Mt. Rainier and Lenticular Clouds - Dec. 2008 copyright: JMM

May 30, 2015

Mayflower and May Flowers

The Mayflower II was in dry dock down in Mystic, CT all winter long for continuing repairs and was towed back to Plymouth a couple of weeks ago.  I was monitoring the tug's progress on the Marine Tracker website and it looked pretty far away still, when I left the house.  I thought I had time to do a couple of quick errands.  But when I finally parked and was walking through the park, I saw the top of the masts going under the railroad bridge! I broke into a sprint, which is no easy feat for me (and let's face it, my boobs are just way too big for that nonsense) and this was as far as I got before it passed by.  The tug was moving at breakneck speed and I'm guessing they had a tailwind and the current was flowing that way.  


So I was disappointed that I didn't get some better shots, but at least I saw it come through in 2013.

I finally remembered to bring my camera to my mom's to shoot pictures of the rhododendrons because they are fabulous.  When I was a kid, my dad kept the area across the driveway mowed, so as to have a 'nature trail'.  It's pretty overgrown now but you can still get back there and the rhodies are still thriving.  This one is ginormous.  It's my favourite.


Another one along the driveway.

And another near the end of the driveway.


This one is kind of stunted cause a giant pine tree has grown around it but the few red flowers are still gorgeous.

This one is off the driveway in the old nature trail.

This is a very unusual rhodie in that it has a lovely fragrance to it, where all the others do not.



There's the back of the purple one that I featured first.

When I got home, my hot pink azalea was in it's glory so I took a few snappies of that as well.


Now if only the wretched green inchworms and pollen would go away!

21 comments:

  1. Visited the Mayflower in Plymouth many years ago. It fascinated me how many people travelled and what awful conditions. I was also fascinated that the passengers had a cooking fire but not in the galley - how bloody dangerous on a wooden ship. Lucky they arrived at all.

    Love all the flowers JoJo. I used to have lots of azaleas all around our place in North Carolina. The rhododendrons look wonderful too. I miss them. Have some geraniums hanging on our balcony but that's it.

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    1. I love rhodies. It's the Washington State state flower; they thrive up there too. I haven't toured the Mayflower as an adult but we went a couple times when I was a kid; one tour was on a class field trip. I remember thinking even then how tiny that ship was, esp. with our class crammed inside. That must've been one miserable journey. I never understood why they left England in the fall vs. the spring; I know the first 2 summer launches were aborted but they should've waited a year to try again. The weather would have been better and they would've had way more food options upon arrival.

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  2. I like rhodos, too, and have always had them in our yards. The longer they are left to grow and produce on old growth stems, the larger they get. We have some in the parks around here that are like trees, such as the one you photographed. And I've never seen the Mayflower, so I'm glad you got any photos. A true photographer will sprint for a shot, though, so good for you!

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    1. My asthma wasn't too thrilled with the sprint. I don't run ever. My knees and ankles hurt so bad the next day with that little jog. I'm sure drivers and other people got a laugh out of it.

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  3. I'm glad you remembered your camera, what beautiful
    shots. Amazing colours in those flowers.
    Cheers, Anita.

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    1. Thank you Anita. It's a shame they don't last longer though. Just starting to go by now.

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  4. I always admire the beautiful blooms in spring. How I wish all these lovely blooms can be found in my country. The flowers in your photos are all so beautiful, Jojo.

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    1. Thank you Nancy! I'm sure you have beautiful flowers where you live too; ones that we don't have.

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  5. I don't run for the exact same reasons! I'd wind up with two black eyes if I ran. I tell people, if you see me running, you'd better run too because something horrifying is chasing me. I love ships; it would have been awesome to see that one. Lovely pics of the rhodies; have you ever been to Forest Grove, OR? They are spectacular there.

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    1. Hi Heather! Thank you! No, I've never been to Forest Grove, unfortunately. I didn't get to do or see near as much as I wanted in the Pacific NW. I never thought I would ever leave so I figured I had plenty of time.

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  6. I took care of the two black eyes through running thing by getting 3kilos off, but I still can't run...

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    1. Even when I was a little kid I was not a runner at all. I would get winded very easily and I never had the stamina for it. Even when I was in the best shape of my life and used to have to run to catch my bus in San Francisco, my knees would give out and I'd have an asthma attack.

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  7. We have rhododendrons blooming all over our yard at the moment as well! just haven't gotten out there to snap any pics!

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    1. Hurry before they go by! Ours are already starting to fade. :(

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  8. Cool! I want to see the Mayflower. Heck, I'd like to ride on the Mayflower. Not across the ocean or anyplace far, but just a short little jaunt to see what it felt like. It looks really small.

    Arlee Bird
    A to Z Challenge Co-host
    Tossing It Out

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    1. It's very small. I guess people in the 1600s topped out at 5' and 100 lbs because seriously, I cannot imagine making an overnight trip in it much less trans Atlantic crossing. If you ever find yourself in Massachusetts, it's moored in Plymouth where you can take a tour. It only leaves to get repaired in Fairhaven or Mystic.

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  9. Anonymous10:10 AM

    Beautiful flower with wonderful colors...

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  10. I know what you mean about sprinting. I get two big bruises on my upper rib cage when I try it.

    On a happier note, those flowers are glorious. I really like the pink and purple/lavender ones.

    Take care, JoJo.

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    1. Thanks Robyn! Sadly all those flowers are already going by, but there are new ones starting to bloom to take their place!

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  11. Aw, too bad about the ship but at least you got some photos of it! The flowers are beautiful!

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    1. Thanks. I got great pics of it in 2013 when it was towed through. That time I was better prepared and ready. This time, totally mistimed it.

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