A new camera, a new day and an open road...

 
We headed one way, changed our minds and headed another!  It turned out to be a good idea because we ended up  at the  Fantastic Umbrella Factory and the gardens next door.   Pictures say more than words..

 One of the three resident emus!

A little trip over to Stonington Village CT,  to visit some shops...

Meanwhile, remember those drawings I make?  I tried my hand at making swatches at Spoonflower and have had so much fun seeing them printed on fabric.  

Hope that you are having great weather wherever you are.  It's the last day of summer in New England USA.  It still looks and feel like late summer though and  we will have lots of enjoyable days ahead for sure. Until then,

As always,

enjoy the day!

Fantastic Umbrella Factory Part III

After walking around the early
spring gardens...

it was quite a pleasure
to visit such
unexpected beauty
in the nurseries.

Remarkable plants and
terrariums took away our breath.

On the way home, we passed
through New London, CT.

The U.S. Coast Guard tall ship,
The Eagle
was gracefully docked nearby.

We actually were in many more interesting places over the weekend but I will save them for another time! I hope you enjoyed my little travelogue and as always,

enjoy the day!

Fantastic Umbrella Factory Part II

There was one emu caged
off by himself...
very inquisitive and quite tall.

We finally said good-bye
to the goats and emus
who seemed to want to follow us.

We passed through yet another archway...

passed through a forest of bamboo...

and then we heard some music...
when we walked through this mystical arbor.
A sign said:
"follow the music."

We went around a corner
and came upon the most wondrous
greenhouses!

This moss covered tree

had African violets
growing on the branches
and other plants in the living moss.
More photos will follow soon.

Until next time,

enjoy the day!

Fantastic Umbrella Factory...

Tucked away in Charleston, Rhode Island, is the Fantastic Umbrella Factory. There is no factory and they don't sell umbrellas. It is a magical, mystical sort of place that has been around since the 70's.

Visiting it in the off season is delightful. It holds a different kind of magic. In the past there have been peacocks and chickens and other animals integrated into the winding paths. Although they no longer seem to be there, we came upon a group of unlikely companions: emus and goats!

More magical scenes to follow during the week...for now, Happy Monday...

...enjoy the day!