The High Line in Autumn

Photos taken at the High Line in Manhattan on November 11, 2011.

Lots more photos on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nyackbackyard/

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.

Fall Foliage Peak Week in Nyack

My friends and family down in Florida get a little jealous of us this time of year.  I’m convinced that we live in one of the most beautiful spots in the world during the last two weeks of October and can’t resist showing it off a little.  This map at Weather.com shows where fall foliage is peaking in different parts of the world, and it’s looking like this is just about prime time for Nyack and the rest of the Hudson Valley.  Here a few spots to scope it out nearby - follow the links for more info: 

1)  Hook Mountain – You can access the trail within Rockland Lake State Park or park along the side of the road on 9W and take a short, steep hike to the top of Hook Mountain for a large-scale view of the river and a good part of the Hudson Valley.  

2)   Nyack Beach State Park– at the end of North Broadway in Nyack is the entrance to this park, which features a path along the water’s edge.

3)   Mountainview Nature Park– travelling north on Rt. 303  just a little bit north of Rt. 59, you can find the entrance to this park by making a right just before the old Journal News building onto Greenbush, then a short left on Strawberry Hill.   If you hit KIA you’ve gone too far.  Such a gem and hard to believe it's 200 yards from the Thruway.

4)   Nyack Rural Cemetery – Park at the west end of Nyack Lumber on Rt. 59 and walk down the path.

5)  Buttermilk Falls State Park– entrance is on North Greenbush Road, and can also be accessed through the Rockland Center for the Arts’ nature trail.

6)  The Esposito Trail – There are lots of places in Nyack to catch this path.  I like to park on Brookside, and walk south toward the Thruway – it will take you all the way to Sparkill if you let it.

7)  Rockland Lake State Park -  Accessed easily by 9W, there is a 3.2 mile paved trail here, as well as trails that connect to Hook Mountain and Nyack Beach.

What about your own backyard?  Can I add a photo of your fiery plot or favorite spot?  Email it to me at nyackbackyard@gmail.com and I’ll add it to this post, which will be part of Dave’s Fall Color Project at The Home Garden blog. 

Previous Fall Color posts

Fall At Tallman Mountain

Color Climax: We're Peaking

Mora and More Fun in New Mexico

We take trips to New Mexico at least every couple of years to visit my husband’s dad. He lives in Tecolote, near Las Vegas, about halfway between Santa Fe and Taos. The Brooklyn Clan was visiting too, and our visits overlapped by a couple of days.  This year we stayed pretty close to home, but took several day trips. We also had a nice afternoon and dinner in Santa Fe and even went to a Drive-In Movie!

We’d been to the Montezuma Hot Springs before, but this is the first time we went in the cold river, following our dip in the 113-116 degree water. One of the springs is called “The Lobster Pot.”   The springs are maintained by the United World College nearby.

In Mora, at the Victory Alpaca Ranch, we had an excellent guide named Brian who, after giving us a brief history of alpacadom, allowed C and I to feed them. Each had distinctive features and character and I fell in love with their sweet faces and big eyes. There were some babies there that were born that same day!

The Great Pyrenees guard dogs are an essential part of this ranch.  They're renowned for their innate ability to determine friend from foe and keep the alpaca safe from coyotes, cougars and other intruders.

 

Unfortunately every time I’ve been in NM, the raspberries have never been ripe for picking at the Salman Raspberry Ranch. We satisfied ourselves with lunch in their cafe, and walking in their beautiful gardens, which are cultivated in a historic site, an old corral, with a mission church nearby.

Villanueva State Park was sunny and quiet.  The kids call the Pecos River “the chocolate river.” It’s fun to climb out, walk up river a few paces, and ride the current back to home base.

We were improperly clad in flip flops, but also took a short hike over the footbridge and along the path to the canyon.

Despite the many attractions, it's hard to compete with the awesome fun that can be had back at Grandpa’s ranch: fishing, swimming, the trampoline, riding in the back of Lupe's truck, bike rides, huevos rancheros and gorgeous sunsets….

The kids and their cousins with Grandpa..

Other Las Vegas Posts
Ten Things to See in Las Vegas, NM
Grandpa Grows Calabacitas
Rancho de los Golondrinas
Garden Blogger Bloom Day: New Mexican Blooms