Monday, May 25, 2009

Memorial Day 2009 Dad Remembered

Memorial Day 2009

This is a picture of my father, Carmelo Guglielmino. He was a private First Class in the U.S. Army, WWII 101st. Airborne Division. Click on highlighted words for more info.
My Dad receiving a medal, the President's Citation award.He was one of the first to return from Europe based upon his record and in an New York Italian newspaper this was reported.We have many pictures from WWII, some of him, some of his buddies, and some which he took at the front.These are just some of the medals that were awarded to him during his tour of duty. Others include: Bronze Star Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Emblem, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal w/4 Bronze Stars, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal w/Germany Clasp, Belgian Fourragere, Netherlands Orange Lanyard, And the Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII.This is a bronze plaque that commemorates his duty at Bastogne.Kilogram is a book written by Bob Minick in 1979,recounting the activities of my Dad's unit, the 907th, a glider field artillery battalion, click on the highlighted words for more info.and his picture with his buddies appears on page 101.Rendezvous with Destiny A History of the 101st Airborne Division,by Rapport & Northwood, 1948, tells the complete story of the 101st men.We have his dog tags, his camouflage parachute, his jacket, caps,
silk scarf, medals, pictures, money belt, and boots.A picture of his group in France, (he is standing at the right side) and he wrote on the back of the picture"France March 16, 1945 Paris Spring 1945."Here's to all of the brave men and women who have fought for their countries.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Blues & Purples in the Jarvis House Garden

Not the most exotic iris, but what a color! There are many blooms and leaves in the Jarvis Garden today that would be characterized as having a "blue or purple" quality.Wood Hyacinth.Cat Mint.Purple Columbine,and the usual lavender Columbine.Corn Flowers, named after the shape and color of its seeds, and very easy to naturalize.A late blooming tree like Azalea with a purple bloom that has a white "water mark."The ever faithful Perennial Geranium, which should be tucked in everywhere.This is a tall weed that invaded my garden. It is unbelievably difficult to remove, but fortunately it has a very nice Phlox like bloom and comes out in several shades of purple and white.Myrtle, the bluest flower of them all.The typical purple Rhododendron, beautiful in the shade and grows very tall.This is a very large Rhododendron which has a deep purple tongue. I planted it in the wrong spot, and it is crowding out the boxwood shrubs. I limbed it up last year and the flowers this year are showing me that I cannot take the chance of moving it.

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Jarvis House Azaleas

A double white Azalea way out back.
Although it's been a cold start to Spring, the Azaleas at the Jarvis House are really putting on quite a show. Above is a beautiful light purple lavender cascading plant. Its blossoms fade towards the centers of each floret, approaching two colors, and has a opalescent quality.This Azalea has truly bi-color flowers, white with red edging. This Azalea is named Betty Ann, and was sold to me by a grower about 35 years ago.Hear are two similar orange-red Azalea plants. The one in front is a small spreading plant while the one on top is a tree shaped Azalea. A white bleeding heart compliments that strong color.A few years ago, the lot line garden was altered and this plant was moved to its present location. It turned out to be two separate plants, and each has a queer attribute. Some flowers are white, some are white with fuchsia streaks, and some have fuchsia and white coloring on a single bloom. They love their new location. They are tree like in growth.Another orange blossoms near the small barn and has a spreading nature.This fuchsia Azalea has very small florets, and has a touch of iredescent deep purple inside. These blossoms are the smallest in the garden, but the shrub is nice and loose and seems to grow well under the Cypress tree. It took a few seasons to recover from the move there.This deep purple Azalea has very long and leggy branches. It is the most graceful plant and there is another in a side garden. This plant has a completely different growth pattern and compliments the more dense flowering Azaleas. It looks well in a more casual garden, as it allows other plants to grow around it.Somehow this Azalea can grow lin very deep shade and still produce beautiful blossoms. It is partnered with a very tall fern.This is what my friend Elizabeth would call a "Garden City Color." It is a very hot orange and it is partnered with a small blossomed white. Nothing else could compete with this plant for attention.This is a wild Azalea or species plant. It is a very delicate pink with very long filaments and stamens. It has a loose growth and can be very tall in the shade. It grows near a blue spruce and holly.This tall tree like Azalea fooled me. I planted it near the lamp post thinking that it wouldn't grow too tall, but it has such a wonderful shape I decided to leave it alone.Another "Garden City" Azalea, but what can you do. It is a stand out in the garden and in the shade. Most of these plants have been moved several times and they just keep growing. The best way to see the colors and individual plants it to visit in May.

Friday, May 15, 2009

A LIghtship, Tahiti Ketch, & the Christeen

Three very interesting, but different ships are moored in a harbor in Oyster Bay, which is a short distance from the Jarvis House.It was a stormy day and this is the Lightship, Nantauket.

A Lightship, Tahiti Ketch, & the Christeen

There are three wonderful sea going crafts moored at a dock in Oyster Bay, Long Island, a short drive from the Jarvis House. One is an Historic Lightship, the Nantucket, there is a Tahiti Ketch, and the last is the Oyster Sloop, and historic ship the gaff rigged Christeen.A walk down the ramp gets you closer to the Ketch and the Oyster Sloop.
It was stormy out that day, as it has been for most of the month of May here on Long Island. The Nantucket was looking for a permanent home, and it may be moved by way of the Saint Lawrence Seaway to the Great Lakes region.Looking through the dock at the side of the Nantucket.The Tahiti Ketch is gaff rigged on the Main. This information was supplied by my friend and "Old Salt" who has worked as a volunteer on board the Nantucket, and is educating me regarding the parts of a ship and the types of sails, and vessels.This boat possesses beautiful craftsmanship.These are mast hoops, which are probably made from Ash wood and steamed into rings.The Ketch is double ended which means that instead of having a flat stern, the stern is pointed like the bow.The Christeen is an historic Oyster sloop which has national historical significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America and bears a plaque which was given to it by the National Park Service of the U.S. department of the Interior in 1991.It is lovingly preserved and kept up.
The round sheaveless blocks in this picture are called "dead eyes." The wooden pins that the lines are made fast to, are called "belaying pins."An artful way of coiling rope on the Christeen,and rope on the dock near the Ketch.At the end of the dock was an Oyster dredge, and more rope. Click on the names of the two ships to learn more about their history.