Archive for February, 2009
Silo Tree Additions – February 28, 2009
Another silo tree has been added to the Silo Trees of the U.S. listing. This one makes the Iowa tally up to two.
| This silo tree was spotted during an annual bike race across the state of Iowa. It is between Dumont and Cedar Falls. Photograph courtesy of dazzled. |  |
More photos can be found in the Trees in Silos Flickr group. If you spot a silo tree you’d like to share, let me know!
Frozen Stiles Falls 2009
Earlier this month Flickr user Joseph168 visited Camp Alta Mons‘ 45-foot Stiles Falls in Shawsville, Virginia. He snapped a great photo of the frozen falls:
Stiles Falls – February 8, 2009 (Photo Courtesy of Joseph168)
And in case you missed the Frozen Stiles Falls post from 2008, here is a summer version of the same waterfall.
Stiles Falls – August 13, 2006
If you are in the mood for more shots of Southwest Virginia, be sure to check out Joseph168’s full PhotoStream. He has some spectacular shots of Blacksburg and the surrounding areas.
Season Compare: Bedford County Silo Tree
One of the Silo Tree photographers, WV Fan, caught his tree in two different seasons. He granted me permission to share both photographs. So check it out– A Silo Tree Season Compare. Enjoy!
Bedford County, VA Silo Tree – February 8, 2006 (Photo courtesy of WV Fan)
Bedford County, VA Silo Tree – April 24, 2006 (Photo courtesy of WV Fan)
More Silo Trees can be found on this blog or in the Trees in Silos Flickr group. If you have a Silo Tree spotting or Season Compare of your own that you would like to share, let me know!
links for 2009-02-24
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The most heavily visited National Park, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, is celebrating its 75th Birthday this year. Numerous events, including hikes, are planned to commemorate the occasion.
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Last week I listened to an NPR interview (originally aired on October 2008) with In Defense of Food author, Michael Pollan. In it, he said he wished the White House would add a “Farmer in Chief” to its staff who would turn 5 of the White House’s 17 acres into a food garden. Even if Michael Pollan doesn’t get that wish, there may still be a symbolism of sustainability on the lawn:
Summa Canum.
A dog house for the Obamas’ new dog.
Canopy Riding in Costa Rica
One of my dream vacations is Costa Rica. Beautiful lush mountains, plenty of hiking and the opportunity to zip line through the tree canopies! My Uncle Mark and Aunt Denise got to do just that in January. You only have to look through a few of their pictures and videos to see they had a phenomenal trip!
Views
View in Costa Rica (Photo by Denise McAvoy)
Another View in Costa Rica (Photo by Denise McAvoy)
Fauna
Butterfly in Costa Rica (Photo by Denise McAvoy)
Bird in Costa Rica (Photo by Denise McAvoy)
Canopy Riding
Denise and Mark went on 12 jumps total, mostly 20 meters high in forest top. The highest outing was over over 100 meters high and 800 meters long over the forest valley.
Getting Ready to Ride (Photo by Denise McAvoy)
My Aunt Riding Through the Canopy (Photo by Denise McAvoy)
My Uncle Riding Through the Canopy (Photo by Denise McAvoy)
Video of Uncle Mark Riding Through the Canopy
Jungle Swing
My aunt and uncle also had the opportunity to ride a giant swing in the juggle. Denise was pretty fearless. Can’t say the same about Mark. : )
Denise Demonstrates Fortitude (Photo by Denise McAvoy)
Mark Demonstrates…Bribery (Photo by Denise McAvoy)
Mark and Denise’s trip has only further solidified my desire to go myself! For more pictures of Denise and Mark’s Trip to Costa Rica, visit my Flickr site!
Newbold-White House Recreation Trail
Nineteen miles southwest of Elizabeth City, the town of Hertford is home to the oldest brick house in North Carolina. It is known as the Newbold-White House and it was built in 1730 as part of a riverside plantation. Today the house is a museum, open March 1st through Thanksgiving, where visitors can partake in a 45 minute tour of the grounds.
It wasn’t the historic building, however, which brought me there last January. Ryan Somma and I were looking for an afternoon outing with the dogs. The Newbold-White House is set upon 143 acres and has its very own Recreation Trail to the Perquimans River and better yet– the trail is open year round.
The Recreation Trail itself is straight forward– about a mile round-trip, flat and wide. We did take the time to explore the shoreline, a nearby swamp, a nearby decaying tree and the surprising remains of an automobile in the sand. It was a humble outing, but an interesting and fulfilling one.
