Elizabeth's Secret Garden

  My gardening journey began when I started growing butterfly host and nectar plants in a garden box that my family had built in Thanksgiving of 2008. My interest in gardening and butterflies began to grow as we toured gardens around the United States and Costa Rica. As my plant collection continued to grow, we eventually dug up a site in our backyard for me to use as an experimental garden. The garden measures 8 feet wide by 32 feet long. In my new garden, I am able to study various plants and practice different organic gardening methods. Herbs are an exciting addition to my “Secret Garden”. They are not only decorative, but also serve as a source of nectar for bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. Herbs can be used as a garnish on your favorite dish or to make soothing herbal teas. My favorite teas I make by using lemon grass and peppermint from my garden. Many herbs have beneficial medicinal properties. Echinacea (phot...

Photo above shows my dad and me standing with the owner. Long & Scott farm in Zellwood, Florida is a great trip for the family this fall season. The farm offers hay rides, group farm tours, fishing for kids, and the popular Corn Maze. At the market and garden shop there is a variety of locally grown crops to choose from including the popular Zellwood Sweet Corn. Pumpkins are now in season and are sold at the market. Local eggs, jellies, and home made butter by the Amish is available for purchase. You can check out prices and schedules at their website, http://longandscottfarms.com/     When stopping by Scott’s Country Market don’t forget to grab a bag of Zellwood Sweet Corn. There was enough corn in our bag to feed us and a few of our neighbors! Pumpkins and other seasonal decorations are being sold for the fall season. Taking a hay ride on the Sweet Corn Express is just one of the many attractions at the farm. It is open on the weekends and takes a 15 to...

  Carter Caves State Park is 30 miles west of Ashland. The park was established on July 31, 1946 when 945 acres were donated to the Commonwealth of Kentucky for the purpose of founding a state park. The park is home to more than 20 caverns. Two of these caves are open to the public for tours. Other attractions include a nine-hole golf course, horseback riding, canoe trips, hiking, a pool, miniature golf, camp ground and picnic areas. Our grandparents took us to an airstream rally that was held at Carter Caves State Park. We camped out first class in the airstream trailer while our grandparents had a separate retreat in their B-van. The campground has 89 campsites with utilities and a dump station. The campers staying in tents got drenched by the rain while we were cozy in our traveling home. We popped popcorn and each had our own book to read. When it stopped raining, we were ready for our hiking expeditions.   Carter Caves has several natural brides. Smokey bridge i...

Executive director Doug Lynn standing by one of his algae test ponds. He uses this to test different species of algae.   The CEHMM facility (Center of Excellence for Hazardous Materials Management) is an algae biorefinery located in Artesia, NM. On April 19, 2010 CEHMM became the world’s first fully integrated algae refinery with the ability to operate at more than 1,000 gallons per day throughput. For perspective, consider that one outdoor hot tub that seats two adults takes about 200 gallons to fill, so 1,000 gallons would fill approximately five of those hot tubs. Algae can produce up to 300 times more oil per acre than other conventional crops such as soybeans, jatropha, grapeseed, or palm. Algae is very productive due to its ability to produce several crops in a short time frame. This is fairly easy to understand considering how fast algae can overpopulate a pond or pool if left untreated! Though it seems a nuisance to communities or pool owners, for biofuel producers ...

The Wild Animal Safari is an unique experience. We were all stimulated with excitement as we tried to visualize driving through a safari in our own vehicle. We have a few hoof marks as proof of our tour! For those who don’t want to drive through in their own vehicle, you can rent a Zebra Van (7 or 15 passengers) or take the guided tour bus (seasonal). After purchasing your tickets and getting some animal treats, the adventure is ready to begin. So buckle your seat belts and prepare to get slobbered! The park is 200 acres with 3 1/2 miles of paved road. Along the way you can expect to see a variety of exotic and native animals. Just be sure not to feed the ostrich and zebras cause they do bite. Most of the animals are friendly and are use to being fed by humans. Giraffes might even walk up to your car to get a treat. You can also expect to see rhinos, tigers, bison, and camels. Note: Animals in the cat family and those on the wilder side are kept behind bars.  We were ...