A Walk in Washington Valley, May 2010

May 8th dawned cool and rainy, but clouds dispersed around 12 noon. Right around then, I hit the trail in Washington Valley Park, Gilbride Road trailhead, in Bridgewater, NJ.

I was pleased to explore a new trail on this visit (shown in red dashes on the park map). The overlook, pictured above, is my new favorite place. The vastness of the gorge below the East Branch Reservoir reminds me of the gorges I love in Ithaca, NY (where I lived for four years while earning my Bachelor's degree).

This spot looks very similar to a gorge I walked past often while in Ithaca. It is interesting how the man-made reservoir transitions into the natural rock.

From a spot along the new part trail I explored, you can look down the reservoir towards the rock crossing I have mentioned in a previous post.

On my way along the trail, I spotted these Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus) butterflies "puddling" (sipping minerals from moist ground, along the steam bank).

Above is a shot of half of what I believe is a American robin's (Turdus migratorius) egg while it rests in my hand. I found the half shell found under a tree, in the grass along the trail.

A lucky shot of a Common Whitetail (Libellula lydia) dragonfly. Evidently this dragonfly is also known as a Longtailed Skimmer - thanks Wilkapedia for help with the identification. My field biology course was over ten years back now and I'm not sure how may insects we covered.

The insect above is a millipede (Narceus americanus), an impressive insect about 4 inches long. Millipedes are harmless and feed on dead plant matter on the forest floor. However, I am positive a bug this size would have frightened me badly if I had encountered it indoors as a child. Now I am fond of them because their serrated bodies remind me of snakes, which I find fascinating. For those curious about these insects, there is a great website here and a descriptive Wilkapedia article here.

I look forward to hiking this trail again during the summer. I am pleased that I have not yet visited every good spot in the Somerset county park system. With some sunny weather in the forecast, I hope to hit the trail and enjoy the beautiful green wonderland that forest trails have become.

High Aspirations, High Pollen Count

Happy May Day faithful blog readers! Thanks to a ride from a friend, I was able to visit the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DWG) last Saturday, May 1st.


The Delaware Water Gap is located in north-eastern New Jersey and spans the state boundary between New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In contrast to the county parks I have covered on this blog so far, the DWG is a national park administered at the federal level by the National Park System. That is, it is a lot bigger.

When I first woke up last Saturday, I had Sunfish Pond in mind as my goal. Sunfish Pond is a small pond along one of the many trails that run through the DWG. I have never visited before, but it sounds like a pretty spot to visit. Unfortunately, I had a terrible allergy attack as soon as I hopped out of bed.

A sea of green now graces the slopes of the mountainous region around the gap. Whatever pollen it is that irritates my eyes and sinuses flew through the air around my home in Somerset County. I has a classic sinus headache and my eyes and nose watered freely. It was so bad my whole body felt weak and I hadn't recovered by around 11am.

While I try not to allow any outside circumstances to interrupt my weekly hikes, that Saturday I was sorely tempted. Luckily my faithful chauffeur (my boyfriend who loves road trips) agreed to make the 1.5 hour or so drive out the DWR for a hike in the length of my choice. What a guy!

Stuffing my pockets with tissues and sipping some iced herbal tea, we made it to the park and kicked around for a few hours. Trail heads like the one pictured above abound throughout the DWG. On this trip, we stuck to the three overlooks along the southern most tip of the park and the Kittatiny Point Visitor's Center.

While I didn't make it to Sunfish Pond (8 miles round trip and 1000 feet increase in elevation was too much in the 80 degree heat), we had a lot of fun and I gradually recovered throughout the day. I hope to try for the pond on another trip.

On a side note, this was my first trip to the DWG since the Kittatiny Point Visitor's Center was rebuilt. The park website has a nifty picture here. A log cabin style building rests on stilts set back from the river's edge. The previous site is now a paved picnic area. I approved of the new interpretive exhibits - they were quite impressive for the limited space available. I especially recommend stopping in to see the "Please Touch" table where kids (and adults) can handle turtle shells, deer skulls, various other bones, a few fossils and assorted other objects collected in the park.

Today (May 8th) has dawned cool (around 60 degrees) and rainy. My sinuses drained out around last Monday morning and I am feeling much better. Summer-like thunderstorms have been rolling through our area all week and today is no exception. I am primed to head out to the Washington Valley Reservoir to see if I can catch some birds or reptiles out enjoying the rain.

