nature

Our Sunrise on Mt. Washington Adventure

July 6, 2012

If you’ve caught on by now, Price and I do a surprise date for each other every month. It was Price’s turn for June so he teased and tormented me with little clues about what he had planned. When he said I would need a heavy coat I started to have my suspicious about what we would be doing. I started to think it would involve the mountains, and possibly even Mt. Washington but didn’t want to guess in 1) sounding really foolish and 2) getting it correct and ruining the surprise. So I waited and waited until that weekend when he revealed that we were in fact going to Mt. Washington, highest mountain in New England at 6,288 ft. But this would be no orginary trip as we would be driving up through the night and getting there for one of the few times a year the auto-road opens up super duper early for sunrise. You read that correctly… sunrise.

So on Saturday, June 23rd we went to bed at 9pm and got up at midnight to get ready to start the drive up to Mt. Washington for the 4.56 sunrise. We were pulling out of our drive way at 12.28am, and after a quick stop at Sonic for a midnight snack (I am addicted to the limeades) we were on our way! We took turns driving up through the White Mountains while the other on the look out for moose (their eyes aren’t reflective like deer so they are much harder to spot). After a wrong turn and going the wrong way for a bit we did make our way, thanks so some friendly gas station attendants, to Mt. Washington Auto Road!

4.43am- entering the auto road

The types of vegetation changed as we made our way up. We also started to get more enveloped in the clouds.

5.09am- we stopped at this point because it was a clear area from cars. The eastern pull off areas were packed with people so we decided to just keep going up as we passed. This area was so scary at first as it was completely enveloped in clouds and so windy but waiting 30 seconds changed it all. It cleared up and we could see the clouds coming up the western side of the mountain and rushing up along the face and breaking right in front of us.

5.24am- We made it to the top! These stairs take you from the parking area up to the buildings summit. Man these steps were wet and it was so windy… I was holding on tight!! I really have no idea how the men built the road 150 years ago or even the new buildings on the top. The weather is super crazy up there! There is a building that is actually chained down to the ground! Did you know that the world’s fastest surface wind was recorded here at 1:21 pm on April 12, 1934? 231 mph!!!

Frank did it!!! Price is such an excellent driver so we had no problem taking our time to carefully get Frank up the auto road. (It was not actually this bright- it’s just the actions I used – it was cold and grey but still so fantastic to experience the summit.

6.12am- Coming back down and we get out of the clouds! We made 2 stops on the way down. The first one was still pretty foggy and as much as we waited it didn’t seem to clear up well for some good photos of the view. Our second stop was more on the eastern site (other was like northeastern side) so we were blocked from the wind and clouds at this point. The view was the most beautiful and unbelievable thing I have ever seen. We could see really far into the valley below while watching the clouds blast around the mountain on the northern and southern faces. Stunning.

7.03am- heading back down

All done. Once we got down to the bottom we could see the summit was clear (dang!) but we just figured we would have to come back another time to see the sunrise again and experience a clear summit.

After leaving Mt. Washington we…

had breakfast at Polly’s Pancake Parlor

saw family friends and enjoyed the view of Cannon Mountain

lost our minds seeing a Reliant Robin in person!!

It was such a great adventure up to Mt Washington! It was such an incredible date day. We had so much fun and got to do something that was unique. The views are really breathtaking and unforgettable. We were exhausted the rest of the day (passed out while watching the NASCAR race) and for Monday as well but it was all worth it!!

Mt. Washington

Route 16, Pinkham Notch

Gorham, New Hampshire

(603) 466-3988

NYBG Orchid Show 2012- Part 2

April 12, 2012

To continue where I left off in my recap “NYBG Orchid Show 2012- Part 1“…

Price and I continued through the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory to see the rest of the The Orchid Show: Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Gardens. We left the Upland Tropical Forest area to head in the tunnel to the Deserts of the Americas hall. Before exploring the deserts we went outside to check out the reflecting pool and the fish in it.

Hello fishes!

We went back in and checked out all cacti and other spiky plants. I think that big guy would make for a great ottoman, no?

I love the succulents and living stones.

Rainbow Orchids

I have to confess that while I have a pretty green thumb I can’t keep orchids alive. I try but either the apartment is too hot or too cold, I water too much or not enough, there is not enough direct light or way to much. They are so delicate. Or I am just crappy at taking care of them.

Slipper Orchid

Moth Orchid

At the center of the Seasonal Exhibit space that housed main part of the Orchid Show was a large structure that the show designer, Patrick Blanc, covered with vibrant greens and orchids of all kinds. Orchids punctuate the green back drop and spill over the ferns and themselves as they wound themselves around the surfaces of the structure.

