Brigantine has wide beaches with fine sand. The ocean here is that greyish, greenish, brownish color that nobody seems to know the exact name for.
We’re just past the first day of fall and Mr. Excitement and I are spending our last weekend for the year at our beach house in Brigantine, New Jersey. Our Brigantine summer was somewhat squeezed because we had the chance to travel in Southeast Asia and to live in Hawaii until late May. Then, we left for a trip to Europe on September 6th so Dr. Excitement could confer with 25,000 of his closest pulmonary physician peeps in Munich, Germany, and we leave for South Africa on October 14th because his mesothelioma research colleagues picked Cape Town as the location for their bi-annual meeting. Bangkok, Hong Kong, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Honolulu, Munich, Vienna, Budapest and —- Brigantine, New Jersey. That’s how we roll.
We obviously love to travel, but we also love to chillax in this unassuming southern New Jersey beach town. We may have two lap top computers for work just about permanently affixed to our dining room table in Brigantine, but there is still plenty of time to enjoy bike rides, beach walks and sunsets. So, before we drain the pipes and cross our fingers that they don’t freeze anyway again this winter, we’re basking in a final perfect Indian summer weekend of summer temperatures minus the humidity and summer “crowds”.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. (Who are “they” anyway?) This has never stopped me from churning out at least a thousand words anyway, but today, I’ll stop at 241 words and let some Brigantine photos do the talking — not counting the captions, of course — and now we’re up to 255 words just like that, so without further ado, here’s the Brigantine to which we are bidding a fond adieu — until next year……
After living in Hawaii and being awed by the beautiful flowers there, I opened my eyes this summer and discovered that Brigantine also has its share of lovely blooms.
Many Brigantine homeowners take pride in their gardens.
The Brigantine Garden Club keeps the street medians popping with color.
Brigantine clematis.
And who knew you could grow hibiscus in New Jersey?
I need help identifying this one. Anyone?
It’s not Brigantine, New Mexico, but this year I found flowering prickly pear cactus in New Jersey.
There’s fauna too. Mr. Excitement captured this snow egret hanging out in some marsh grass behind our house. (Oh, there are foxes too and we don’t discuss the greenhead flies).
What I’ll miss most are the sunsets over Saint George’s Thorofare.
Our last Brigantine sunset (or after the sunset) of the year.
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The flower you are looking for the name of is celosia. The Garden Club had them planted by the boat by the Brig. Entrance sign. I manage the garden club page and am on the board. I’m so happy that you enjoyed the flowers on the island. Did you ever go and see the fountain by Mad Dog’s? The red celosia grows the best out if all the colors.
Linda, thanks so much for identifying the celosia for me. We have really enjoyed the flowers in the Brigantine public spaces and that residents grow on their property. I did see the fountain plantings on the new traffic island. The Brigantine Garden Club is obviously a boon to the town. Unfortunately, I have the opposite of a green thumb.
Sometimes I think flowers in locations with four seasons are all the more brilliant because of their shorter lifespan. This was a lovely look at summer past. I can see why you love it there. 🙂
Thanks, Betsy. What’s strange is that in Philadelphia, I think the autumn leaves are much less colorful this year—I’m not sure why. There was a wicked winter here with a lot of ice and the summer was cooler than usual. Maybe that has something to do with it. Maybe not. I’m no John Bartram. 😉
http://www.bartramsgarden.org/discover-our-roots/john-bartram/
Such amazing flowers! ITs great that you had a great time this summer. I do have to put hawaii on my travel list sometime soon if not anyplace else.
I can see why it’s hard to leave Brigantine! So beautiful…not only the flowers but those sunsets look magnificent. Then again, you are always running TO something when so many folks are running away. I admire that about you and Mr Excitement…whose name NEVER FAILS TO MAKE ME LAUGH! Loved this pictorial review Suzanne!
You’re right, Jacqueline. I’m not complaining, but I thought Brigantine deserved a shout out.
I’m glad to hear that even as a traveller, you need that home base to relax…I will never be a nomad because I like having that place to come home to between travels.
Suzanne, Our summer was almost as busy as yours. We didn’t hit as many countries, but we did quite a bit of travel. It was a great summer! It sounds like your fall is just as busy.
I love your Brigantine photos…especially the colorful flowers!
Corinne, our summer was actually the lull in the travel although I guess our last trip at the beginning of September did occur before the official beginning of fall.
Poor New Jersey, the “Garden State”, has an unfair reputation because, as your pictures show, there are many parts of the state that are amazingly beautiful. I’m so glad that someone identified the flower in your picture as the celosia as that photo is one of my favorites in addition to your beach sunsets.
Thanks for stopping by, Anita. Growing up, my exposure to New Jersey was pretty much the NJ Turnpike between where we lived in Philadelphia and Brooklyn, New York where my grandparents lived. There were some really unlovely scenes at that time. I’m glad I’ve learned better.
