Real estate blog entries tagged with south graylyn crest by Carolyn Roland- In Delaware and S. Chester County PA, Carolyn Roland, GRI, CRS (Independent architectural histor'n)

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south graylyn crest: The bees are shaking up the pollen - 04/09/22 12:48 PM

It is not raining and the sun is out, so it was time to look around the garden and pull a few weeds today. Then I caught sight of a garden worker shaking the pollen out of a hellebore--a big fat bee! I had never thought about hellebores and bees before, but sure enough, he was hard at work!
And the grape hyacinths had popped into sight after staying low earlier in the week, and they were a welcome burst of color. The tulips were just starting to open, and the daffodils were in various states, depending on the variety. Some still … (3 comments)

south graylyn crest: Watching the snow from a warm place - 01/29/22 07:56 AM

The weather forecasters have been touting a weekend storm for a month now. Sooner or later it has to actually happen, right?
The snow started last night and we woke up today with several inches of snow.
The good news is that I don't have to go outside today. More good news is that last year, my arbor blew over during a Christmas Eve storm. This year, my new arbor is standing strong after it's first snowstorm.
More good news is that my neighbor is shoveling my driveway. I told him he was free to park one of his 4 cars there … (5 comments)

south graylyn crest: New North Wilmington Listing in Graylyn Crest - 09/16/20 10:51 AM

Just listed is this move-in condition split level in popular South Graylyn Crest. With 4 bedrooms and 2 1/2 baths, there's plenty of room inside this home. Plus, there is a spacious yard leading down to a branch of Shellpot Creek.
The original oak floors have been refinished and the walls are freshly painted. 1023 Faun Rd. is on a quiet street that ends at the neighborhood swimming pool. Adjacent to Graylyn Crest is its shopping center with Ulysses Gastro Pub, and nearby Vincenza & Margherita Italian Bistro (great pizza!).
Cross Silverside Rd. to Branmar Plaza and its supermarket and hardware store are … (5 comments)

south graylyn crest: Sometimes all you have to do is wait for it - 07/24/20 01:29 PM

In the spring, I had all the plants lined up for the pots on my patio. I was especially excited to place a colorful Caladium in a pot with a dark red Ipomeum (Sweet Potato Plant.)

All was good for a while, then the Caladium began to wilt and appeared to pass to another plane. But then, a few weeks ago, what should rear its brassy head, but the Caladium. Looking bold and beautiful, it began to rise out of its earth-bound plot. I could not believe what I saw. Well, I could believe it, because plants are known to do their … (4 comments)

south graylyn crest: The Tomato Wars Continued - 07/08/20 06:29 PM

I must admit, this latest effort to save my tomatoes did not cost anything. I already had this netting in the garage from some long-forgotten project.
So I wound the netting around the two tomato cages and tied them to the cages with some wire. Who knows what the varmints will try next.
Someone suggested that it could be a groundhog. I can't say I have seen any around here, but I did see a mole or vole the other day. Another suggestion was marigolds around the veggies. Tried that years ago and found the local slugs love marigolds.
And something has been … (3 comments)

south graylyn crest: Flowers reflect the overcast weather theme - 04/27/20 10:18 AM

Today is overcast with occasional drizzles.
So let's see what is blooming in the garden.
Hmmm. I'm seeing a dark undercurrent here.
Iris
Tulips
Lilacs
Cherry laurel
… (3 comments)

south graylyn crest: Into each life a little rain, hail, swarm of bees - 04/21/20 01:32 PM

After lunch today seemed a good time to do a few garden chores, so I took my seed packets, garden gloves, and trowel into the patio. Let me recount the damages:
1. A squirrel had gone crazy in a flower pot on my table and scattered the just starting to grow tiny flowers all over the place.
2. While I was cleaning up the scattered dirt, a strange buzzing sound was in the air. I looked up and a few feet over, and a giant swarm of bees was headed my way--maybe 12 cubic feet in size. No pictures of this, because I … (6 comments)

south graylyn crest: Lilac, Iris, and Lily of the Valley - a fragrant bouquet - 04/20/20 01:10 PM

It may be overcast today, but this fragrant bouquet will take you away to the far away garden of your dreams.
The iris have just started to open their blowsy blooms right next to the fragrant lilac bush, both vying for my attention. Nearby, the lillies of the valley are just starting to open, their strong frangrance just starting to send out tentacles of fragrance which will soon overcome their neighbors, just as the lilacs start to fade away.
As I cocoon inside my home, this gift of nature's bounty makes its fragrant presence known.
… (5 comments)

south graylyn crest: Slithering and good tree news - 04/14/20 01:26 PM

We had a whole lot of rain yesterday, but luckily for my neighborhood, it just meant a few branches down, the usual soggy ground at the bottom of the hill, and a gushing Shellpot Creek (a name left behind by early Swedish settlers) at the bottom of the hill.

Today I decided to do some weeding and pruning, and heard a slithering noise (yes, you can hear slithering if it's through dead leaves). I haven't seen a snake for a couple of years, but if they are hiding, they probably have been there the whole time. No problem.

Some good news is that the tree … (2 comments)

south graylyn crest: The daily bloom report - 04/08/20 09:26 AM

Every day, I check on what is in bloom in my garden and today I also checked to see if any branches were down after a hard rain storm last night.
Luckily, there didn't seem to be any damage (except for the tulip blooms bitten off by an over-active squirrel).
Today's bouquet contains daffodils, tulips, hosta, and hellebores.

… (4 comments)

south graylyn crest: Checking for changes in the neighborhood - 03/30/20 06:39 PM

This afternoon, I headed out for a walk to see if anything had changed since my last walk. I knew the County said they were fencing playgrounds and discouraging group play.