I love how everything seems so natural and wild in composition but all of Blanc’s designs and arrangements are deliberate and well organized.

Asian Corsage Orchids- Mighty Sunset ‘Roxburgh Red’ and ‘Purple Haze’

Everyone was enjoying what they were seeing so cameras of all sizes and phones were out to snap photos of orchids.

Inside the main exhibit space were a lot of signs about Patrick Blanc and his work. I thought they did a good job of giving a general overview of his work and philosophy.

From the main part of the exhibit you walk through through this archway that is completely covered in flowers and orchids.

As you move through the exhibit you are flanked on either side by panels that are covered in orchids as well. You have to take your time through this area since it can get crowded at times. Also you really should take your time to see all the varieties of orchids, take photos, and help block traffic so others can take family photos as well. It’s only nice of you to help out!

We really enjoyed this year’s Orchid Show!

After the show we walked through the Ladies’ Border, which runs along the side of the conservatory. I think we were a bit early in the season for that area since there were a lot of things not yet in bloom. And yet, it was still beautiful! I caught this bee in the act gathering pollen. 🙂

We walked over to the NYBG Shop in the Garden and looked at the plants, gardening supplies, books, and prints for puchase. I had my eye on a whole line of bee adorned housewares like this serving plate and these tea towels. Too Cute! We just need to move before I get anything else!

From there we walked back through past the reflecting pool, along Garden Way, and in front of Mertz Library before going to our car for our drive back to Boston. Such a great way to send a Sunday morning.

The Orchid Show: Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Gardens is running at NYBG from March 3-April 22. While you are visiting be sure to tag your tweets on Twitter and photos on Instagram with #orchidshow.

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NYBG Orchid Show 2012- Part 1

April 11, 2012

When I realized we would be in CT for Easter weekend I just knew we would have to visit the New York Botanical Garden for their annual Orchid Show. I had gone previously with Emily and her mom in 2009. I loved the show then so I wanted to see it again and this time introduce Price to NYBG and the show. This is their 10th annual show and this time the design was from French botanist and artist Patrick Blanc. Blanc is known for his use of vertical space and how his plantings are on the vertical plan. It’s always a wonder to me how they stay up or how they are weeded. I had actually attended a Patrick Blanc lecture previously so I was very excited to see his work in person for the The Orchid Show: Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Gardens.

We enjoyed our walk to the exhibit through garden. On our way we snapped photos of the countless robins we saw on the sprawling lawns and of the numerous varieties of daffodils that edged the walkways.

Stunning, vivid, bright, fragrant.

It was such a beautiful day. The weather was nice, skies clear, and flowers were in various states of bloom on the property.

When you walk in the conservatory you are greeted in the Palms of the World area with a large structure in the middle of the fountain. It’s lush with greens and orchids. This is ‘classic’ Patrick Blanc style of design. Reminds me of his work on Musée du quai Branly.

NYBG transforms the historic Enid A. Haupt Conservatory into lavish, excotic, tropical wonder that is filled with orchids for the show. However, the conservatory is a year round exhibit space so it is always filled with palms, flowers, and other plants from around the world showcasing the variety of plant species that are indigenous from different climate zones.

There is a lot of helpful signage to help you learn about Orchids. As a designer I found the presentation clear and that helps you process the information you are reading.

In this pot alone there were over a half dozen diffident kinds of orchids. The dark purple ones hanging off the tree very vary fragrant. I would have loved to have that scent bottled or put into a candle.

We moved throughout the conservatory following the way through to Lowland Tropical Rain Forest…

to the Aquatic Plants and Vines Area.

There flowers everywhere you looked in this room. Lilies in the fountain, potted flowering plants, and orchids hanging from overhead. The orchids hanging were so delicate looking and added a whimsical touch when walking through the space.

From there we continued to walk through the conservatory into the Upland Tropical Rain Forest. I was intrigued with a extensive palms and ferns species there were housed in the hall. From small potted pones to towering high ones that resembled trees- it was really quite amazing.

And that that point we were only halfway through the Conservatory! So much to see, smell, and experience!

Please check back tomorrow for Part 2 for my recap and photos of the Orchid Show.

The Orchid Show: Patrick Blanc’s Vertical Gardens is running at NYBG from March 3-April 22. While you are visiting be sure to tag your tweets on Twitter and photos on Instagram with #orchidshow. 🙂

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Thanks for visiting. Please leave me a comment to provide some feedback. I appreciate all the comments I receive.