Maine Photos

Here, especially for those like my mom and dad who come for their kid pics fix, are some shots of our recent vacation in Maine.


Old Orchard Beach Pier



Monarch on a milkweed

Boogie Boards on Old Orchard Beach

Old Orchard Beach, from The Pier

The sparkling sand.



Palace Playland





Your kid pics fix!





Saco Bay Lookout



Carlo, Saco Bay Lookout

Saco Bay

Evelyn



Downtown Old Orchard Beach




Downtown Portland ("Old Port")



Berry picking at Spiller Farms in Wells



Plant Geek Paradise: West Tisbury, MA

People in Martha's Vineyard take their gardening seriously.  Though many don't go beyond climbing roses and hydrangea, others treat it like a competive sport.  It's obvious that gardens here are carefully thought out, often coordinated with the colors of the house itself. 


I expected Hansel and Gretel to appear at any moment.

During one of our confused, lost exploratory drives around the island, my friend Emilie and I discovered that one road in particular, West Tisbury Road, was full of garden centers.   Emilie made other plans, so I was free to explore without the guilt of boring her.

I started at Eden Market, in Vineyard Haven.  Although smaller than the others, it was fun to poke around.  A winding path took me through sections of garden decor, watergardens, perennial flowers and vegetables. 

The staff was super friendly and happy to point out which plants were heat tolerant as well as some really cool new kinds of echinacea.

 I shared a moment with this frog.

Heather Gardens



 My next stop was Heather Gardens.  This place had astounding variety and acres of plants.  I could have stayed there all day.  Props to the extra-nice owner Mike, who kindly took the time to dig up a (free!) hops root for me because they didn't carry them and he knew it was growing wild by one of the fences.  



"Galahad" delphinium.  On my wish list.

It was fun to stroll around, looking at the unusual plants and making notations for my wish list.   There was really too much to look at here. 

Middletown Nursery

Middletown Nursery had some incredible displays.  I was especially inspired by some rustic cages and trellises made from raw (pine?) that were placed throughout the store.  

A live band was playing in a shady area while kids did art projects and ate popcorn - such a nice vibe.

I know I missed at least one other garden center, but leaving something unseen is supposed to guarantee a return visit.

Eden Market
455 State Road
Vineyard Haven, MA
(508) 693- 5202
http://www.edenmv.com/

Heather Gardens
377 State Road
West Tisbury, MA  02575
info@heather-gardens.com
http://www.heather-gardens.com/

Middletown Nursery and Garden Center
680 State Road
West Tisbury, MA
508-696-02575

West Tisbury on Dwellable

Wakulla Springs

If you're lucky, you'll discover at least a couple of fine places in nature during your lifetime that speak to your soul.   Along with Arrow Park, that place for me is Wakulla Springs.  It’s a state park about 25 miles south of Tallahassee in the Florida panhandle, and it’s the largest, deepest fresh water spring in the US, putting out up to 210 million gallons of water a day at at constant 69 degrees.   They filmed “Tarzan” and “Creature From the Black Lagoon” here. 

Edward Ball, the millionaire owner of the St. Joe Paper Company, built the lodge there in the 1937.   

Edward Ball

“What can you say about Mr. Ball?  That he bought his clothes off the hanger, his eyeglasses from the dimestore, his shoes from whatever store he happened to be passing when he needed a pair… and he carried his own suitcases.  He didn’t believe in indulging himself, saying that those who did “cross the creek” at an early age.  And that he spent a lifetime building the largest empire in Florida during the 20th Century and by his death at age 93, he was making donations to charities at the rate of $27,000 a day or nearly $10 million a year. “   (from the lodge restaurant menu, which also includes an historic reproduction of a dinner menu from 1940 that offers kraut juice and buttermilk for just 10 cents each!)

Contributing to the unhurried vibe there is the lack of technology.  There’s one screen in the lobby, but there are no televisions in the rooms, internet café’s or computer terminals.  Instead there is an old-time elevator, 

checkers tables,

a handpainted ceiling,

and a soda fountain counter (with one of the largest marble slabs in the country). 

Something about handling and using these old fixtures gives me comfort.   I feel honored.  It’s as if the lodge is saying “We saved this for you.” 

The lodge is available for corporate retreats and other events.  We just held my mother’s 70th birthday party there.   Here she is… the Mermaid Queen of Wakulla Springs….

My summer vacations as a child were usually spent on camping trips.  We visited places like Manatee Springs, Homassassa Springs, and Weeki Watchee Springs.  These places were our summer retreats, and Wakulla brings back memories of these excursions. 

The Swimming Hole

The big attraction at Wakulla Springs, aside from the crystal clear swimming hole, is the boat ride.  Birds of all kinds, perched on 500-year-old cypress trees, gators, turtles and jumping mullet may appear.

Tri-color Heron

Anahinga, drying his wings

Purple Gallinule

Florida Alligator

Manatees aren’t uncommon.  Here, a glimpse of a manatee tail!

Old Joe was thought to be the most photographed alligator in the world.  He live at Wakulla Springs in the 1950s and 60s.  “He never harmed or molested any woman, child or pets.” 

In 1966 he was found killed at the bottom of the Springs.  They offered a $5,000 reward, but the killer was never found.  He now lives under glass in the lobby.  I bet he could tell some stories.

The Joys of Summer

Orange palm trees against a lavender sky.

The smell of Hawaiian Tropic Dark Tanning Oil.

Jumping into an ice cold ocean on the hottest day of the year.

 

Carving the name of your crush in the sand.

Riding the roller coaster with your BFF. 

The Tilt-A-Whirl.

.

A row of stuffed puppies.

Have you been "On the Boardwalk" lately?

See also Theme Thursday: Summer