Back in the 1950's, when they built these houses, each neighborhood had a small park or two. We got two because there was a winding creek (a tributary of Shellpot Creek which leads to the Brandywine Creek) and some marshy land that was probably considered un-buildable. Checking out the park with a playground, it looked as if they decided that the playground equipment and the tennis courts didn't need any modifications.

Then, … (4 comments)

south graylyn crest: The Lenten Rose Shows Up On Time - 02/29/20 09:05 AM

My favorite perennial flower is the Hellebore, or Lenten Rose, a late winter bloomer that is a member of the Buttercup family. This morning I started cleaning up one of the 3 planting beds in my back and front yards that become more crowded with Hellebores every year. Not that I mind them spreading their seeds, as long as they stay roughly in the same area.
Nurseries say they do well in shade (check) but leaves can become dry and tattered over the winter if not covered by snow (check--no snow this year in Delaware). So it's these ratty looking leaves which … (3 comments)

south graylyn crest: My Garden is Sending Out Heat Waves of Color - 05/21/19 04:36 PM

Looking out of my kitchen window this morning, I was pleased to see my new Vivienne Clematis has bloomed. I love the large purple flowers, especially since my other Clematis turned out to have tiny purple blooms.

My hot red/orange poppies needed some brassy neighbors, and I think Vivienne is going to give them a run for their money. Not that the bluestars don't think they are the most glorious flowers in the garden! They keep spreading their wings and crowding out other plants every year, probably looking for global domination.
… (9 comments)

south graylyn crest: My Flowering Quince is growing up! - 04/18/19 01:39 PM

It's been about 4 years since I planted my Flowering Quince ("Double Take Orange Storm") and a Spirea bush in the back of my yard. Every year I inspect it after the Spirea (photo) next to it blooms. I had loved the combination of 2 plants in Winterthur's Sundial Garden, and hoped to get a similar effect.

The Spirea was quick to bloom after the first year, but the Quince only had tiny blooms before. But, voila! This year the Quince has flowers large enough to see from the top of the hill. This variety does not have any noticeable fruits … (4 comments)

south graylyn crest: Like the Transcontinental RR, But In a Snowy Driveway - 01/24/16 12:49 AM

Four foot drifts? No problem! I did get out a bit during the blizzard yesterday and cleared about a yard horizontally and maybe 18” deep, but the wind was blowing and it was still snowing. Seeing my neighbors across the street and next door out this morning shoveling their sidewalks and driveways brought me out again. As a native Chicagoan, I relish the thought of shoveling snow, at least for a while. But as parts of my driveway were over 4’ deep in drifts and the “shovel by layers” technique was necessary (at least for me, since the whole lifting 4’ … (2 comments)

south graylyn crest: Good News: Crime Down in New Castle County - 01/12/16 04:47 AM

The good news for South Graylyn Crest is that overall crime in New Castle County is down 22.2 percent. Homicides in New Castle County over the three year period fell 13.2 percent and shootings/shots fired complaints dropped 29.4 and 28.1 percent, respectively. The Property Crime Initiative also helped drive down burglaries, thefts and vehicle thefts by 32.9 percent, 23.9 percent and 11.2 percent, respectively. The following charts also show how every significant targeted crime has decreased notably since Targeted Analytical Policing began. “As we continue using TAPS and re-enforcing its success, we constantly see the need to directly attack the heroin … (0 comments)

south graylyn crest: Walk to Restaurants, Shops From S. Graylyn Crest Home - 10/12/15 08:21 AM

The popular South Graylyn Crest area welcomes you to a new listing at 1216 Faun Rd. This four bedroom split level lets you relax on a screened porch backing to trees on a quarter acre lot. Plan on cozy evenings in front of a stone front wood-burning fireplace in the living room. Oak floors, chair rail and crown molding enhance the dining room. Central air and gas forced air heater installed in 2002. The large upper level 4th bedroom can serve as a quiet getaway or studio. Add your own touches by updating the kitchen and baths (2 full and one … (4 comments)

south graylyn crest: Dry leaves are flying, the snow is coming AGAIN! - 01/20/14 06:22 AM

As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
I thought of these lines from Clement Moore’s poem, A Visit from St. Nicholas as I took a walk this afternoon and the wind was whipping up the dried leaves along the edge of the South Graylyn Crest park (always known to my boys as “the park with the rocks.”) It was a place they liked to go to and climb all over the large rocks which were left by the prehistoric volcanoes which once occupied Delaware.

… (6 comments)

south graylyn crest: South Graylyn Crest Successfully Holds Its First Fall Festival - 10/19/13 10:16 AM

If anyone wondered where your Civic Association dues go, we had a great example of our community spirit this Saturday. Thanks to our enthusiastic Activities Chair, Chastity Rouse, we had games, face painting, a moon bounce, and a very nice selection of goodies from a food truck. There were doubters saying we have never done this before, but although it has been many years, there have been street parties and Halloween parades in the past, but nothing that I can remember with catered food. So we can thank the weather gods for the nice day for our event, and … (0 comments)

south graylyn crest: It's a good thing: Get a sexy kitchen NOW! - 07/20/13 07:28 AM

A recent question from a South Graylyn Crest resident brought the latest figures on activity in the neighborhood for the last six months. The good news is that sale prices are up over 10% over 2012.

And if you are wondering how to be the homeowner who gets the highest price but don't feel you are ready to sell, I have two words of advice, "Enjoy yourself!" So often I find sellers don't add updates like "sexy" kitchens and baths until they are thinking of moving. PEOPLE: do it now and enjoy it! You deserve to enjoy a new kitchen … (0 comments)

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