Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, Massachusetts

  Tower Hill Botanic Garden
11 French Drive
Boylston, MA 01505-0598
Phone: 508-869-6111 | Web: www.towerhillbg.org

Camilla bushes bloom in February. Nice color to add to winter.

Nice display of spring flowers, indoors on a cold day.

The Marjorie Doyle Rockwell Orangerie opened to the public on January 31, 1999 and is a hybrid of an 18th-century orangerie and a modern conservatory. The glass roof on the Orangerie admits a great deal of light, allowing non-hardy plants to be grown in the winter. 

The Limonaia, or Lemon House, opened in 2010. The cathedral-like interior reflects the architecture of a traditional lemon house, with a windowed south wall for optimal winter light, augmented with overhead glazing to admit more light.

Since the garden is open year-round, you can visit almost anytime. The two enclosed conservatories (in the same building) are filled with blooming plants and fruits like sweet smelling oranges, lemons and limes. And, often you'll see Camellias in bloom in winter. We were members for about eight years. Now we visit just to see special exhibits.

The annual daffodils keep multiplying to present their show.

Lots of places to walk with nice views.

Fall crocuses above.

Lots of woods with trails.

Christmas at Tower Hill Botanic Garden

For many years, the building would be beautifully decorated inside by many of the garden clubs in the area. There was always a theme. About two years ago, they decided to decorate outside and have a light display at night. This photo from a few years ago shows the main hall, it extends to the outside.

View of Wachusett Reservoir and mountain of the same name.

 This flyer is quite old, so I imagine some things have changed.

I have decided not to use the Comment feature for my blog. If you would like to leave a comment for me or ask a question, please write me at my email: BarbaraPoole@Gmail.com. Thank you.

My reason is because since November 2017 to May 2018, I received no comments, but upon investigating I found that I had indeed received 167 legitimate ones and 1,000 were in the spam folder. Google Blogger had made some changes that I was unaware of. Please be aware that I do not know who reads my blog, I may know who subscribes, but that is all.

Veterans Day at Arlington National Cemetery with Max Cleland and a shot of President Jimmy Carter

Max Cleland

Many of us celebrate Veterans Day in different ways. We have our traditions, whether to go to a cemetery to honor a lost soldier or a loved one, go to a parade, or do something else to celebrate or remember. For many years it has been a day of looking back for me. The picture above is of Max Cleland, taken by me on a Veteran's Day (either 1978 or 1979) at Arlington National Cemetery. He was the administrator of the Veterans Administration (now called the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs). This was taken after the ceremony which is often seen on TV, in which the president and the administrator both speak at this amphitheater and the president also lays a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknowns. I remember this day clearly. The president was Jimmy Carter. I had a press pass and a green ribbon, allowing me to walk about freely. The reason for my credentials was, as an employee of the Veterans Administration in Washington, D.C., I worked in the film library at that time. This department did all the filming of anything newsworthy pertaining to the Veterans Administration, and the staff needed an extra hand and photographer. They provided my film but kept the prints. They did give me two copies of the picture above; note the black border, all developing was done in their dark room. I have no recollection as to how many photos I took of the president.

I knew Max Cleland for three years. He was remarkable to say the least, having lost three limbs in the Vietnam War. His car was designed so that he could drive himself to and from work. He also wrote a book, "Strong at the Broken Places" which he autographed for me. He is still out and about in the country or on TV campaigning for those Democrats running for office. I wanted to see him five years ago when he campaigned for John Kerry for President in New Hampshire, but I just couldn't get there in time. With his phenomenal memory, I like to think he remembered me. I also have a personal photo somebody took of him and me (when I half sat in his lap.)

Max Cleland wrote this book while in office. I had him autograph this first edition while we were both working there. I noticed that Amazon has a new edition, shown below (it may be updated, I don't know.)

On July 20, 1980  the VA's had its 50th Anniversary at the headquarters in Washington. There was lots of celebrating, with a huge cake and a slice for all. I had my photo taken with a very happy Max Cleland. The weather was unbearably hot, that they closed early because the a/c broke down.

Max Cleland a triple amputee hero.

One of the few photos I liked of myself. But I think I liked Max and my new Diane Von Furstenberg pink and white dress more.

Along with other things I think of on this day are the days I worked at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, also in Washington, and my years as a soldier. I have very fond memories of this day.

A good friend was an employee photographer, and I was able to keep this picture I took of her. President Carter was at the podium.

See my close-up photo of President Carter.

The Minutemen Marched Along This Trail

Hartwell Tavern and House, Lincoln, Massachusetts

Circa 1732-1733

"The tavern was on the main road, the "Bay Road," running from Boston through western Massachusetts out to Crown Point, N.Y. This was the road that the British troops used on April 19. The soldiers passed by the tavern on their way to Concord, and again on their way back to Boston." The above house, other buildings and about five miles of this road are all in the Minute Man National Historical Park system.

See http://www.nps.gov/mima/forteachers/the-historic-hartwell-tavern.htm

The original road where the Minutemen and British marched from Boston to Concord, and then returned to Cambridge soon after the battle at The Old North Bridge. It is now known as the Battle Road Trail. This road used to be paved, but it was removed over 20 years ago, to make it look ca 1775. It is now perfect for walking to different sites, other buildings, the Visitor's Center and to the site where Paul Revere was captured.

Hildene Estate, Where is it? It's in Vermont.

Hildene Estate

1005 Hildene Road

Manchester, Vermont 05254

802-362-1788

http://www.hildene.org/about.html

The information below was taken from the website of Hildene. The day trip from my home in Massachusetts to Hildene took close to three hours. The October 2013 weather was warm, and there was an overflow of tourists, trying to find some fall foliage.

"Robert Lincoln built Hildene as a summer home at the turn of the 20th century. He was the only child of Abraham and Mary Todd Lincoln to survive to maturity. Robert first visited Manchester as a young man in the summer of 1864 when he came to the Equinox Hotel with his mother and his brother Tad. Some forty years later he returned to purchase 400 acres of land to build what he would call his ancestral home. At the time, Robert was president of the Pullman Company, the largest manufacturing corporation in the country."

"The 400 acre estate with its Georgian revival mansion and 13 historic buildings includes the home, formal garden and observatory; Welcome Center and The Museum Store in the historic carriage barn; 1903 Pullman car, Sunbeam; a solar powered goat dairy and cheese-making facility and the lower portion, the Dene, was recently incorporated into the guest experience."

If you want to learn more about Hildene and all that it has to offer, here is their website.

As the sign says, Hildene was the summer home of Robert Todd Lincoln, son of Abraham Lincoln.

No taking of photos in the house were allowed. However, I asked if I could shoot this picture from the second floor.

Also on display is this beautifully restored Pullman Palace car. We were allowed to take photos, and I took full advantage of it. Robert Todd Lincoln was the president of the Pullman Company.

Stained glass, and you won't believe where it was. (See very bottom.*)

Ceiling (above) and Seating / Bed area (below).

Too bad it was an overcast day when we got there. Still, we enjoyed the scenery.

*The bathroom.

Naumkeag, a Beautiful Estate in the Berkshires, Massachusetts

Side Views of the House. The sun was too bright to take other house pictures.

Plenty of places to sit and chat with a friend.

Oh the views. Can't wait to go back in the Spring.

Information about this beautiful estate, a summer retreat, was taken from the Trustees of Reservations website. Being a member, we frequently receive information about some of their many holdings. This one intrigued me, so one late September day we went to Stockbridge, Massachusetts. It didn't disappoint. Since we are members, our tour of the house was free, no interior photos allowed. I learned Naumkeag is the native American name for the people who lived in Salem, and is the original name of Salem, Massachusetts, where the Choate family lived.

"What makes Naumkeag a special place?

With its gracious house, magnificent gardens, and panoramic views, Naumkeag is a quintessential country estate of the Gilded Age.

This architectural masterpiece is, at its heart, a family home. Joseph Choate, a leading 19th-century attorney, hired the architectural firm of McKim, Mead, & White to design the 44-room “cottage,” Naumkeag, which would serve as a summer retreat for three generations of Choates.

With its views of Monument Mountain, its stunning collection of gardens created by Joseph Choates's daughter, Miss Mabel Choate, and Fletcher Steele over 30 years, its original artwork, and its shingle-style house, Naumkeag creates an unforgettable experience for visitors. Don't miss the self-guided audio tour of the Naumkeag gardens, including the Blue Steps, a series of deep blue fountain pools, flanked by four flights of stairs and a grove of white birches. Walk through the equally beautiful Afternoon Garden, Tree Peony Terrace, Rose Garden, Evergreen Garden, and Chinese Garden to encounter the playful, inventive spirit of Miss Choate and Mr. Steele."

For additional information see Wikipedia HERE.