Monday, February 21, 2011

Kingwood by the Numbers - Countdown - Eight Days

 William H. Krekler was a native Ohioan born in 1900.  An enthusiastic hybridizer who grew peonies for pleasure, not commercial sale, his donations created Kingwood's original collection.  Shown below are pictures, taken in the garden last year, highlighting EIGHT of his varieties. 

Golly
Japanese Peony  1966
  
Illini Jubilee
Single Peony  1965







Jessie
Japanese Peony  1965
 


Karen Gray
Japanese Peony  1965
 
Orlando Roberts
Double Peony  1962


Zenith
Double Peony  1966

West Elkton
Japanese Peony  1958
Tom Eckhardt
Japanese Peony 1965

Saturday, February 19, 2011

Kingwood by the Numbers - Countdown - Ten Days


TEN..












... crabapple trees in a row which lead to Kingwood Hall

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Here Lives The Lorax



This tree chair conjures up many childhood images. Located between the peony garden and the back duck pond, Shawn McClain created a great throne from a fallen tree.  Then he added a foot rest.  In the winter, I like to think a Snow King lives close to here and holds court with the wildlife.  Shown here, he would have a red cardinal as a court jester waiting in the wings.  I have seen lots of other wildlife come to see if the King is holding court as well, such as squirrels and rabbits.

One day I went to sit on the great throne and found the the center to be hollow.  Could this be another way into the mystical world of Alice?  I was never interested in that much adventure.

Also brings to mind my favorite Dr. Seuss book The Lorax. Kingwood may not have any Truffula trees, but they do have a nice variety and maybe the Lorax comes now and then to visit and make sure all is well.  As you know, he speaks for the trees.  The chipmunks seen coming and going from this hollow seat are probably taking him messages.  I have yet to see the Snow King, Alice or The Lorax, but there is always the possibility.




Sunday, February 6, 2011

Winter Ducks

Watching my woodpeckers eat peanut butter treats in the back yard, my mind wanders to feeding the Kingwood Ducks.  Shown are a few random pictures that I took in previous years.  These haven't been touched up, but I enjoy them as they are.  I like how they fly toward me and then they sit down in the snow to eat so their feet don't get cold.  Funny.






Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Crows at Kingwood on YouTube


To forewarn this is my first and hopefully last sarcastic blog.  Let's hope anyway.  Well, Kingwood is celebrating the crows at Kingwood.  They are roosting in the trees, so it is fitting of a YouTube video.  Last week and for my past three visits on other projects, I have only seen two ducks.  I know the wild ones have left and I haven't had the heart to ask about the others as I may not want to know.  The other Indian Runners could be safe in back of the Service Building and my despair could be premature.  I guess we should celebrate all types of birds, however, I hope a sign of the times isn't Kingwood becoming known for their crows and Canadian Geese. 

I took this off the internet.....
A group of crows is called a flock, muster or storytelling of crows. The most widely used term is "murder."

This is based on the (fallacious) folk tale that crows form tribunals to judge and punish the bad behavior of a member of the flock. If the verdict goes against the defendant, that bird is killed (murdered) by the flock. The basis in fact is probably that occasionally crows will kill a dying crow who doesn't belong in their territory or much more commonly feed on carcasses of dead crows. Also, both crows and ravens are associated with battlefields, medieval hospitals, execution sites and cemeteries (because they scavenged on human remains). In England, a tombstone is sometimes called a ravenstone.

I chase them out of my back yard by clanging a pot and spoon.  But if you want to check them out at Kingwood - the link is below.

Kingwood Crows on YouTube

About Me

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Volunteer, member, frequent visitor and photographer of Kingwood Center.