Troutbirder II

Troutbirder II
Click on Mark Twain to jump to Troutbirders book review blog

Thursday, August 6, 2015

West of the Lake Gardens

Located in Manitowoc Wisconsin this 6-acre estate of the late Ruth and John West was created in 1934 and features a rose garden, Japanese, sunken and formal gardens, with more than 900 feet of herbaceous borders with colorful annuals.  The gardens are located along Lake Michigan's shoreline and the new Mariners Trail.  Ideal photo opportunities!  Free.
Mrs. T and I took advantage of the opportunity to visit these gorgeous gardens during our recent visit to a  friend  of ours now living in Packerland. After a great time sightseeing and catching up, we even found time on the way home to visit the Necedah National Wildlife refuge in Wisconsin.
Kerry & Barb
Photography mostly by Mrs. T.
 A quick stop on  ride home  on some back roads thru the Necedah N.W. R. where we saw three flocks of pelicans, some cormorants, some great egrets at a distance.... wait a minute I'm not sure......
Stop the car. My binocs.  They're whooping cranes.   Oh my......:)
 
 
  
 

19 comments:

  1. That garden is gorgeous (and so is Mrs. T!)
    And what a lucky sighting with the whooping crane. So happy for you!

    ReplyDelete
  2. WHOOPpie! A crane! You lucky duck.

    ReplyDelete
  3. It looks like a wondrous trip.

    From a vantage point overlooking Halifax Harbor we watched gannets fishing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Whooping crane?? Wow, lucky you and what a capture.
    How nice that someones gardens can live on after they pass for others to enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I have never heard of the gardens but I bet they are great being along the lake. I am always amazed at the quality of flowers, roses especially, grown along the north shore. From Duluth all the way to Grand Marais downtown, the flowers are so great to see.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I've never seen a whooping crane. Closest I've come is whooping cough. The cranes are better.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a fun area to visit. Lots of beauty all around.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Whooping crane? It's unusual for them to be in your area at this time of year. You're lucky to see one.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Wow! That is a great shot, even if magnified a lot. Wow! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  10. Whooping Cranes wow and those Delphiniums are beautiful! What lovely gardens:0

    ReplyDelete
  11. That garden was nearly within walking distance of the nursing home where my mom lived for about 6 years. I never got to the garden. I can see I should have tried harder. My mom grew up and also spent her retirement years in a small town just about 12 miles down the shore from that garden, within sight of Lake Michigan. It is a lovely area if you like dampness. It is rarely hot there.

    ReplyDelete
  12. What beautiful gardens and blooms! Love those pink roses!

    ReplyDelete
  13. That's my kind of garden.... if only... !!
    It would have made my day to see the cranes.

    ReplyDelete
  14. How nice that there are some grand gardens that the rest of us can enjoy.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a lovely garden. I love gardens! If they are free to tour, all the better.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Lovely gardens, free to boot! And whooping cranes to top it all off. What a great summer excursion.

    ReplyDelete