Views
The trails starts views of the historic buildings and ends at the beautiful Perquimans River. A nearby Bald Cypress Swamp adds to the scenery.
The Newbold-White House
Henry Enjoys Shoreline
Bald Cypress Tree and Spanish Moss from Dock
Bald Cypress Swamp
Fauna
Along the way, Somma and I spied three separate fire ant nests. Hoards of mussels were present in the river and finally, there was evidence a raccoon(?) had visited the river recently– its footprints were still in the sand.
Ryan Points to Fire Ant Nest
Shellfish from River
Raccoon Tracks? (Above the fresh Henry track)
Flora
The trail passes through plantation lands, so you get to see an old cotton crop. I was surprised to see a yellow dandelion in full bloom in the middle of January. On the other hand, I wasn’t surprised to see the bald cypress trees, Spanish moss and mistletoe that are prevalent to the area. There were some great dried up yellow berries (anyone know what they are?). But it was the fungus that stole the show for me. Lots and lots of fungus.
Jimmie Runs Through Domesticated Flora
Old Bald Cypress Roots, Cypress Trees and Spanish Moss
Yellow Berries
Fungus Sneaks into a Crevice
Layers of Fungus on Dead Tree
Leaf Catching Mushroom
Oddities
Right on the shoreline of the Perquimans River, slightly south of the dock, we found some old rusted parts in the sand. It turned out to be an old automobile being reclaimed by the elements.
Car Fossil – Springs and Engine Block
Car Fossil – Radio
Car Fossil – Part in Wave
Car Fossil – Transistors
More information about the museum and its grounds can be found at the official Newbold-White House website. And as always, more pictures of our visit can be found on my Flickr site.
| Newbold-White House Recreation Trail
Length: ~1 mile round trip Elevation Gain: None Directions from Elizabeth City, NC Take US-17 South about 15.7 miles Turn left at Church Street After about 1.4 miles, turn left on Newbold White Road Road ends at the museum parking |
Silo Tree Additions – February 22, 2009
Two new trees have been added to the Silo Trees of the U.S. listing. We also have a new state in the mix- Vermont!
| A silo tree taken on US Highway 50, just east of Knob Noster, Missouri. Photograph courtesy of ancientlightstudios |  |
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A silo tree in Lake Champlain’s North Hero Island, Vermont. Photograph courtesy of bob.berch. |
More photos can be found in the Trees in Silos Flickr group. If you spot a silo tree you’d like to share, let me know!
Hunter Street Headgear
Years after Abraham Lincoln was railsplitting American Chestnut trees, he popularized the stovepipe hat in the U.S. In Hollywood, Justin Timberlake claims that it was he, not Ashton Kutcher, who started the trucker hat trend. Here on Hunter Street in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, it appears we have a headgear trend setter of our own.
Earlier this week, one of the neighborhood kids, Armani, put on Ryan’s bamboo hat and was wearing it around the house. When I was floating around the British Virgin Islands, I discovered I had a stowaway in my luggage – Ryan’s “Hillbilly Hat” and I just had to try it on (Note: some argue it is more of an Amish hat). Finally in November, young Jacal from across the street needed a new MySpace profile pic. So he put on Ryan’s Mad Scientist wig and goggles.
Three times in the last three months, someone has not only copied Ryan’s sense of style– but donned the actual garment:
Ryan August 2008, Armani February 2009
Ryan September 2008, Vicky December 2008
Ryan November 2008, Jacal November 2008
And for those of you looking for a scoop on future trends– I’m looking at Ryan Somma right now and he isn’t wear anything on his head.
I repeat– there is nothing on his head.
Weekly Winners – February 15, 2009 – February 21, 2009
Although I was on the road again Monday and Tuesday, this week’s Weekly Winners all hail from Elizabeth City, North Carolina and are courtesy of the Pasquotank River as I searched for Goat Island. Enjoy!
Heron and its reflection off of Pinelake Drive
Old dock and walkway off of Dogwood Trail
Heron and colorful reflections off of Pinelake Drive
View of the Pasquotank River west of Goat Island
Fungi Rose!
Start of Ryan’s new tattoo
And in case you are wondering….
Finished outline of Sun Wu Kong
More pictures of my Goat Island adventure and Ryan’s tattoo adventure can be found on my Flickr site.
Also, be sure to check out more of Weekly Winners out at Sarcastic Mom!
links for 2009-02-20
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Elizabeth City, North Carolina is now designated as a “Tree City” which means there’ll be an Arbor Day celebration close to home for me to attend in a couple of months! 🙂 Hat Tip, ideonexus.
TGAW 
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