Open today thursday 10-12.30 and 3-5.30; visits by appointment

We are open today (thursday) from 10 to 12.30 and 3 to 5.30.  Take the trail over the yellow mini bridge. As usual, you MUST BRING COMPLETED WAIVERS. We will also be open fri and sat am and pm, but then will close for the season. However, there will be some opportunities for private visits at specific pre-arranged times next week, including opportunities for those who have difficulty walking.

The following by appointment slots are available next week, ONLY TO NEW VISITORS (i.e. no previous visit this year; past years ok)  WITH WAIVERS. NO VISITING OUTSIDE OF THESE TIMES and then ONLY IF YOU RECEIVE EXPLICIT PERSONAL APPROVAL BY EMAIL FOR YOUR PARTICULAR REQUESTED TIME (print out my email to you and bring please). NOT transferable to other times. YOU MUST STATE IN YOUR REQUEST THE NAMES OF all your  accompanying car passengers and  your  license number. INDICATE THOSE WHO HAVE ANY DIFFICULTY WALKING so we can make appropriate arrangements. ALL VISITS SHOULD LAST NO LONGER THAN 1 1/2 hours. AM slots start the trail prompt at 10, pm slots prompt at 3; you should arrive a bit before your slot time. No late-comers.
SLOT TIMES: sept 1 pm, sept 2 am/pm, sept 3 am/pm, sept 4 am, sept 6 pm.
Further slots might be added if this system proves successful. Email me your first 2 slot choices if you want a slot, giving the names and walking ability of all members of your party. Slots that are either full or empty will be denied.

Today's picture is by Joe Mure. The hummer is feeding at the tall graceful swaying spires of Bog Sage (Salvia uliginosa). Though I only give this 2 stars, when hummers do feed here they are highly visible (indeed that could be one reason why they prefer  shorter plants). The light blue flowers are a perfect match for the background of sea and sky, and the wiry stems are amazingly strong. Furthermore, the delicacy of the stems maintains the water views. Goldfinches love the seeds. They will cling to the stalks which bend under their weight, but always spring back afterwards. I get this plant at Beds and Borders, like so many of the other salvias here.

Almost all the photos at this blog are, naturally, of hummingbirds. But you can see a lot of more general garden views at the sanctuary at this Picasa link.