The Ashland Covered Bridge, also known as Ashland Bridge or Barley Mill Road Covered Bridge, is a covered bridge over Red Clay Creek on Barley Mill Road (near the junction of Brackenville Road) in Ashland in New Castle County, Delaware. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.
It is a Town lattice truss bridge following a design of Ithiel Town, built about 1860. It is almost identical to the Wooddale Bridge. It adjoins the Ashland Nature Center and is one of the last remaining covered bridges in Delaware..
The Town lattice truss.I loved the Kingfisher on this building at the Ashland Nature Center.A stream at the Nature Center.
I rather liked this panorama shot of Lake Wallenpaupack from the overlook near the dam. When you’re there, look up to your right and you might see an osprey nest in season.
Lake Wallenpaupack
Closer to home, here is a shot from Kirkwood Preserve (in Chester County).
April and May are prime times for birding at Bombay Hook National Wildlife Refuge in Delaware. The weather was beautiful on a recent trip. Here are a few photos of what I saw.
This egret had the Beaver Pond to itself.Two avocets at cross purposes.Looking like a school master with errant pupils – great and snowy egrets.A relaxing bask in Finnis Pool.A beautiful redbud in bloom.Finally, the worst picture of the cutest pied billed grebe ever.
I made two recent trips to Dixon Meadow Preserve in Montgomery County to see a sora (seen) and a yellow crowned night heron (not seen), This Preserve provides some great bird habitat in the suburbs, especially in connection with the adjacent Erdenheim Farm. With its 14 acres rand boardwalk measuring nearly two-thirds of a mile, the Preserve is a haven for birders, walkers and those who simply enjoy the area’s natural beauty
Purchased by the McCausland family in 2009, Erdenheim farm is home to prize winning Cheviot Sheep, Black Angus cattle, and elegant Morgan Horses. Situated on close to 450 acres, Erdenheim Farm remains one of the last sanctuaries of pastoral life within the greater Philadelphia area.
A view of Dixon Meadow Preserve,A stream wanders through the Preserve and under the boardwalk.Redbud in bloom.Erdenheim Farm Black Angus at twilight.
The Stoneleigh Natural Garden in Montgomery County is a recent addition to the the Natural Lands Trust. The mansion house on the property hosted a Christmas open house on a recent weekend. Although the property is open all but Mondays, Christmas, and Thanksgiving, the house is open only for special events. This property has been used as a residence since 1877, with the current house dating to the turn of the twentieth century. The history of the property can be found here.
After entering the house you soon come to the grand staircase
This is quite an impressive staircase.This room also holds a large fireplace.There are some beautiful stained glass windows to the side of the fireplace (with some additional commentary from yours truly).There was a lovely Christmas tree just off the dining roomThere is beautiful woodwork throughout the house.This plant needs no introduction.A look out one of the upstairs windows.The view down an upstairs hall.
I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and will focus on the exterior and grounds in upcoming posts.
On my way to Linn Run State Park, I came across the Powdermill Nature Reserve of the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. The Museum is in Pittsburgh, but the Powdermill Reserve is in a beautiful area of the Laurel Highlands. The reserve’s website can be found here.
Welcome to Powdermill Nature Reserve.
Powdermill Nature Reserve is a field station and laboratory where researchers do long-term studies of natural populations in western Pennsylvania. It is a great place for outdoor fun and education.
You can explore the beautiful woodlands around the reserve via the hiking tails. You can also visit the nature center, which features exhibits that highlight local wildlife, a room of beautiful mounted specimens, an indoor stream, a fish tank, and a “marsh machine” that uses a living plants to purify waste water.
The reserve does permit hunting on a limited basis through a annual lottery for 100 permits. Due to some inclement weather and limited time, I confined myself to the visitor center on this trip.
This is an interesting paludarium style fish tank. Forgive the glare from the very bright back light.Check out the fish in this tank.The really cool stream tank – I think my little buddy wants to be fed..A description of the “marsh machine” that treats the center’s waste water.Here is a view of the marsh machine.
