Come along on a virtual walk across the rocks by Cape Elizabeth Light also called Two Lights Lighthouse, located just south of Portland, Maine. Then visit the garden at Longfellow's family home in the heart of downtown Portland. We'll wend our way south and pass The Bush compound, sitting on a little finger of land called Walker's Point in Kinnenunkport. And finally, it will look as if we have stepped into Andrew Wyeth's Easterly paining as we catch a glimpse of the Nubble Lighthouse on Cape Neddick, Maine. As we go, you will see wildflowers along the coast and garden flowers in Longfellow's garden. Are you ready?
Cape Elizabeth Light or Two Lights Lighthouse has kept an eye on the ships at sea since Oct.1828.
It's a beautiful drive southeast from Portland Maine to Cape Elizabeth. (See the "Oh my word don't crash the car" video on the FLORISTINYOU profile page on Instagram.)
The Cost Guard web site tells us Pres. John Quincy Adams appointed Elisha Jordan as the first 'keeper' of the lighthouse in 1828. Wow.
Only the Eastern Tower of the two lighthouses at Cape Elizabeth is still active.
You can walk out and overlook the ocean.
Or climb all along the rocks on the eastern side.
You will see the windswept wildflowers growing above the rocks.
To your left it drops down to the bay under the Eastern Lighthouse tower.
A breeze is blowing and it smells salty like the ocean.
Canadian geese are on their way south for the winter.
Lichen and ferns grow at the base of the rocks.
"Chicory" or Chichorium Intybus grows here too.
You have a good view from the ocean from here.
And of the Eastern Tower.
You will find the "Eastern daisy fleabane" (Erigeron annuus.) (Sounds like Lord of the Rings)
"Butter and Eggs" or "Yellow Toadflax." Careful, its agressive.
White stalks are bending in the breeze.
Winter is coming.
The thistle is hanging his head.
It is the end of Indian Summer.
You will also see the "Beach Rose" bushes. (Rosa Rugosa.) (Sounds like Harry Potter.)
The flowers have 5 petals notched at the ends.
These are Beach Rose rose hips.
You can see the leaves are the same as the Beach Rose leaves.
Old iron rings are anchored in rock blocks.
They are a reminder of the past.
Note the "gingerbread trim" along the roof line. The flag waves in the breeze as we head back to Portland.
This is the family home of Henry Wadwsorth Longfellow.
It was built by his grandfather, General Peleg Wadsworth.
This home was designed in the neoclassic style and was the first all brick building built in Portland. It was built in 1785-1786. It sat on an acre and one half and included a large garden and fruit trees. Henry's sister, Anne, gave the Wadsworth Longfellow home to the Maine Historical Society in 1901. By 1924 the garden needed some attention and an architect was commissioned for that purpose.
The garden is a Colonial Revival garden, designed by Myron Lamb in the 1920's.
Many of the plants are the same as those in Myron Lamb's sketches.
A lavender viola peeks its head out of a planter.
This fire red Dahlia is a show stopper.
The garden had a hydrangea bush with enormous powder blue flowers.
Here is another lovely lavender bloom.
There were a lot of purples, lavender and blue flowers there.
Close-by at New England University, Portland campus, this angel hoovers over head.
She is suspended in the air, not far from the tombstones. She is benevolent. See her heart.
Her heart is the same color as these brilliant berries on a nearby tree. Good-by Portland. It is time to drive down the coast.
You see the same rocky coast in Kennebunkport.
This is the Bush family compound. It is exquisite and juts out into the ocean.
Further south is the Nubble Lighthouse.
Built in 1879 to protect mariners from the "Savage Rock."
It does look like an Andrew Wyeth painting. In fact, the Voyager spacecraft carries a picture of the Nubble Lighthouse on board.
By the way, Andrew Wyeth actually did live in the Tenants Harbor Lighthouse and had his studio inside the base of the bell tower.