Blandy’s Golden Grove

Boyce, VA

Ginkgo leaves have turned yellow at Blandy Experimental Farm, a research station for the University of Virginia. Blandy is also home to the State Arboretum.

When I first started coming to see this golden wonder in 2014, it was uncrowded and practically unknown. In recent years, it has become locally famous, probably due to glorious photos on social media. Even on a weekday, it’s crowded. Most people park a quarter mile away and walk through the Arboretum, but there is adjacent parking for people with mobility challenges, or even pushing baby strollers.

These photos are from yesterday. I picked up Frank, leaving Charlie with Deborah since she had things to do and seemed quite willing to exchange her brother for my dog, at least for the afternoon. We found that the leaves were almost totally yellow, but there are still small traces of green. Many people were there and most were taking pictures. Some folks were dressed up to have their pictures taken in this little patch of paradise.

These children are picking up leaves in order to toss them in the air, just as their dad clicked the shutter. It took a couple of tries, but they finally followed the script perfectly!

Mural Celebrates Reading and Imagination

This beautiful mural overlooks the children’s splash pad on the Winchester Walking Mall. It was completed in June 2026.

 If we look closely at the lower left corner, we see the names of the artists: Annelise [Vuono] and Jill Savory. They call it Igniting Imagination, and it’s 2,020 square feet on a concrete wall.  

 

A two-block section of Loudoun Street became Virginia’s first pedestrian mall in 1974. The idea was to bring shoppers back to the downtown area by blocking off traffic. The mall is popular with pedestrians and tourists, and supports a number of restaurants. I don’t know how well the other shops have done, as even enclosed shopping malls have lost business to discount superstores and Internet shopping. 

Views of the Walking Mall

Mosaic Monday / Murals

Theme Day: Happy

City Daily Photo Monthly Theme Day

The word “Happy” sounded like an easy theme, and my first thought was a smile. But a smile is not always a sign of happiness, and personally, I can fake a smile easily. So I thought I’d take a deeper look at what makes me happy.

I wouldn’t describe myself as a “happy person,” but rather as optimistic and resilient. I’m not unhappy, and I enjoy many things, so I can’t complain.

One thing that makes me happy is being with family. Here’s a picture of my daughters (with Charlie) from last November. It would be nice if I had a recent picture that included my sister and brother, but it’s been years since we all got together. I see my sister several times a year, and I talk to my brother, but we haven’t all been together in a really long time. 

I believe in bringing joy into my life, while at the same time living in accordance with my values. In a way that’s my definition of success. Well, at first you have to survive, so that’s the first rule of success. But western society has accepted an unfortunate definition of success as having material wealth or fame. Yet we all know money cannot buy happiness. 

Indulge in music or art, or whatever brings you joy as long as it’s harmless. Life is short.

A Beagle’s Halloween

It’s Charlie with your weekly critter report, but most of the critters are strange, except for me and one of my friends. There are pumpkins everywhere because it’s Halloween.

This is me in a pretend bat costume drawn by a chatbot.

I was hoping we would go to the park today, but instead we went downtown so Mom could take Halloween pictures.

We went in a store that allows dogs to come in.

My friend Stella was there. Miss Tillie gave us treats.

Then we drove to Eagle Street to look at decorations.

After we got home and I ate my dinner, strange people started coming to the door. I howled until I saw they were mostly children who wanted candy.

Late October in Basye

We used to live in Basye, specifically in Bryce Resort. It’s beautiful there in the mountains, but not convenient if you have doctor appointments in winter weather. I remember wondering if we were going to make it home on the icy roads!

On a nice day like today, it’s a pleasant drive. The golf course looked green, as usual.

I saw this character at a shop called Smiley’s, and used portrait mode to take his picture. (More below.)

I drove to the other side of Lake Laura to take pictures from the boat ramp.

Here’s a regular snapshot of the pirate character at Smiley’s. I think he sailed in for Halloween.

