Friday, October 30, 2015

BLOG SHOTS #76

GAWE - BLOG  SHOTS

Each month Gardens at Waters East (GAWE) will post a few never before seen photos of “garden life” called - - BLOG SHOTS.  Here are the photos for this posting.

moments in the garden - - enjoy


 American Eagles - here at the gardens almost daily








 October Sunset

Reference Note:  For a complete list of the ten (10) Principles of Design plus the special “Golden Principle of Design” used throughout Gardens at Waters East, check out the archive postings for November 14 – 24, 2010 and May 2, 2011.


NOTE:   All photos use in this posting were taken on the property of Gardens at Waters East
unless otherwise marked.
NOTE:   Since this Blog is meant to be an accurate journal of the gardens;
no photos are “staged”, “arranged”, or ”photo-shopped” in anyway.
What is posted – is what it here.  It is what it is.

If you wish to email a message or share photos of your garden
please do that through this Blog site or with an email to:


Saturday, October 24, 2015

Seasonal Contrast in the Garden #19 -- Blade

Postings in this ongoing series will show the same garden “area” and “objects” at two or more different times / seasons of the year.  The contrast will offer the viewer an appreciation of the beauty found in the same spot but in different months.  Some of the photos have never been seen before, others were collected from earlier postings in order to provide the needed contrast.  Each season has its own “feeling”, has its own  beauty.



This posting is titled – “Blade” – which is the name given to the garden statue here since the arms and legs have been “cutoff” for this sculpture.

Enjoy the Seasonal Contrast















Reference Note:  If you check out the archives for this Blog, you will find a number of “contrast” postings in this series.  All help in understanding the gardens throughout the year.

NOTE:  All photos use in this posting were taken on the property of Gardens at Waters East.

If you wish to email a message or share photos of your garden please do that through this Blog site or with an email to:



Sunday, October 18, 2015

BLOG SHOTS #75

Each month Gardens at Waters East (GAWE) will post a few never before seen photos of “garden life” called - - BLOG SHOTS.  Here are the photos for this posting.

moments in the garden - - enjoy

 ship ribs from the 1850s



 This is a Cup Plant

 This is why it is called a Cup Plant
after a rain - where the leaf attaches itself to the stem a small "cup" is formed
it holds the rain and birds and buds come there to drink








Reference Note:  For a complete list of the ten (10) Principles of Design plus the special “Golden Principle of Design” used throughout Gardens at Waters East, check out the archive postings for November 14 – 24, 2010 and May 2, 2011.


NOTE:   All photos use in this posting were taken on the property of Gardens at Waters East
unless otherwise marked.
NOTE:   Since this Blog is meant to be an accurate journal of the gardens;
no photos are “staged”, “arranged”, or ”photo-shopped” in anyway.
What is posted – is what it here.  It is what it is.

If you wish to email a message or share photos of your garden
please do that through this Blog site or with an email to:


Monday, October 12, 2015

Monarch Migration - 2015

This past week the national news reported that the Monarch Butterflies had reached Texas on their migration form Canada to central Mexico.  It seems an appropriate time to post photos of some of those very same butterflies as they visited The Gardens at Waters East while on their spectacular journey back to their Winter resting area.





The whole migration of this very unique butterfly is something to behold.  Starting in Mexico they cross the USA over the time of three generations as they move North.  Then the final generation born in Canada, makes the return flight.  In one generation from Canada to Mexico – never having been to Mexico before taking this long flight.  Most fascinating indeed.






Over the past ten years there have been a number of research projects and follow-up reports on the obvious and noticeable decline in the Monarch butterfly population.  If you are interested in this research, just check the web and you will locate many many articles about this serious problem.  You will find there the reasons for the drastic reduction of this most special butterfly, things like large industrial farming removing the fence lines along smaller farms so that the gigantic machinery can be used in cultivation and harvest, use of herbicides – especially Roundup and 2-4 –D in agriculture, on gulf courses, and home environment landscaping.  These and other recent “improvements” to eliminate problem “weeds” has caused the Monarch population to crash.  In addition to these man made threats,  there were two very cold years in Michoacan Mexico the very place where these butterflies overwinter.






Thirteen years ago when Gardens at Waters East was beginning its development, it was common to see dozens and dozens of these butterflies drop from the sky like falling orange leaves coming here to feed in September while on their long journey back to Mexico.  Three years ago there were NONE!






If you want more on the early years of the Monarch habitat at the gardens here on the shores of Lake Michigan, which is the fly route for these butterflies, check out a past posting in the archives: Monarch Butterflies Feeding Station – March 3, 2011.  There you will find a list of beneficial plants and flowers that are critical in nourishing these long flying travelers that make the three thousand mile trip from Canada back to their Winter resting areas.





Thanks to places like Gardens at Waters East, and the many similar nature preserve along the fly-route of the Monarch, and to the efforts of concerned citizens and gardeners, some of the devastation to the needed feeding habitat for these beautiful and unique butterflies has been confronted.  People concerned about all the toxic chemicals used on our fragile planet, and their work to stop this destruction of Mother Earth, has help to reverse the downward spiral of these butterflies.
This year was amazing.  The Monarch is coming back.  There were dozens and dozens in the gardens this September.  More than have been seen in years.  I took my time and just stood still near the asters and they were all about me.   A joy to behold!  A joy to experience.






Your comments are always welcome.








NOTE:   Since this Blog is meant to be an accurate journal of the gardens;
no photos are “staged”, “arranged”, or ”photo-shopped” in anyway.
What is posted – is what it here.  It is what it is.





If you wish to email a message or share photos of your garden
please do that through this Blog site or with an email to: