Monday, April 21, 2008

Buck Garden






We had some really summer-like weather last Thursday, with temperatures in the 70's. I decided to take the camera down the road to the Leonard J. Buck Gardens. It is a lovely shade and rock garden built on the sight of a 175-million year-old glacial stream valley. The garden was created in the 1930's by Leonard J. Buck, a geologist and trustee of the New York Botanical Garden, and landscape architect Zenon Schreiber. Apparently they did not draw any plans, but simply worked by eye, blasting and taking a pick-axe to the site to expose basalt rock -- the once hot lava that cooled to form the second Watchung Mountain. It is a beautiful springtime garden, with meandering paths that cross pools and streams, and climb chiseled rock to end in wonderful scenic overlooks. At the moment, there are waves of daffodils, forsythia, magnolia. Heavenly.










28 comments:

  1. Good Morning Mary! Thanks for giving me some wonderful pictures to study while drinking my coffee. I love natural wild looking landscapes/parks. Looks like a fabulous place to take a stroll. :-) Rosie

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  2. Good Morning Mary:>) Just dropping by for my morning dose of loveliness, which you always seem so capable of providing! Wonderful gardens, I love the white daffodils, and the beautiful marsh marigolds by the stream. What a wonderful place to walk and enjoy beauty:>) It has been in the 70's here the past week too, oh what glorious joy! I love spring!

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  3. Hello Mary,
    It was in the 70's here also, but I didn't see anything as lovely as the pictures you posted. Thank so much for sharing, Janie

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  4. How blessed you are, Mary, to have this lovely place near to stroll. Your pictures are beautiful !
    We had 86 degrees yesterday but WINDS, as usual here thru spring.
    hugs, bj

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  5. I will have to visit! Your photos are lovely...

    Annie

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  6. What a lovely garden, and your photos exhibit the beauty so well.

    The forsythia is breathtaking.

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  7. What beauty! Thanks for sharing. That would be a wonderful place to take a spring walk.

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  8. That forsythia is enough to take one's breath away. Wonder why mine is looking so skimpy!

    Thank you for taking us along on your walk through this delightful garden. Spring is such a beautiful color, isn't it?

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  9. How beautiful! Thanks for sharing. Now the the weather is nicer, I need to get out to some of the parks around here and shoot some pics too.

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  10. Tag you're it! This meme is really quite easy. Check out my blog. (http://shimmymom.blogspot.com on Monday April 21) and see how to play.

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  11. Beautiful photos, Mary, and an absolutely beautiful place.
    Hugs,
    Donna

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  12. Beautiful...I love, love, love spring!

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  13. Hey, Mary! I bumped into you over at Rue's. Thanks for sharing the beautiful garden pictures. Gardening is my passion. I can hardly wait until it's nice enough to get out there and plant. I love your blog. Have a wonderful day!
    ~Terrie~

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  14. How lovely - even the skunk cabbage is beautiful. Your pics are always so well put together, whether they're of nature or a bunch of objects you arrange.

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  15. Very lovely photos Mary...I love all the blooms and colors...how Blessed you are to have those high temperatures..
    Hugs,
    Robin

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  16. Beautiful! What a lovely place for you to be able to visit close to your home! I am glad to see that Spring has finally made its way to NJ.
    Rhondi xo

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  17. Oh Mary! Those pictures are beautiful!! Thank you so much for sharing them :)

    Thank you for the complements (blushing) and I hope I get that farmhouse too! ;)

    Hugs,
    rue :)

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  18. You always have the most beautiful blog posts!

    Have a great day!♥

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  19. That's so beautiful Mary. How lucky for you to have a place so lovely nearby. And thanks for sharing it will us.

    - Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife

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  20. What a wonderful place to visit. How fabulous that it is so close to home.
    Alison

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  21. Hi, Mary, I'm loving all your photos lately, your town, these garden pics, and the roses! And yes, some of us do go around with our cameras constantly taking pics, I know I do. Blogging sure changes your life, huh? LOL

    You are getting SO good with the camera!

    xo,
    Rhoda

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  22. What a wonderful place to go! I wish I could go visit it one day. It's lovely. This is certainly the best time of the year.

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  23. Hi Mary,

    What a beautiful place and yet again, beautiful pictures :)

    Hugs,
    Dena

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  24. A stunning part of the world you live in Mary! Oh how I hope to visit the shores of your beautiful country one day! Hope you have a wonderful week sweetie!
    Amanda (aka Cottage Contessa)

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  25. Oh, Mary, how nice that you live near this beautiiful garden! Now I know the area in which you live. I grew up in Margate, then Somers Point and then in high school I lived in Cinnaminson.

    Keep the beautiful photos coming!

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  26. Just gorgeous Mary!! I know I can always count on you for a beauty filled visit!

    Always a smile...

    Love,
    Sue

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Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment. I love to hear what you have to say!