name.

Accessory Structure

This fine two story building has a multitude of functions, parking garage, artists loft even a root cellar. For years passers by had a clear view of a large canvas on the easel set in the big window. The complex roof line is exceptional and I think worth note.

Planning Ahead

Spring bulbs take a bit of planning. If you do not plant the bulbs in the fall, you will not have blooms in the spring. Last fall I tried for more bulbs planted into the ivy in the back part of the yard. The squirrels had other plans and yanked them all up. These daffodils survived, hid in the main garden.I plant them near day-Lillie's so the remaining greens are less obvious when they get messy after blooming.

State of the Art

The Halsey family has been farming their lands here from before there was a New York State. In the 90's they added these state-of-the-art green houses from Holland to the farm on Deer Field Road. It has been a raw cold spring this year, enjoying all the blooms and the warmth of a green house was nice this afternoon.

Future Color

My friend Tom has an exceptional garden that he has designed and maintained. I asked him how I should be cutting back my climbing rose. After talking about cutting he explained that if the branches are trained latterly you will get more blooms. The rose wants to bloom at the top of each stem and this confuses the plant into making more blooms.

Get a Bigger Rock

This rock on Conscience Point has been upgraded after the first memorial walked off.

Blast Off

This roadside riot of color in on Head of Pond Road in Water Mill. After a dark spring the burst of color is very welcome.

Handy Horde

This waterfront high rise accommodates 36 residents in 18 premiunm units. The location features the finest in water side dining with a rich selection of invertabrates.

Wild and Crazy

Forsythia can grow a lot of different ways, some ends up trimmed into firm shapes, other is left to go wild. I liked this mount in the wild form growing in a thicket on Towd Point Road.

Food Trends

There was a time when eating oysters was a BIG DEAL on Long Island, so big that our train station is decorated with oyster shells.

First Green

The willows here along the edge on Mecox Bay are one of the first trees to green up in the spring.

Hotbed of Controversy

Today it was 84 degrees in the city, but the fog rolled in out here and we did not beak 55. The construction of this very large home on the ocean in Sagaponac was a big deal at the time, now that the property has grown in and it does not seem to be such a big deal.

Horse-Country Invasion

Driving along Edge of Woods Road in Water Mill the road passes through an extensive horse farm. Horseness has grown a lot in Hamptons over the past twenty years, maybe as an aside to the Hampton Classic Horse Show. This field has been taken over by about a dozen deer. I expect they will move off when the expected tenants arrive with the warmer weather.

Eastend Brownstone

This fine early American house in the Conscience Point area of North Sea has a fine Brownstone foundation. I have seen older homes with grey field stone foundations and some with brick foundations. I was interested where Brownstone comes from. 'The Hummelstown Quarry is the largest provider of brownstone on the east coast', this quarry is located near Harrisburg PA. Brownstone is a from of Sandstone.

The Whole Place

The view from the bluff in North Sea includes the Peconic Bay and Robins Island. Robins Island is a 435 acre private island  between the north and south forks of the eastend. The island's deed goes back to 1615 and includes riparian rights. Most beaches in New York State allow public access to the high tide mark. The beaches and near water at Robins Island are private property predating the state of New York.

High Top

Most of the Eastend is very flat. There is a big bluff where North Sea Harbor opens into the Peconic Bay. This large sandy bluff is know as Holms Hill and is visible from much of the bay, a helpful reference point when boating. Houses set on this hill have a stunning view out over the Bay. The photo of the beach with two rocks from my earlier posting is from the base of this bluff.

Cold Tolerant

Some plants are more cold tolerant than other. Basil can not take any cold. Placement can also help as low spots can hold the cold air. These pansies are planted id in wide pots up on a garden wall. These plants are so alpine in nature that they did not seem to mind the lumps of frozen earth in the potting soil when I planted them.

Traffic Patterns

Main Street runs north south through the center of Southampton Village. Taking the road north the main artery becomes North Sea Road, with North Main branching off as a minor road. Further north Noyac Road splits off North Sea Road. Most traffic takes Noyac Road in the direction of Sag Harbor. The remaining section of North Sea Road becomes a quiet back water and ends at this fine bay beach. 

Expansion Plan

I have seen homes like this referred to as a 'telescope houses'. The house looks like you might just slide the smaller sections into the larger sections like a telescope. The center section was probably built first and the appendages added later. The formal front door has a very nice transom light and side lights.

Starting Point

This trail of crushed stone leads out to the tip of Conscience Point. The point is a fine walk jutting out into North Sea Harbor. The spot is claimed as the first spot that English settlers from Lynn, MA landed in New York State in 1640. The town of Southold, NY does not share this view of history.

Twin Trees

This home sports a pair of Cryptomerias flanking each side of the front door like sentries. The Cryptomeria is a Japanese Cedar tree, often sold as shrubs, it is easy to forget that they can grow into large trees. I like this tree a lot and have made a point of planting one at my home.

Secret Forest

This little know grove of redwoods are located in a quiet corner of East Sea Neck off Cedar Towd Road just north of the Mid-Hampton Peaks area. The state DEC does not encourage people to frequent the area as it is also home to the giant tiger salamander.  These large salamanders many over eight feet long are a rare and endangered species, larger than Komodo dragons, they can also be dangerous to people.