Garden Journal - Peonies
In the North Bed, the peonies are bigger than ever this year! It seems they all bloomed at once ... and the incredible scent knocks you off your feet!
June 3, 2009
June 2, 2009
Garden Journal - Pink Iris
This pink iris has always struck me as quite the "Glamour Puss" in the Gardens with its oversized falls and fluffy orange beard, so this year it gets the "full glamour treatment" in this closeup!
June 1, 2009
Happy Birthday... (Now Go Away, Mom!)
Junior has no interest in my 46th Birthday! After returning home late from taking a Rescue Yorkie for much-needed surgery, Junior sought refuge anywhere he could from my after-hours effort at a party!
May 31, 2009
Garden Journal - Iceberg Roses
The always-reliable Iceberg roses withstood last Winter's extremely cold temperatures and look terrific this Spring in the Rose Garden!
May 30, 2009
Garden Journal - Jackie In Pink
Jackie In Pink verbascum is in full bloom beside the Main Fountain at Highspire!
May 29, 2009
Garden Journal - Miss Lua, Guard Cat!
Miss Lua is always on guard for errant moles (or kitties) who dare stray into "her" Gardens!
May 28, 2009
Garden Journal - Queen Elizabeth
In the Rose Garden beside the Main Fountain, beautiful Queen Elizabeth stands on thick stalks almost waist-high and sports blooms larger than my hand!
May 26, 2009
Garden Journal - Rosa Rugosa
This rosa rugosa in the North Bed is wrapping the yellow glass hummingbird feeder in a blanket of pink!
May 25, 2009
Happy Memorial Day!
This burgundy iris cluster in the Partierre is so spectacular on this Memorial Day weekend!
May 24, 2009
Garden Journal - First Butterfly!
This evening I saw my first yellow butterfly of the season! It was flitting across the North Bed, but it was too quick for a photo! Next time...I'll be ready! :)
May 23, 2009
A Stuffing Party!
Today Miss Paras (age 19 1/2 - on left), Muffin (age 18 - on right) and I (almost 46) traveled to Chambersburg, Pennsylvania for a "Stuffing Party" to benefit Rescue Me! Yorkie Rescue. Lots of rescue volunteers come to these events several times a year to stuff empty dog beds with fiberfill so the finished beds can be sold at dog shows for fundraising. The Rescue spends the money raised for medical care for the pups prior to their adoption. Muffin and Miss Paras were Sweet and Gorgeous and quite adored by one and all! Its neat to think that together Miss Paras and Muffin totaled only 4.9 pounds, but comprised 37 1/2 years of Yorkie!
May 22, 2009
Welcome Muffin!
"Muffin", an adorable 2.6 pound, 18 year old Yorkie, has come to live at Highspire! He is looking forward to feeling better with some intensive medical rehab for respiratory and other serious medical issues. Muffin fits right in and my other Yorkies love him already. Tashia, my former Arkansas Puppy Mill momma, thinks tiny Muffin is her new "puppy"! Welcome to Highspire, little Muffin!!
May 16, 2009
Garden Journal - Mary Rose
Mary Rose is fragrant and stunning next to the Main Fountain at Highspire!
May 9, 2009
Well Earned Relaxation....
Following the conclusion of the Master Gardeners Garden Tour, Todd and I took the evening off to visit our parents at Nebo and check out the sunset at Panorama!
May 8, 2009
Garden Journal - Master Gardeners Plant Sale & Garden Tour
Today is the first day of the Master Gardeners' Plant Sale. Toddy pulled the little red wagon home from the Park with our purchases!
In conjunction with the Plant Sale, the Master Gardeners organized a walking "Garden Tour" of downtown Berkeley Springs and Highspire is "Stop #1"! Todd's help in preparing the Gardens for this early season Tour was invaluable!
Miss Paras, Todd and I are ready to welcome our visitors to Highspire. We are so pleased to be asked to participate in the Master Gardeners tour! The Garden Tour and the Plant Sale continue through 4:00PM tomorrow.
May 7, 2009
Garden Journal - Gala Madrid Iris
Today is the first day of bloom for the Gala Madrid iris! This is a stand that originally came to Highspire from our Grandmother's house!
May 6, 2009
Garden Journal - My Supervisor
Toddy and I are getting the Gardens ready for the upcoming Garden Tour. This task is so much easier with the expert supervision of Lua the Garden Cat!
May 5, 2009
Garden Journal - Courtyard Roses
The climbing roses outside of the Courtyard look better than ever this year at Highspire!
May 3, 2009
Toddy's 250th Marathon!!
Today Toddy ran his 250th Marathon in Frederick, Maryland! As you can see, he ran barefoot!
I made a little sign (on the right) for Toddy to wear to let other runners to know today is a special event! The race organizers even gave Toddy the number "250" to wear for his special day!
It poured rain for most of the day -- but Toddy did Great, pacing in a group of half-marathon runners and finishing his full marathon in 4:47:48. See his exciting finish below!
As a founding member of "Team Toddy", it is always terrific fun for me to cheer on all the runners from the sidelines!
CONGRATULATIONS TODDY on completing your 250th MARATHON!!! I'm So Proud of You!!!
May 2, 2009
Toddy Warms Up!