Leafing in Shenandoah National Park

Dickey Ridge to Pass Mountain

Today I had a one o’clock appointment in Front Royal, so afterward I checked out the fall colors in Shenandoah National Park. (It is literally within walking distance of the town, but it’s mountainous so I drove.) I knew I barely had time to drive the length of the northern section and still get back on time to pick up Charlie from daycare, so I didn’t stop at many overlooks. I know that section fairly well because I go there often. I enjoyed the drive.

I ate my lunch at Dickey Ridge and made it a point to stop at Low Gap to photograph the tall golden trees.

Time was passing quickly, so I only made brief stops after that. The weather was mild, and the sunshine was glorious.

The yellow leaves are at their peak of color. Many of the reds are muted this year, probably because of the drought.

The park is extremely popular in autumn, so it’s best to go on a weekday. If you must go on a weekend, get there early because the traffic gets heavy in the northern section before noon. Today was Thursday so I only had to sit in line about 15 minutes to get in. On Saturday, it could take hours. I hear the southern entrances are not as busy. 

Oh, and get your pass ahead of time. Expect lines at the restrooms and parking problems at the overlooks and visitor centers. Pack a picnic and snacks including water. Don’t expect an internet connection up there. 

Blue jay and Vultures

The newest update to my iPad features the ability to make a still photo from a video. Unfortunately, I need two right hands to do it! It’s actually simpler for me to use my old method of pausing the video and saying, “Siri, make a screenshot.” 

But here’s an image I got using the new method. The bird cam filmed the blue jay taking a drink.

In other news, I posted some photos of vultures on a Facebook group. They are shots from my archives.

Some people considered vultures to be creepy but I appreciate them for the cleanup work that they do and their ability to soar on the winds.

Marker 9 on South Holliday Street

The town of Strasburg has erected a series of signs for tourists and history lovers. I happened to see this one when I stopped at the pumpkin patch next to the Strasburg Presbyterian Church. It is #9 of the 10 stops on the walking tour that begins at the museum.

The Story it Tells:

Signal Knob, the northernmost point of Three Top Mountain, overlooks Strasburg and is 2,110 ft. above sea level. During the Civil War, both sides used it as a signal station, but the Confederate signal corps occupied it almost continuously from 1862 to 1864. On October 19, 1864, Confederates there observed Union positions and directed the opening attack of the Battle of Cedar Creek. Other stations were established at Ashby Gap (east of Winchester), Burnt Springs (south in Fort Valley), and New Market Gap. Special signal flags, lanterns, and telescopes were used to communicate from one peak to another.

During the Civil War 15 major battles and 45 smaller ones were fought in the Valley, with casualties overwhelming local resources to care for them. More soldiers died of disease than battle injuries. The sick and wounded were nursed everywhere—in newly designated hospitals, in hastily erected medical tents, and even in private homes. Medical clerks periodically posted casualty lists at the Presbyterian Church, to your left. After reading these lists, many families were able to locate their loved ones and provide care for them. Some of these "Registers of the sick and wounded" are on exhibit at the Strasburg Museum. The Presbyterian Church, built in 1830, served as a hospital throughout the war, after Dr. William J. Upshaw established one there in 1862.

After the war, Confederate veterans gathered the remains of soldiers into the Presbyterian Church Cemetery and in 1896 dedicated an obelisk, which stands to your left, “In Memory of our Fallen Comrades, Numbering 136.” The area just south of the cemetery was used as a Federal military outpost to monitor “the hostile territory.” Still standing is Walnut Hill, the brick residence built in 1872. It housed the Strasburg Female Seminary in 1884, not long after U.S. troops withdrew from the area.

Further to the south, just out of sight, is the North Fork of the Shenandoah River, which winds along the undulating base of the Massanutten Mountain. To illustrate how much it curves, consider that Strasburg is just 11 miles from Woodstock by road, but 51 miles by river!

This is the nearby church cemetery, with the obelisk that is mentioned on the marker.