This week I am drinking Tanzania Peaberry from Buy The Cup in Rocky Hill.
Rich chocolate flavour with hints of blackcurrant, and a soft, sweet finish. Lively cup with a full body and distinguished aroma.
Roaster: Rockaffe
Month: April 2013
Stone Structure
I joined a friendly group of Somerset County photographers for an early morning walk around Duke Farms in Hillsboro.
The early morning weather was cool, and the skies were clear. I met up in the parking lot with a large group of photographers from all over Somerset Country. I already knew a few people - like Terry Lyons - but the rest were strangers.
Duke Farms is the former estate of Doris Duke, an American heiress, horticulturist, art collector, and philanthropy, past. The estate was opened to the public last year. It is a fantastic place with ponds, barns, wildlife, wildflower fields and incredible scenery. There were plenty of photo opportunities.
We walked over instead of taking the tram. As with any large group of photographers, each of us was interested in different things, and each of us saw the park differently. We strolled, stopping at park features we found interesting. For me, that was the landscape and the flora. I got into fascinating conversations with fellow photographers about camera equipment, photography tips and kids.
Following a fire in January 1915, the building remained abandoned. Doris Duke used the ruins as an outdoor sculpture gallery, placing individual marble statues of human figures in linear arrangements along the walls, which can still be seen today.
Duke Farms has a small greenhouse filled with Orchids. One could spend an hour inside. I couldn't. The orchids are misted every five minutes, and the humidity becomes unbearable. However, by far, this was my favourite part of the walk. I saw a few picnic tables, but I'm not sure visitors can bring food in.
There is so much I didn't get to see in the two hours I was there. I will certainly return with my camera and my family and do another walk myself, perhaps more slowly and deliberately.
The image in this post is of the abandoned hay barn near the southern gate to the park. At the time of its construction, the Hay Barn was near the centre of farming activity, but as more land was purchased and the farming moved elsewhere, the structure was no longer needed as a hay press.
Image is HDR from three exposures (+2,0,-2) combined in Photomatix Pro. You can see more of the photos on 500px.
Sunday in the Park with Sarah Roberts
A few weeks ago I went for a walk with a group of residents and Sarah Roberts from the Native Plant Society of New Jersey. The walk was one in series of nature walks called First Sunday in the Park, organised by the Montgomery Friends of Open Space. The walks are a fun way to explore the nature trails and natural beauty of Montgomery Township.
On this particular walk, I discovered that Montgomery has an Arboretum of Native Flora near the Galick Tract in Montgomery Park. I've lived in Montgomery for twelve years, and this was the first time I knew about this.
We strolled along the paved pathways as Sarah taught about the native trees that had been planted to restore the area. Some trees were native to New Jersey, and others are native to the United States. The park has many bridges and benches where one can sit and enjoy the quiet of nature and catch a few rays of sunlight. I'm having a great time discovering the local nature trails in Montgomery.
I look forward to the next Sunday in the Park event.