After Toddy ran the Apple Blossom 10K in Winchester, Virginia this morning; we drove to Frederick, Maryland to continue Toddy's marathon "warm up" with a 5K in Frederick, Maryland! When Toddy approached the Finish Line, I was surprised to see another Barefoot Runner in the race!
Before we left, I decorated my car in Toddy's honor.
May 1, 2009
Garden Journal - First Iris!
The last several days have been unusually warm with temperatures in the 80s and 90s. As a result, several flowers are seriously out of sequence -- including this new white iris reticulata that I didn't even expect to bloom until next year!...but it sure is cute!
April 30, 2009
Toddy Arrives for His 250th Marathon!
Toddy arrived early this morning to stay a while at Highspire and run his 250th Marathon in Frederick, Maryland this coming Sunday! I get to go cheer him on!
April 29, 2009
Courthouse - The Clock Tower Emerges
This week the Courthouse clock tower outline emerged. When the steelworkers finished, they packed up; but before they left, the steelworkers planted an American flag on top of their new creation!
April 27, 2009
Garden Journal - Lilac and Spirea
These fragrant beauties stopped me in my tracks above the Courtyard! Both the purple lilac and the white spirea are in full bloom!
April 25, 2009
Miss Paras Attends the "Mutt Strut"
This morning Miss Paras and I attended the "Mutt Strutt" - a fundraiser for the benefit of the Humane Society of Morgan County (West Virginia), held at Cacapon State Park.
In addition to participating in a short walk, Miss Paras and I won two contests! Smallest Dog (2.4 pounds) and Doggy/Owner Lookalike! ( I knew my white hair would come in handy someday!) Miss Paras won a dog bed -- which is a good prize because Miss Paras does enjoy her beauty sleep these days. They didn't have a contest for "Oldest Dog" because she would have "run off" with that category too! :)
April 23, 2009
Garden Journal - Tree Frogs
Tonight the tree frogs have started singing. They are taking advantage of the warm temperatures to get a "jump" start on their season!
April 15, 2009
Sad News - Arnold
This evening Arnold, my 13 year old Special Needs Yorkie, died from complications of congestive heart failure. Arnold was only given 2 to 4 months to live when he came to live at Highspire (see December 18, 2007 blog entry), but he survived 16 months...and all of it Quality Time. This is my favorite photo of "Arnie" (as he was affectionately known) taken at his 13th Birthday Party. Arnie let me tie his "Bow Hat" around his head -- and he wore it all evening! Arnie had an excellent sense of humor. He looked so handsome in his blue sweater. I Love You, Arnie and I'll miss you always.
April 13, 2009
Mala In the House!
Mala, the town cat, is holding Court at my office today ... and she clearly wants a Belly Rub!
April 12, 2009
Garden Journal - Happy Easter!
This little bunny has hopped over to Highspire to wish us a Happy Easter!
April 10, 2009
Courthouse - Up, Up, Up!
The outline of the third floor is in place now with the base of the clock tower and the main archway also visible in the right foreground of this photo.
April 5, 2009
April 3, 2009
April 2, 2009
March 30, 2009
Garden Journal - Double Daffodils
This double daffodil in the North Bed is so huge it almost needs staking!
March 28, 2009
March 25, 2009
March 21, 2009
Miss Paras Rocks Chantilly!
Today Beautiful Miss Paras joined me at the Chantilly (Virginia) Pet Expo! Many visitors and exhibitors greeted Miss Paras by name and welcomed her return! Miss Paras is hard to forget -- its not everyday that folks meet a 19 1/2 year old Yorkie -- especially one as Fabulous as Miss Paras! :)
March 20, 2009
Garden Journal - Happy Spring!
These tiny pink flowers are waking up the Xeriscape Garden for the arrival of Spring!
March 19, 2009
Garden Jounal - Forsythia
This morning the yellow forsythia bushes pop against the brilliant blue sky.
March 18, 2009
Garden Journal - Ice Follies
Ice Follies are blooming beautifully outside the Courtyard at Highspire!
March 16, 2009
Garden Journal - Rainy King Alfred
For the last three days this magnificent King Alfred daffodil has wanted to bloom. However, he is not about to expose his huge petals to this ongoing damp, wet weather -- so he's standing by for tomorrow's much-awaited sunshine!
March 15, 2009
Garden Journal - Tete-A-Tete
A second day of chilly drizzle can't stop this tiny Tete-A-Tete daffodil outside of the Courtyard at Highspire!
March 14, 2009
Garden Journal - Dutch Iris
Despite a cold rain, this minute Dutch Iris pops through the winter leaves at Highspire.
March 9, 2009
Garden Journal - Forsythia
Encouraged by the warm weekend weather, the forsythia buds are ready to burst forth at Highspire! These two blooms behind the Xeriscape Garden are the very first forsythia to appear!
March 8, 2009
Garden Journal - Hardy Primrose
Outside the Courtyard wall at Highspire are several primrose originally planted by our Mother, Rita Lee Byers. One of my favorites is this hardy dark-pink & white bloomer who beats his competition to full flower every Spring! This year is no exception as this tough competitor took advantage of an unusual 78 degree day in March and blossomed several days ahead of all the other primrose!
March 7, 2009
Garden Journal - Here Come the Pussy Willows!
A rare 75 degree day in March coaxed several plants at Highspire to an early blossom! At left, a soft, white pussy willow contrasts against the dark, stormy sky. Below, another pussy willow sits near the big maples at the front 
of the Gardens.
