Adventures in Horticulture, and the STRANGEST Town Name
Sunday's adventure was to Wave Hill, "a spectacular public garden and cultural center overlooking the Hudson River and the Palisades."
Wave Hill, located waaaaaay up in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, was oversold slightly. One of its goals is to "preserve its magnificent views." Perhaps the view exists, but there's one minor problem...
It's blocked by massive, massive trees.
There's a scenic path...
...that ends not with a sweeping view of the Hudson River and the Palisades, but of...
...a DUMPSTER! In Wave Hill's defense, it's not just any ordinary dumpster. This is a one-of-a-kind "Brush Bandit" dumpster, constructed by the pride-filled men and women of Remus, Michigan.
Once I got over the shock of the "scenic path" ending with a dumpster, Wave Hill had some redeeming features.
The George Washington Bridge, to the south, peeks from behind the trees. It wouldn't be a Herb post without a photo of a bridge.
Looks like a natural backdrop for a wedding ceremony, only these guys are in street clothes.
A very pretty pond. Kermit the Frog not included.
Then I found a greenhouse, and things got a little more interesting. Anyone who can identify any of the following very mysterious and somewhat hostile looking plants will win an all-expense-paid trip on the Staten Island Ferry, with me as your tour guide.
Apparently, cacti grow east of Arizona, after all. Who knew?
I was legitimately scared of this one. To make matters worse, a few seconds after I snapped the picture and started to walk toward the exit of the greenhouse, a horticulturalist in an adjacent room waved her arms and shouted, "YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE BACK THERE!" (Even though there was no sign.)
Now I see how Wave Hill makes their money; they're getting kickbacks from everyone that stages a production of Little Shop of Horrors.
So it was a little disappointing--a 2 hour odyssey for a 40-minute visit in 90 degree heat--but it was far from a total loss, for I got to return to the marvel that is the Metro-North Hudson line.
Marble Hill station, two stops before Wave Hill.
A railroad bridge at Spuyten Duyvil station.
No, my laptop's keyboard didn't just explode. There's really a neighborhood in the northwest Bronx called Spuyten Duyvil. According to the Metro North's robotic announcements, it's pronounced "SPY-ten DYE-vil." I couldn't believe it either - another place with an insanely weird name!
Can you say ROAD TRIP!
Wave Hill, located waaaaaay up in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, was oversold slightly. One of its goals is to "preserve its magnificent views." Perhaps the view exists, but there's one minor problem...
It's blocked by massive, massive trees.
There's a scenic path...
...that ends not with a sweeping view of the Hudson River and the Palisades, but of...
...a DUMPSTER! In Wave Hill's defense, it's not just any ordinary dumpster. This is a one-of-a-kind "Brush Bandit" dumpster, constructed by the pride-filled men and women of Remus, Michigan.
Once I got over the shock of the "scenic path" ending with a dumpster, Wave Hill had some redeeming features.
The George Washington Bridge, to the south, peeks from behind the trees. It wouldn't be a Herb post without a photo of a bridge.
Looks like a natural backdrop for a wedding ceremony, only these guys are in street clothes.
A very pretty pond. Kermit the Frog not included.
Then I found a greenhouse, and things got a little more interesting. Anyone who can identify any of the following very mysterious and somewhat hostile looking plants will win an all-expense-paid trip on the Staten Island Ferry, with me as your tour guide.
Apparently, cacti grow east of Arizona, after all. Who knew?
I was legitimately scared of this one. To make matters worse, a few seconds after I snapped the picture and started to walk toward the exit of the greenhouse, a horticulturalist in an adjacent room waved her arms and shouted, "YOU WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE BACK THERE!" (Even though there was no sign.)
Now I see how Wave Hill makes their money; they're getting kickbacks from everyone that stages a production of Little Shop of Horrors.
So it was a little disappointing--a 2 hour odyssey for a 40-minute visit in 90 degree heat--but it was far from a total loss, for I got to return to the marvel that is the Metro-North Hudson line.
Marble Hill station, two stops before Wave Hill.
A railroad bridge at Spuyten Duyvil station.
No, my laptop's keyboard didn't just explode. There's really a neighborhood in the northwest Bronx called Spuyten Duyvil. According to the Metro North's robotic announcements, it's pronounced "SPY-ten DYE-vil." I couldn't believe it either - another place with an insanely weird name!
Can you say ROAD TRIP!