Cold Snap Brings Peony Coma to Governor Francis Farms? Linda Maintanis

 

Brrrr...  An unseasonable cold snap has brought a blanket of subnormal temperatures to the neighborhood this week. 

Under normal conditions my peonies would typically bloom on or around May 20th. This year the drought-like weather from our dry spring slowed down the process. 

 
Just starting to form mature flower heads, the plants were induced into a sleepy coma by a couple of fifty degree days. Even colder nights have refrigerated these buds, protecting until a wave of warm air opens them up later this week.

As you know peonies in my yard means that very soon there'll be a photoshoot of pinky little girls surrounded by a flutter of peony petals...  that will be a post to watch for!







 

Narragansett Bay - Governor Francis Farms - Rose Pond Signs of Pollution Saint George Court, Linda Maintanis

It's a well-known fact that Rose Pond is located at the back of, or south side of Saint George Court.
Many locals tell stories of skating on it when they were grade school age. Now it is located outside my
living room window, facing east, the old water tower still stands in a tangle of wild rose vines.
The pond is spring fed; I think that's a good thing to know, that in a pinch you could get your own water...

Last week, Thursday before the storm, I happened
to glance over and around the pond, possibly trying
to spy a deer or beaver.

Instead something jumped out at me.

A large mass of slightly flourescent green sludge which appeared to have traveled down the bank of the pond. Now collected below; it's sheen was compelling. What could it be?

The pond is a part of a chain of waterways that feed
into Narragansett Bay via Occupessatuxet Cove.
Located only 1500 feet from the shoreline of the bay,
it's fresh water is a tiny tributary that allows wildlife a drinking fountain along it's path. From here the
stream winds through Brown's Farm, still owned by a member of the founding families, Henry Brown.
At the shore an estuary is formed.


The Rhode Island DEM was called.

Hopefully there will be no long term damage to the delicate system.

Governor Francis Farms - Narragansett Bay - Rose Pond Signs of Pollution Saint George Court, Linda Maintanis

It's a well-known fact that Rose Pond is located at the back of, or south side of Saint George Court.
Many locals tell stories of skating on it when they were grade school age. Now it is located outside my
living room window, facing east, the old water tower still stands in a tangle of wild rose vines.
The pond is spring fed; I think that's a good thing to know, that in a pinch you could get your own water...

Last week, Thursday before the storm, I happened to glance over
and around the pond, possibly trying to spy a deer or beaver.
Instead something jumped out at me. A large mass of slightly flourescent green sludge that appeared to have traveled down
the bank of the pond. Now collected below; it's sheen was
compelling. What could it be?

The pond is a part of a chain of waterways that feed into
Narragansett Bay. Located only 1500 feet from the shoreline
of the bay, it's fresh water is a tiny tributary that allows wildlife
a drinking fountain along it's path. From here the stream winds
through Brown's Farm, still owned by a member of the founding families, Henry Brown. At the shore an estuary is formed.

The Rhode Island DEM was called.

Hopefully there will be no long term damage to the delicate system.