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.










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28 comments:

  1. Rosie's WhimsyApril 21, 2008 at 7:03 AM

    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. Kathleen GraceApril 21, 2008 at 7:36 AM

    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. AnonymousApril 21, 2008 at 8:19 AM

    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. bjApril 21, 2008 at 8:21 AM

    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. UnknownApril 21, 2008 at 8:47 AM

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

    Annie

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  6. dlynApril 21, 2008 at 9:44 AM

    Wow - gorgeous!

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  7. AnonymousApril 21, 2008 at 9:47 AM

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

    The forsythia is breathtaking.

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  8. Shimmy MomApril 21, 2008 at 10:23 AM

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

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  9. VeeApril 21, 2008 at 10:38 AM

    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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  10. AnonymousApril 21, 2008 at 11:04 AM

    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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  11. Shimmy MomApril 21, 2008 at 11:50 AM

    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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  12. DonnaApril 21, 2008 at 11:52 AM

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

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  13. Mental P MamaApril 21, 2008 at 12:04 PM

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

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  14. Terrie's Lil' Piece of SerenityApril 21, 2008 at 12:12 PM

    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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  15. abbApril 21, 2008 at 12:15 PM

    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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  16. BittersweetPunkinApril 21, 2008 at 12:59 PM

    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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  17. RhondiApril 21, 2008 at 1:26 PM

    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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  18. RueApril 21, 2008 at 1:39 PM

    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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  19. AnonymousApril 21, 2008 at 3:19 PM

    You always have the most beautiful blog posts!

    Have a great day!♥

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  20. SuzanneApril 21, 2008 at 4:17 PM

    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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  21. Alison GibbsApril 21, 2008 at 4:51 PM

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

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  22. Rhoda @ Southern HospitalityApril 21, 2008 at 5:19 PM

    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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  23. Miss JeanApril 21, 2008 at 7:52 PM

    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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  24. DenaApril 21, 2008 at 10:17 PM

    Hi Mary,

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

    Hugs,
    Dena

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  25. Melissa @ The Inspired RoomApril 21, 2008 at 11:13 PM

    Such a pretty place!

    :-)

    Happy week!
    Melissa

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  26. Cottage ContessaApril 22, 2008 at 1:51 AM

    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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  27. Country GirlApril 22, 2008 at 3:51 PM

    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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  28. Susie QApril 25, 2008 at 3:18 PM

    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!