Outdoor scenery near me full#

The 182 acres of woodlands, fields, and old estate property is surrounded on three sides by the Charles River. This 721-acre former estate features pine needled paths through woods, acres of sunny rolling meadows, and spectacular rhododendrons which line the old carriage roads.

Outdoor scenery near me full#

Each of the many walking trails opens up new floral delights: a pond full of yellow and white pond lilies and wildflowers of all kinds. Around the mansion pink and white dogwoods, apple trees bloom in profusion. Trails traverse upland and bottomland forests, marsh, swamp and pond edges, meadows and an Atlantic white cedar bog.īorderland’s 1,773 acres surround a granite mansion dating from 1910, formerly the home of Blanche and Oakes Ames. The living treasures of the Blue Hills include flora, fauna and natural phenomena – from coyotes to copperheads, dogwoods to lady's slippers, and turkey vultures to dragonflies. Look for the serviceberry near the edge of the lagoons and footbridges. This native, water loving tree is one of the first to bloom in spring, and gets its name from Native American tribes who noticed that its blooms came at the same time that the shad fish returned to the rivers to spawn. The bracts help protect the flowering structure and their showy appearance helps attract pollinators! Finally, the Shadblow Serviceberry will be displaying dense and showy white flowers along arching branches. Flowering Dogwoods that can be found around the lagoons and monuments will be full of whitish pink blooms, and if you have a chance to take a closer look, notice that what appear to be flower petals are actual modified leaves called bracts, and the flower itself is the small greenish structure in the middle. Crabapples will be full of pinks and reds, and graceful Hatch Shell Magnolias will bloom almost immediately after the last frost, displaying 5-10” whitish pink flowers with a crisp, sweet smell. Several of the parks trees will also be showing off in early spring, thanks in part to volunteer pruners who kept them healthy this winter. Look for this fountain-like shrub, covered in bright yellow, delicately scented flowers, throughout the park and especially around the lagoons.

One of the signs of spring is the profusely flowering forsythia. I n the spring, when all is abloom, you’ll especially want to visit: We found the beach wasn’t overcrowded, and the other beachgoers were friendly and courteous-no horseplay to be found.You'll find beautiful scenic views in almost all of our parks. It’s a great place for the family to hang out (if you’re not under a stay-at-home order) and just relax. However, there are covered picnic tables on the beach. Although there is quick access to bathrooms and showers, the facilities aren’t exactly in tip-top shape, so be warned. Located next to the beach, the parking lot offers ample space. We will continue to tell of the wonders of Padre Island.

With bigger waves, we were able to get some great surfing with a boogie board. Although not crystal transparent, the water was tepid and fairly clear. Since it was early in year and the water is colder, we saw no jelly fish. The soft sand makes good material for building sand castles, and the area is full of water fowl and sea life such as sand fleas, snails, and small crustaceans. For Spring Break, my teenage daughter and I returned to Padre Island in order to enjoy the beach, catch some waves, and warm ourselves in the sun. Padre Balli Park has a good and fairly clean beach-particularly by Texan standards. In no way do I claim to be some kind of beach expert, BUT…I have been to enough beaches on this planet to know a good one when I see it.