The flowers of summer are beginning to take their final lap around the stadium with sun change and chill. Folks are putting gardens to bed but Fall can produce some interesting gifts.

I'm a sucker for flowers just about any time. Ever since our Marylouise Cowan days reinvigorated the event of color. Her gardens were pretty darned nice and she was so thrilled to share. For my family here in Maine and distances, Fort Cowan was a must see. Not to mention the extra fun we enjoyed hanging out with Mrs. Cowan. “Have a look around and make yourselves at home. I'm going into town. Just close up when you leave,” she would say.

Those garden days seem recent and long ago. We don't visit around the way we used to but now and then a special glimpse pops up in an unanticipated spot. Like for example, the garden I share with this week's travel through Adventure Land.

I was on my way back from the outer reaches of Route 96 and happened to remember a favorite view along the Paradise Point Road. Just after the turn onto Paradise Point, which can be a bit hair raising, I caught a glimpse of some unusual magic wand like items in a garden near the road. Completely unintentional.

Places along Linekin Bay have always distracted me though, in a good way, for many reasons. Maybe its the magnetism of Sonny Hodgdon's home place that does it. Not sure how much of a flower guy he was. Mrs. Hodgdon made some swell cookies though!

Anyway, it turned out that the garden which stopped me was that of Michelle Farnham. I've known Michelle for many years, in many incarnations-- swim coach at the YMCA, followed by a long absence of contact. Then we met again at what was Sample's shipyard when I started to photo the Ernestina-Morrissey project. Finally, oh happy day, for her son Marshall's wedding, at, where else, the Botanical Gardens. Now, Michelle is a bonified CNA at The Gregory Wing which I visit, not long term, at this time.

Her garden caught my eye without effort. It was hers. Slightly whimsical. Sort of like Michelle I think. She proceeds and observes and helps. Flowers are like that too.