TASTY "FUTURE OCCUPANTS" OF THE BIRDER'S GARDEN

THE GARDEN EXISTS IN MY IMAGINATION FIRST

Back in 1994 I spent a half year in Brazil and met Ruvem Alves, a most wonderful man, educator, story writer and "gardiner".  He was showing us his beautiful flower garden and said something I found quite profound, Long before my garden existed here in Sao Paulo it existed in my imagination".  I find that this is true of all dreams.  But, of course, without the effort, labor, hard work, heartache sometimes....the "garden remains in one's imagination"....Hopefull mine here at The Mount will soon exist in reality with what I plan to plant: SWISS CHARD, SPINACH, RADISHES, TOMATOES, BEANS OF SOME KIND, SUMMER SQUASH AND PEPPERS, BEETS, CUCUMBERS AND CARROTS.  My friend John Aponti from Esopus is helping me as I am just a novice.

I'D SAY THERE WERE MORE THAN A THOUSAND ROCKS HERE!!!

I may live "or die" regretting this.  But the salad bar at The Mount will be counting on me to produce some "produce" for the meals and to make this more than a personal hobby.  Wish me luck tomorrow!!

HUDSON RIVER "ORGANIC GARDENER"....TOO!!

I have a plot that is about 40 feet by 25 feet and have begun as an "Infant Organic Gardener"...what I think should be called the "Battle of the Rocks"...Anyone in the Ulster County Area that would like to help just give me a message here.  You would be "most welcome".. The "Battle" begins!!

THE "BIRDER" AT BOG MEADOW IN SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY

BOG MEADOW IN SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY

THE RISEN CHRIST "DRAWING ALL CREATION TO HIMSELF AND THE FATHER

This image of the Risen Christ is in our Redemptorist Church of St. Clements in Saratoga Springs, NY.  One thing that my study of Nature and the Planet and our Environment that has fascinated me is  what is the "relationship of God" of the "Blessed Trinity" to all that has been created, all living things,not just "human" beings.  What I have read makes me more convinced than ever that God is "related" to all that has been made.  The Bible, most especially the Book of Psalms is always saying that "the world reflects and makes visible the "glory and beauty of God".  I think this mosaic at St. Clements shows this.  Look and see how the arms of Christ, not not nailed to a Cross but reaching out in a "cruciform embrace"....Look how Christ embraces and hugs all that has been made.  I believe that Christ simply wanted, simply "wants" to bring all that has been made to both see, reflect and show the love of God for all of creation.....

NEAR THE ANCIENT OAK TREE IN THE APPLE ORCHARD

SPRING MIGRATION AND A MORE INCLUSIVE WORLD

DAY TO BE LIKE ADAM WITH CREATION

On Saturday, April 24th Joe, Gloria and myself did my SPRING MIGRATION AND A MORE INCLUSIVE WORLD day here at the Mount.  We must have walked at least three miles, although all I'd advertised was that...:"it would be an outdoors day".   We began next to our 200 year Oak Tree (more or less!) where we said the Morning Prayer of Praise.  Then we began to be like Adam in reverse.  By this I mean that we walked and tried to discover plants, trees, birds, insects and other creatures "by their proper names".   When we name someone or "any living thing" by their proper name we grow in respect for them and for all of creation.  I feel very sure that this is what the Genesis account of creation means to teach us with Adam getting the job  of naming all the animals, plants etc.  Adam learned to both RESPECT CREATION and to CONNECT TO CREATION.  Here are Joe and I next to our Purple Beech Tree which might just be 150 years old.

THE MANY LONG LEAFED ("NEEDLED") PINES IN NORTH CAROLINA

I have been doing my best to become a better "tree identifier" during my time down here in the Outer Banks. The most numerous pines are what you see here.  They have needles that are from 8 to 11 inches and many nearly six inch cones.  They grow, as do the Loblolly Pines to up to 110 feet.  (I learned that the Loblolly Pine is not too frequent here in the Outer Banks,  But in my trips to the home of my friend Evelyn Dabbs near Florence SC  there are many, many Loblolly Pines there.

SUNSET-2 ON THE OUTER BANKS AT COLLINGTON, NC

SUNSENT ON ABERMARLE SOUND-- COLLINGTON, NC

ORGANIC GARDENING ANYONE

THIS IS THE AREA WHERE I WANT TO BEGIN SOME "ORGANIC GARDENING" HERE AT MT. ST. ALPHONSUS.  THESE FIELDS WERE POTATOE FIELDS 50 YEARS AGO.  WE ALSO PLANTED AND HARVESTED TASTY STRAWBERRIES THERE.  DEPENDING ON WHAT I CAN LEARN MYSELF ABOUT ORGANIC GARDENING AND THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE HERE IN OUR ESOPUS AREA THAT MIGHT OFFER TO "HELP ME"  WE COULD HAVE SOME GREAT CROPS HERE COME THIS JULY....THINK ABOUT IT!

OUR LADY OF THE MOUNT ALTAR

This is the place where we will celebrate Mass at 4 pm on this April 24th, 2010.  My Workshop, "Christ and Spring Migration" will be mostly outdoors because I want to show how ALL of God's Creation has to be included in our love and concern.  We daughters and sons of God have been named, since Adam got the job of being....Caretakers and Stewards of Creation

Spring Buds at the Mount

HERE ARE SOME OF THE BUDS THAT ARE BURSTING WITH LIFE AND BEAUTY HERE AT MT. ST. ALPHONSUS...ENJOY THEM!!!

More Magnolias from the Mount

MARVELOUS MAGNOLIAS OF THE MOUNT

We have four Magnolia Trees here at the Mount which are at least 70 years old.  And so they would have been planted somewheres around 1927.  Because of the high temperatures here in the Northeast this last week they reached full bloom yesterday, April 7th.  In earlier years they would bloom maybe at the beginning of May.  Ordinations to the Sub an Deaconate would happen here at the Mount close to the first Sunday after Easter (Low Sunday).  That Sunday had the Latin name of Domenicus in albis  (Sunday in White).  This allusion referred to the recently baptized adults at the Easter Vigil who would wear their white Baptismal garbs all during this week.

CHRIST IS RISEN TODAY

A HAPPY EASTER FROM THE HUDSON RIVER BIRDER

Well, what a day yesterday was.  I have seen a few Tree Swallows swooping over our 412 acres.  The Juncos are clicking like crazy and seem to have their lighter spring coats.  I saw an interesting stand off yesterday with an immature Red Tailed "accompanied" on a branch below by two Fish Crows.  they just "waited" till it took off and tore at her up and down till she or he made it to the next "resting spot".  One of the adult eagles was flying out towards the river yesterday afternoon.  One tree in our area where Eagles have nested was hit bit lighting a year and a half ago.  But I am sure that they will find another "appropiate" and "safe" place.  Thank God that the "eagles are back".  It is not such an extraordinary sight anymore to see them on our river.

Song sparrows, Field sparrows, lots of cardinals and off course American Robins are enjoying this early spring as are we all.  The "Peter, Peter" of our local Tufted Timouses is with us too.  OH YES!!!! And this is a very content and excited OH YES for me.  I saw two beautiful  Eastern Meadowlarks yesterday on our unmown fields at Pells.  The truth is that, as much as a patient birder as I am the only time I have seen Eastern Meadowlarks was years ago down in Columbia SC with a great now deceased birder, Mr. Robin Carter.  They are truly large and beautiful birds.  It was my "Easter Gift".
HAPPY EASTER ALL