Big Things Coming !

This bud should grow into a nice crimson bloom about the size of a salad plate. These blooms open in the peak of spring and are often subject to getting smashed by a good rain storm.

Knock Knock

I love this simple folk art door knocker.

Not much Hunting in the Area

Wild turkeys have become very common in  the Hamptons. The birds are very relaxed around cars and people often enjoying a stroll along the edge of the road. They also seem to like the road when the sun has heated up.

Good Sport

There are fish out in this ocean. Fishermen go to great care to tempt fish into getting caught and ending up on our dinner table.

Light Surf

It was a gray day today with not much activity at the beach.

Curves

The dormer tucked up on top with a curved roof line is known as an Eyebrow Dormer.

Purple Invasion

This fine old cedar tree has grown a crown of wisteria.

Eased Edges

This larger home has many dormers set into a large steep roof. Similar to the dog house dormer, the architect chose to face off these dormers with a hip roof. This choice softens the form of the house. The gable roof in the center is over the entrance door to delineate that section as the point of entry.

Side by Side

In the Hamptons we get some surprising adjacency's. This fantastic English garden of tulips, lawn and perennial border roll right up to the edge of a full on salt marsh.  

Peek-A-Boo

I think this cottage with twin shed dormers just breaking the roof line is very nice. A tricky detail to build making these larger windows is very smart. Note how the side windows now align with the windows on the gable ends. This effect would be very nice from inside the rooms.

Turn in the Weather

After over six weeks without significant rain it looks like we have some coming this weekend.

Half Dormers

On this home the dormers are extensions of the front wall of the structure allowing for larger windows and more space under a low roof line.

Southampton Underground

Some parties don't know when to end!

Making More Room

Most people call this a shed dormer. It is a nice simple way to create a large open space under a roof by making the pitch of the roof more gradual in one area, thus raising the ceiling in that area.

Good Roots

The roots at the base of this tree are so massive that there are dandelions & violets growing on top of the roots.

Dormers

Dormers have become very popular feature on homes in Southampton. This home has the classic 'dog-house dormer, so named as it's form resembles a doghouse. This is a great way to get light into a long dark roof area. These dormers tend to leave a broken up interior as most of the primary roof line is in tact.

Desiger Tree

If poodles had trees they might look like this tree.

Saling in the Hamptons

The Hamptons have long been famous for great sale-ing, Hitting the weekend yard sales.

This sale by a local interior designer should have many great finds.

Check it out at 210 Downs Path, Southampton Village

Good Hunting



In a Hedged Garden

This square of daffodils is very nice. This section of the garden also has some fruit trees. But this meadow like area is mostly used to show off the daffodils each spring.

Puritan Roots

Most of the hedges in the Hamptons are of just one plant type. In England they often have hedges with a mix of plant types, maybe with a flowering view added to the mix. Here is a splash of forsythia that slipped into this classic privet hedge. For most of the year it will be hard to spot.

Lolly Pop Trees

The Bradford Pear is a popular ornamental tree in the Hamptons.

More Cottages

The winter is a god time for seeing the cottages that are lined up on Lake Agawam.

Hippity-Hop

It looks like the Herrick Hardware Easter Bunny will be all set to help me with some gardening today.

Beach Cottage

On PBS this week This Old House was showing off a beach side cottage in Rhode Island. I like this new beach cottage on Shinnecock Bay. The house has very nice windows and a super cupola.I would say they got it all right.

Bench Mark

Spring is official, the cherry blossoms are here!

Just Like Maine

North and a little bit west of Southampton Village is Big Fresh Pond. This is a classic fresh water kettle pond. On the north side of the pond Ellison Park provides public access. A family on the south side used to offer swimming lessons. Most of the ponds edge has been left natural.

Go Green

In most towns fire plugs are red, ask any dog. We used to have mostly yellow fire plugs but now I am seeing green ones about.

Maybe it all started like this.

We have lots of homes in the Hamptons that answer to summer cottage. Few are still of this classic format. With two rooms, a kitchen and bathroom I am sure this home is packed with many fine summer memories.

Yellow Splendor

This rare find is a fine example of the Daffodil Tree. The tree has a very short bloom cycle and can only be spotted in early April. I spotted this tree in bloom just off Windmill Lane.