Frelinghuysen Arboretum, Morristown, NJ

Welcome to the Frelinghuysen Arboretum, on East Hanover Avenue in Morristown, NJ. For a copy of the map pictured above please see the park website here. Across the top I have scrawled "Enjoy today, embrace tomorrow," a quote from a memorial bench in one of the park's gardens.

I have visited this park several times, as I have relatives living in East Hanover. The arboretum quickly captured my heart with its profusion of reflecting pools and fountains. If you'd like me to marry you, a yard with a reflecting pool is not a bad place to start.

The arboretum is unique in that it combines beautifully tended gardens with "native woodland" (areas left wild).

In contrast to last weekend, I was in high spirits on Saturday the 24th. The weather was clear and sunny and the temperature the perfect mix of warmth with a cool breeze, around 80 degrees. Life seemed settled and filled with potential throughout the coming summer season.



One of the most important characteristics we can possess is the ability to recover from life's obstacles. I find that I almost always recover in time, or simply forget what was bothering me. My long, medative walks outdoors are always a big help.

My path last Saturday circled the main arboretum grounds. I wanted to cross all the wooded areas, as well as exploring each formal garden. Above is the Whippany River, which runs through the north east corner of the park. Note the truck in the background - directly across the river is Route 287.





Despite the traffic passing close by, the trees along the riverbank create a peaceful, secluded feel. Above is a special place - East Hanover Avenue crosses the river. The bridge seems to merge seamlessly with the surrounding natural area. The feel of this spot is similar to many areas of New Jersey parks - very close to human habitation, but it is clear nature rules and animals like to hang out there.

Heading back towards the Haggerty Education Center, I pass through the Fern Garden, with its interesting paved walk, above.



Be sure to stop by the interpretive sign above describing the history of ferns, featuring a real fossilized fern.

A bench in the Shade Garden. A moment earlier, and I would have caught a robin posing just beneath the bench in front.

The Gazebo the photo at top is taken from is pictured above. This is "English-style" architecture, per the park brochure.

I was fascinated by the Pikaart Garden in the Sylvan Terrace part of the arboretum. Signs in braille and regular type ring the garden, describing plants geared to be enjoyed even by the blind. Each stop on the trail contains a scented or touch orient scene.

On this trip, I learned that the pretty, purple, vine-growing flowers shown above have the common name Wisteria.

This guy is a chipmunk (Tamias minimus).

A pool in the Home Demonstration Gardens.

As of this writing, it is sunny and clear on Saturday May 1st. My allergies are kickin' up something fierce, but Aengus has graciously agreed to drive up to Delaware Water Gap to explore a few trails. Hope you enjoy the sunny weekend.

Cloudy Day at Leonard J. Buck Garden

Welcome to the Leonard J. Buck Garden on Layton Road in Far Hills, NJ.

Alas, last weekend found me mentally wrapped up in matters unrelated to hiking, nature or any of the other outdoor areas my mind dwells so comfortably in. I was feeling quite melancholy, and only partially due to the cloudy morning of April 17th.

Seeking recovery, I sought comfort at the Buck Garden. As far as the gardens of Somerset County go, I generally prefer the Rose Garden at Colonial Park in Franklin Township. However, this year the garden is closed for renovations. Situated in the posh neighborhood of Far Hills, the Leonard J. Buck Garden has an air of sophistication.

Gravel paths trace the carefully tended borders. The sprinklers which keep everything green through dry spells raise their heads here and there among the ground cover.

The circular paths which pass around and through the grounds cross graceful bridges.

On this trip I learned from a poster at the visitor's center that the purple flowers above are called periwinkles.

The tree above is Witch Hazel, showing this species of tree's classic form.

For a complete description of the garden, please see the part website here.

Another distinctive park feature is the garden designer's love of plants and flowers that can seemingly grow out of bare rock.

It is a beautiful place, and I hope you will visit. Had I been more clearly disposed, I would have collected more information on the common and Latin name of many of the plants I viewed and photographed.

My favorite part of the garden is the two Dawn Redwood trees, which grow just down the hill from the visitor's center. I know of no other trees of this species growing on public land.

I believe the sun came out for approximately 5 minutes that Saturday, just long enough for me to catch the picture above. I recall promising myself and on my previous visit to the area, that I would return to photograph the garden in sunshine - maybe next time.

After the sun went in again, I returned to my vehicle and headed homeward. I was convinced that next weekend would be better.