Song of the Birds

Tiny little creature
     sing your mating call
Colorful array of nature
     appear in spring or fall
Light upon my windowsill
     brightening my day
Chase away winter’s chill
     then wing your flight away
Tiny little birds
     a gift from God to man
You sing your song without words
     yet all can understand.

Poem by May E. Crane

Downed tree branches throughout cemetery grounds

Groundskeepers cleanup after Irene

A week’s worth of clearing work for groundskeepers!

By the time Hurricane Irene reached us it was a tropical storm.  High speed winds and rain caused tree limbs and branches to drop and littered much of the grounds at Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery. Only two trees came down, but thankfully, did not do any damage.

We estimate it will take up to a week to clear all the debris, so be careful when driving through the cemetery and please avoid any roads that have not been cleared.

Although the cemetery never lost power its phone lines were down until late yesterday afternoon.   Most of  our staff, however, are without power at home and do not know when their power will be restored, which may take up to a week.  Many of you can probably relate, and we hope you are safe and sound.

Deer Fawn Found on Memorial Day

Deer Fawn

It came as both a delight and concern when we found you curled up beside a water spigot alone and deserted.  You didn’t even run away when we approached you, although your ears went back at the sound of approaching footsteps.

DEM told us not to worry about you.  They said that your mother probably ran off to distract prey away from you and would eventually be back for you when she felt it was safe.  Meanwhile, they said you have no scent to attract prey the first 15 days of your life, so you needed to just lie there motionless… and wait.

mother deer returns for fawn

Amazing how very patient, still and trusting you were.  You laid in that very same secluded spot the entire day.  That night your Mom came back and took you away with her.   We were much relieved and very happy for you.

We were also touched by you.  You reminded us that if we are patient, still and faithful we can be found and saved during our darkest, loneliest hours.

Yellow Spotted Salamander

Be careful where you step, especially in the fall.  These slimy amphibians like to hide in dark, damp places such as underneath leaves.  This particular salamander was found and brought in to the cemetery office for a photo shoot by a visitor.

Because we have a pond you can be sure that these little spotted creatures will continue to lay their eggs there and wander about the cemetery looking for good places to hide.   So keep a good eye out for them.  And don’t worry, their poisonous secretions are not harmful to human beings, only to their predators.

Beautiful Ornamentals and Gardens at Quidnessett Memorial Cemetery

Vibrant Blue Hydrangea

These showy hydrangeas have the brightest blue flowers lot owners of the cemetery have ever seen.  Absolutely stunning!