I had to wonder why you were posting sunsets on FB from Brigantine – I had missed the part somewhere along the line of you having a home there! Isn’t it fun to have such differing chapters to open and close each year in our life’s story?
Thanks for stopping by, Jackie. You’re also kind of hard to keep up with. 😉 This has en an extraordinary travel year for us with our trip to South Africa in two weeks(!); however, it really was a nice interlude to spend time in Brigantine this summer. If anyone is interested in reading about how we ended up owning a house in Brigantine, NJ (now the only house we own), you can find the story here: http://www.boomeresque.com/a-shoobie-view-of-brigantine-new-jersey/
The photos of the sunsets and the flowers are beautiful. I’m glad you found some time to chillax amid your busy schedule.
At my age, some chillaxing has to be on the schedule. 🙂
I always enjoy your sunset photos on Facebook. I guess since we’re about to relocate to the east coast, there is a better chance I may someday make it to the beach in New Jersey. Looking forward to reading about Cape Town and I’ll be blogging from the road and our big yellow truck. Safe travels for all of us!
Patti, maybe we’ll get to meet IRL (in real life) once you’re established on the east coast.
Ahh… sunsets and beautiful blossoms. What an inspiring combination. Peaceful. Hope you enjoy the Cape. It’s an old South African stamping ground of mine – one of my favourites. A gorgeous area.
Thank you, Ursula. I have also heard that the Cape Town area is beautiful. We are also going to travel on the so-called Garden Route along the southern coast of South Africa.
What a fabulous place and the sunsets look amazing. We also have four seasons, and although swift and delicate the spring flowers are my favourites. Love your flower pics by the way 🙂
I also love spring in Philadelphia. We have beautiful flowering trees and shrubs in the park across the street from our apartment, Rittenhouse Square.
The pros of travel – Travel further afield and have your eyes opened to the wondrous blooms in your own neck of the woods!
I have to say your opening list of places visited this year is seriously impressive! And with more to follow – I can see this little interlude with your sunsets was grounding 🙂
It’s true, Linda. Sometimes you have to admire what you’re used to from afar.
How lovely! I feel more relaxed just looking at these pictures!
What gorgeous pictures!!
Hmmm…we didn’t do much this Summer…looking forward to a trip at Thanksgiving though
I love going to the beach – so soothing and peaceful. Beautiful photos!
This area looks so beautiful! I love the sunset and flower photos as they are two of my favorite things. The egret picture is beautiful too. I have a friend from New Jersey who spent the summer in Florida. She is returning to New Jersey as fast as she can!
Thanks, Michelle. Aren’t people supposed to spend the summer in New Jersey and the winter in Florida. Actually, I think there quite a few Brigantine residents who do that.
I can see why you love it there! Gorgeous. The sunset photos are amazing.
Brigantine is such a special place. I too spend the summer weekends there and consider it my magical oasis to go to stop, breathe and be. Enjoy your travels.
Small world.
Actually, my neighbor grows hibiscus. And that’s “way” up here in Central New Jersey. Brigantine looks so beautiful. I love when you post the sunsets.
Maybe I always saw them (hibiscus) and didn’t realize what they were until we lived in Hawaii.
You have had one heck of a busy travel year and although that’s always fun and exciting, so it relaxing. I can imagine myself with a glass of wine on a veranda watching the sun go down. Looks lovely.
Suzanne, you two have had one heckuv of a wonderful (ongoing) travel itinerary this year. More in one year than many will ever see their dreams come true in a lifetime. I’m so glad you’ve been able to share those experiences with us. The flowers are almost as beautiful as the sunsets – I’m biased towards the latter. Have a fantastic weekend my friend 🙂
Welcome back, Mike. It’s hard to go wrong with sunsets and flowers wherever one might roam.
Yes, indeed, those are lovely blooms.
It looks like Brigantine’s flowers are right up there in beauty with those on the islands. It’s so true that we sometimes overlook beauty right under our noses until something makes us take an extra moment to look. I sometimes wish we had a summer place like yours where one can chill out a bit and put things in perspective. Not always easy to do at home.
Where did the summer go, Suzanne? Let me know what you find out. 🙂
Cathy, I’ve been following your lovely photos from your very warm fall. This summer did seem to do a sudden disappearing act.
Beautiful blooms and sunsets, Suzanne. What a great way to end the summer!
A beach house in Brigantine looks just as nice as Hawaii or Asia :-). A good balance to travels away…
It seems not only Florida has nice beaches, i like that picture of the boat next to the life guard station…is that what they use or just being parked there? Finest sand i seen was in Fort Mayers West Coast Florida the east South Florida sand is never as nice and the West..
Yes, those are the life boats they use. There is one at every guarded section of the beach.
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