A Small Town Independence Day

My favorite place to spend July 4th is in the small village of Saugatuck. Saugatuck has no McDonald’s, no malls, no large store chains and the residents are proud of this. The village, located at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River near Lake Michigan attracts a lot of sailors and boating folk as far away as Chicago. In the early 1900’s the town was considered an artist colony attracting artists and summer residents even today. I first discovered Saugatuck in the summer of 1974, when I took a big step in my life at age 19, and spent the season working at a professional summer stock theatre called the Red Barn Theatre. The theatre is still there, but it is now an antique shop and the two cabins in the back that housed staff and actors are long gone. I loved the small town atmosphere, the art galleries, the wonderful, unique shops and the friendly folk. I try to visit at least once or twice every summer. I especially love to visit on the 4th of July to see a real, old fashioned, small town parade.

Be sure to click on the photos for a closer view.

 

One of the many art galleries in town. This is one of my favorites because it includes a lovely little garden with garden sculpture for sale.

 

Some of my favorite shops. The ice cream shop hasn’t changed since I worked here in the early 1970’s.

 

Two shops set in old buildings with a lot of character. The shop on the left used to be a wonderful bakery, now it carries southwestern clothes and jewelry. On the right is Good Goods, which started out as an inn in the 1920’s through the 1980’s and has a huge wrap-around porch. They carry eclectic arts and crafts. I always find something that I must have.

 

People and dogs get ready for the parade.

 

While eating my picnic lunch in the village park, I noticed this little girl waving a flag. She was so cute, I had to get a shot. Or two.

 

Don’t you think she looks like a picture from a Norman Rockwell painting? She is so excited and can’t wait for the parade to begin!

 

Everyone is waiting…

and begins with Lady Liberty….in the back of a truck.

 

Some citizens in uniforms, firing very loud muskets.

 

The enthusiasm is catching. The local brewery uses a tennis racket to produce bubbles as a symbol of their beer.

Of course we have pageant queens,

The kids are checking their loot.

 

 

there are critters of all sizes,

 

 

funny hats and hair,

 

 

and all sorts of transportation. Of all the decorated cars, The VW was my favorite.

Look at the expression on those kids’ faces!

All the firetrucks flashing lights and blaring sirens signal the end of the parade. Holy Cow! Was there anyone left to mind the firehouse?

 

Walking back to the car. Since the village is built into a hillside, most sidewalks include these great-looking steps. I’m thinking they have an art deco look to them.

Hope your 4th was a good one!

Wordless Wednesday – 7/1/09

Be sure to click on the photos to get a clear view.

Sweet Indulgences and Guilty Pleasures

Weather Report: We still haven’t gotten any rain. It feels more like April than July, with highs in the low 60’s (F). I don’t really mind the cool weather; I prefer it this way for comfortable garden work and cool nights for sound sleeping.  Tomorrow is more of the same, with 60% chance of rain. My new plants are needing of a good watering.

I’ve gone a little crazy in the plant shopping area. I would stop in at a garden center, nursery, greenhouse or an all-in-one grocery store looking for one thing or just “researching” and end up taking home something else. (i.e. plants).

I haven’t bought any new perennials for my own garden for several years. Being a student left little time or money for gardening. The garden has suffered because of it. This year, with school finally behind me, I have started to reclaim the garden beds. I felt a little guilty buying all those plants, but oh, it felt soooo good!

First, the high end items:

  

I went to my favorite nursery, originally to check out their conifers and to pick up a few interesting succulents for a container planting I was planning. I saw this hanging plant and fell in love. I had to have it. It was with other hanging containers on sale for $12.00 but I found out that it was in the wrong area and though it was on sale, it was more like $28.00. I swallowed hard and paid up.

 

Another purchase at the same nursery. My front garden (a dry shade area) has been problematic for providing summer color after the spring bulbs are done. I’ve tried several things over the years without success. This year, I decided since I can’t get flowers to bloom, I would go with foliage. I found two hostas on sale (called Stained Glass) and some nice bright coleus (Wizard Sunset) to try to provide color without flowers.

Echinacea ‘Fatal Attraction’, bought at another Garden Center.  I had stopped in to buy seeds and research prices (conifers again) and thought that while I was there to check their really great collection of perennials. They had all the new coneflowers. I almost decided on buying ‘Tomato Soup’ which is a bright red variety, when I saw ‘Fatal Attraction’. They hadn’t bloomed yet; I was fatally attracted to the burgundy stems. The price was a little steep, so I only bought one. If the one does well in my garden I can buy more next year…or let nature take it’s course and let it spread.

 

          Stokes aster ‘Peaches Pick’                                   Cooper’s Ice Plant

 

               Veronica ‘Royal Candles’                                       and ‘Red Fox’

Some nice plants found at Lowe’s and Meijer’s (a well-known franchise in Michigan. It has everything, including groceries.) The quality of plants has gotten so much better than in past years.

Some really good deals: Found on the clearance shelves at Lowes.

 

Some really beaten down and under watered ‘Red Velvet’ yarrow. I haven’t found the right spot for them, yet.

 

I couldn’t pass up these beautiful New Guinea impatians,

  

I also got two large delphiniums, both looking very abused but I thought I could nurse them back to health. One, a Magic Fountain lavender delphinium perked right up and immediately began to bloom. The other, with no label, will probably live but is not looking too healthy right now. The slug invasion that I’ve been suffering through, are really attracted to this sick plant. Shortly after it was planted, I picked 9 slugs off this one plant.

 

Warning: The following photos contain the death of some slugs and may be considered disgusting and just plain gross. Please view at your own discretion.

signs of the slugs 

I’ve been fighting the slugs since that cool, rainy day when I discovered them ALL OVER THE YARD. I’ve set the beer traps and am really disgusted at the number of drowned critters that I have to dispose of on a daily basis.  

Nasty!