Elizabeth's Secret Garden

Yosemite is a natural wonder that takes the ordinary and makes it extraordinary. Waterfalls, granite cliffs, and even the trees are taken to new heights.  In Yosemite resides the largest living thing on  earth! It is not an animal or beast, but a tree. The Giant Sequoia is among the tallest, widest, and has the longest life span of any organism! The Giant Sequoia that ranks in first place is named General Sherman with a height of 274.9 feet (83.8 m) and a circumference of 102.6 feet (31.3 m). Their astounding dimensions are enough to humble any human.   Mariposa Grove is an excellent foot trail to take if you desire to experience seeing the Giant Sequoias. There are 500 mature Giant Sequoias that grow in this area.   Hiking trails and roads provide more scenic views. There is no price tag that can be placed on the beauty that is unleashed within Yosemite. We cannot even begin to put a number value on it. Currently it is being protected. It was the firs...

  Lake Tahoe is a majestic natural wonder.  The lake has remarkable clarity and it can appear to vary in color. The variety in colors, such as cobalt blue in the center of Lake Tahoe, occurs as light penetrates the lake and the water molecules absorb various colors. The lakes pureness is an attractive feature and it has been declared as one of the purest lakes in the world. It is currently protected as an Outstanding National Resource Water and under the Federal Clean Water Act. This protection is deemed important when you consider that it has lost about 1/3 of its world-renowned clarity since 1968. Contributing factors have been development impacted watershed, vehicle exhaust, pollution from urban areas and phosphorus. The Tahoe Gal has daily cruises along with food, appetizers, or drinks. http://www.tahoegal.com/ The Tahoe Gal has made improvements to help keep the environment healthy. They have upgraded to low-emission, fuel-efficient engines. Lake Tahoe is positione...

  The Seneca Park Zoo in Rochester is an excellent place to take the family. I visited the zoo with my Dad, sister, and extended family. It is well kept and the experience comes alive as the animals each live in a realistic replica of their natural habitat. The zoo is home to about 300 animals and is 15-acres in size. It is rich in diversity and a zoo that makes animal observation exciting.   http://www.senecaparkzoo.org/   This bald eagle seems to capture “Angry Birds” in real life. I must have ruffled some of his feathers by taking his picture. The zoo has two male bald eagles that each sustain wing injuries from the wild, leaving them unable to fly. This majestic bird of prey in the past was in danger of extinction because of the extensive use of DDT pesticide and hunting. Thankfully, action was taken and on June 28, 2007, and the bald eagle was removed from the Federal List of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants. Conservation is still in place to insu...

The Audubon Center for Birds of Prey is working towards promoting the conservations of birds of prey and their habitat. The center helps injured or orphaned birds of prey and helps in the rehabilitation process. Birds that cannot be released back into the wild serve as environmental ambassadors in the education for children and families. They each have their own stories and names. It is sad to see how pollution can reek havoc on the delicate balance in nature. The release of rehabilitated birds of prey is a symbol of hope to show what can happen when caring people work towards environmental stewardship. Visit their website to learn more: http://fl.audubon.org/audubon-center-birds-prey   Below are a few of the many birds that are receiving care at the center.                 The day on which I write this is Christmas so I hope you all enjoy your time with family and friends this year. May you all enjoy your Chris...

  I had the opportunity to represent my friend Sheila’s garden for the Sanford Holiday tour of Homes & Gardens. The tour was Saturday, December 1, 11 a.m – 4 p.m and it was their 24th annual event. The tour featured several gardens, historic buildings, and homes decorated for Christmas. Website: http://sanfordhistorictrust.org/   I had the privilege of meeting Sheila during an Earth Day festival at Lake Eola. We quickly became friends when we discovered that we were both butterfly enthusiasts. I shared with her what I’ve learned about butterflies and she bought one of my recycled purses that I make by knitting with grocery bags. It was exciting to meet many people who were interested in learning about raising butterflies. Sheila asked me to come so I could show visitors her garden and educate people about how to create butterfly friendly gardens in their own neighborhoods. At least 150 – 200 people walked through. There were so many people coming through, I lost cou...