our black squirrels

We see black squirrels every day in our yard. After we moved here 12 years ago, I was curious to learn more about them as I had not seen them in southern Ohio.  They are found in pockets of the US, Canada and Britain, usually not native to those areas. They are a genetic variation of the Eastern Grey Squirrel. 

The black squirrels in our area of Northeast Ohio are descendants of a group of ten that were imported from Ontario, Canada in 1961 by either a Kent State University grounds supervisor or a biology professor or perhaps both working together, stories differ. We live 30 miles north of Kent in the southwest corner of Geauga County, Ohio.

We see them below our squirrel proof feeder more often than the Eastern Gray squirrels or the occasional orange tailed Fox squirrels. They are dominant in personality to the other two, they seem to be smarter and more aggressive. Not sure if this is considered fact or just my observation.

We recently saw a little black squirrel in the snow of a Ponderosa Pine forest in Breckenridge, CO that I think was an Albert's Squirrel. I was not able to get my camera out in time before he scurried away but he had pointed ears. They look like this...

source

Do you like squirrels? I think our yard would be so boring without them. I love seeing life and activity around our feeders. Do you have black squirrels where you live?

a curious gardener photos

striped light

My favorite tapered candles are striped. I love how they add a casual touch to traditional interiors like ours. They are made by Ana Design, are offered in lots of color combinations and a choice of pillars or tapers. I get them at Hedges, a pretty store in downtown Chagrin Falls, a good source online is Five Stripes.

Shop Five Stripes here or call Hedges here.

where I live, repost

Some pretty scenes from our area for inspiration to get out and enjoy the beautiful fall weather expected in most parts of the country this weekend. I wrote this last year about the special part of the country we live in. Enjoy...

chagrin river, downtown chagrin falls/source

Where I live is very pretty. People feel sorry for you when you say you live in northeast Ohio. They don't know. Blanketed in snow all winter from lake effect weather means beautiful snowfalls, white Christmases,  lush green springs,  summers with much less humidity than most other parts of the country and amazing fall foliage.  There are rivers,wetlands, lakes and ponds everywhere. No shortage of water in this part of the country and there is all the wildlife that goes along with it. I really do love where I live.....

(except in January, February and March when I am very depressed, cook and eat too much, spend hours looking at real estate in warm climates, plan getaways, blow off dog walks because of the crappy weather, look forward all day to getting in bed at night to read and watch television, wonder if I will ever get to wear my sunglasses again... you get the idea).

chagrin falls in the summer/ source

chagrin falls popcorn shop/ source

geauga county/source

blossom festival time, chagrin falls/source

chagrin falls in the summer/source

chagrin hardware/source

chagrin river,south chagrin metropark/source

the popcorn shop in the winter/source unknown

blossom parade, chagrin falls/source

cuyahoga valley national park/source

cuyahoga river/source

tea photo shoot

My friend Paula has a tea company... loose leaf, organic, hand blended, free trade tea and stylish well designed tea ware to serve it in. She needed some marketing shots so we  shot in the garden. Here is what we ended up with. 

Shop Storehouse Tea Co. for delicious teas and great tea ware here. We drink all of her teas, hot and iced and love her pots and infusers.

rhodos are big here

Northeast Ohio is one of those places where rhododendren can get really big. The best ones are in old landscapes where they have been left alone. This very long row of them in my neck of the woods  lines a driveway to a trout club with a charming lodge and lake. Surprised there are no accidents there, I am surely not the only one craning my neck to check them out each time I drive by.

stylish serendipity photos


What's blooming in your neck of the woods? Have a great weekend everybody!

first signs of fall

The air was crisp yet warm enough to be without a jacket on our afternoon walk today. 

The asters were everywhere along the shoreline and are in full bloom.

Bright green is still the predominant color.

Some leaves on the ground in the woods.

Grasses and sedum at their peak.

Groups of geese throughout the park. Subtle color change in the maples.

Happy dog.

Crabapple red berries. 

(Iphone cameras are awesome!)