In addition to cycling, animals and plants, farms and gardens, were a major theme.

Sunday, we rode over to Flamig Farm in West Simsbury, which was just around the corner from my family's first Connecticut home, to check out all the sustainable efforts they're taking, which includes a 72-panel solar array, a large-scale composting operation, and organic farming. I didn't bother shooting the panels, but the livestock were kinda photogenic:

When we got home, we found a couple of deer in the yard, hoping to feast on Beverly's apple trees, but they were just shy of brazen enough to chow with us in proximity.

One of our stops in Rhode Island Monday was at the seaside gardens of Blithewold, a 33-acre estate from the Golden Age. Here are some photos:

The models are my brother, Rich, and my sister, Judy. The mansion, which was not open when we visited, is behind them.

They keep a stand of bamboo to provide plant stakes.