Sunday, July 25, 2010

New Germany State Park

On Friday I left work a half day early, hubby and I wanted to beat the heat so we  headed to the mountains of western Maryland. Our main objective was to go canoeing on the New Germany lake and do some hiking and birding. Friday afternoon we made a quick stop near Frostburg at nature reserve owned by the Nature Conservancy called Finzel Swamp. The birding at Finzel Swamp at times can be great. We did not see anything special but a juvenile Bald Eagle was a great sighting. There was also a nice flock of Cedar Waxwings. Below are some of the wildflowers and there is a lot of Queens Anne's Lace that line the trail at Finzel.





We spent the night at a nearby hotel so we would close by to the New Germany Park.  We got to the park early enough to take a hike on what they called their pink trail a loop trail that starts off next to the lake. The wildflowers along the trail were beautiul. We saw wild Tiger Lilies, Cardinal flowers and a lot of what I call Bee Balm and some other white and yellow wildflowers that I am not sure of their name. The Black Capped Chickadees were teasing me with their sounds but never showing themselves, I only see the Carolina Chickadee in my yard. We finished our hike in time for the park office to open and rent our canoe.







We were a  little disappointed that the park didn't rent canoes but they had kayaks, rowboats and paddleboats. So we chose the paddle boat and spent an hour paddling around the lake. It was fun and the scenery around the lake was beautiful and the bird of the day was a Great Blue Heron fishing on the edge of the lake.






After doing our paddlle boat on the lake we went on another hike on one was called the green trail which connected to the yellow trail and looped back to the parking lot. The green trail  and yellow trails went mostly thru the forest.  All their trails have colors as their names and were easy to follow. The trees were beautiful, a nice stream followed the trail, a pretty gazebo and the birds were singing along the way. These trails are all used for cross country sking in the winter months. There are cabins and campsites available in this pretty park.











Heading to the mountains for a short getaway was perfect, the weather was cooler and we had a great time enjoying nature.

Please visit the three memes I am linking  my post tp they are:


Thanks to Mary of Little Red house for hosting Mosaic Monday

and

Thanks to Drowsey Monkey our host for Mellow Yellow Monday

also

Thanks to Mary of Work of the Poet for hosting Ruby Tuesday

Thanks for visiting my blog and I hope you can stopped by again. Have a great week!  :)

55 comments:

  1. This place looks delightful.I am not a water person,but the trails look very inviting.
    Blessings,Ruth

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  2. Being from "old Germany", this was surely of interest and surely much more beautiful a sight, than what I am used to see back home. Please have you all a great start into the new week.

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  3. What a great looking place Eileen and the wildflowers are gorgeous. I have yet to see cardinal flower growing wild here but I'm sure it does in areas of Ont.

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  4. Eileen,
    You find the most gorgeous places to take us to! Beautiful shots all!

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  5. What a lovely area and you were blessed to capture that blue heron shot...very nice.

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  6. What a wonderful place to visit. The views were stunning. Love the flowers in the mosaic.

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  7. Sounds like you had a great day in the park. Wonderful mosiac of your day.

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  8. It sounds like you had a pleasant couple of days in nature! The flowers are beautiful!

    Thanks for the visit!
    BTW--your mellow yellow link took me to see a beautiful blue grosbeak.

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  9. What a great place! and what a fun time! The flowers are gorgeous as is the scenery! Paddle boats are fun!

    Enjoyed your mosaics, Eileen!

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  10. New Germany looks like a beautiful plce to take a hike or kayak ride! I love the photo of the blue heron along the shore. and all the beautiful wild flowers.

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  11. I have never heard of Old Germany but I can see that I will have to add it my ever growing list of places to see! Lovely photos Eileen!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

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  12. You definitely found a great place to cool off! Both of the mosaics are gorgeous, as is your header shot. Thanks for taking us along on another of your jaunts.

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  13. Beautiful!
    First when I glimpsed the title I thought you had a trip to Germany, hehe :D
    That is def. a treat, almost like a small vacation!

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  14. How pretty, lovely mosaic. I am hosting a CSN Giveaway and would love for you to stop by.

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  15. Beautiful spot ... the wildflowers are so lovely!

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  16. OOOh I would love to go walking in that park and boating on the lake. Great shots of nature. Glad you found a cool spot.

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  17. hello, i am here for only for MYM but found lots of beautiful photos..i love your mosaics of flowers and that beautiful scenery..awesome photos

    mine is here

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  18. Gorgeous flowers. Really like the red ones.

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  19. Wow, what a great adventure! Lots of things to see, beautiful wildflowers and wildlife.Love your mosaic too.

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  20. What a wonderful array of wildflowers. Beautiful picture of the heron! Wishing you well! Cathy

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  21. It sounds like you had a relaxing weekend. The scenery at the park is beautiful. I loved the pictures of the wildflowers, so pretty!

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  22. What a beautiful place. The picture of the heron is wonderful and the lake is so inviting. I can see why you would have enjoyed a canoe or row boat.

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  23. Oh, how nice! Two mosaics for the price of one! Your really got some nice shots from the canoe.

    Di

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  24. My origins are from old Germany too, but I have to say that the new one is a very beautiful place !

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  25. Aha I was wondering why the first link I visited was blue hehehe. Great shots!

    Yummy Yellow

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  26. That looks like a beautiful, tranquil place to visit! I enjoyed seeing the beautiful wild flowers.

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  27. Eileen your photos are gorgeous. The flowers may wild but pretty!

    MYM~Duck

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  28. Gorgeous scenes in these mosaics...wow!

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  29. Looks like the perfect place for a getaway!

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  30. it must be a feast to the senses kayaking at nature's doorstep!

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  31. what an excellent place to have fun and relax, your photos are gorgeous as always.

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  32. Oh what a beautiful place, Eileen! I would love to hike there someday. Thanks for sharing your wonderful images at MM. :)

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  33. great mosaics and what a beautiful spot to chill out.

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  34. Hello Eileen, I'm wondering if you've Irish connections?
    Your wildlife mosaics are so beautiful, thanks for sharing them. I enjoyed the whole lot- words and pictures.
    If you want to see pictures of herons in Ireland, call to photobirdireland site- my hubby runs it and has some lovely pics!

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  35. The heron is an elegant bird with those spindly legs. That bill looks as if he can have his pick of the crustaceans and fish who thing they're safe in the water...

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  36. Beautiful pictures. Sounds like a wonderful weekend.

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  37. Dear Eileen,

    looking at your photos let me join with nature. I love very much the first entree foto with the white flower, I only knew it in pink.

    Have a nice week
    and thank you for passing by my blog
    Anja

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  38. With all those wildflowers and a lake I could easily spend time in this park. I love your collage of the flowers.

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  39. Oh Eileen...When an eagle and a flock of cedar waxwings are just an ordinary birding day, I know I'm dealing with someone wayyyy...out of my league! Either of those would make my day. Gorgeous spot -- thanks for sharing.

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  40. I looked at the photos and then I could hear myself sighing... Nothing's better to spend the weekend in the nature..

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  41. I have heard of New England, but not New Germany. My ex teacher lives in Maryland, and she is of German stock.

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  42. What a gorgeous place. Thanks for taking us along. The scenery is excellent, the wildflowers beautiful and the birds are always a super plus.
    I have birds on my blog too.
    Glad you all enjoyed the outing. MB

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  43. What a glorious weekend you enjoyed in such scenic country. The flowers, of every color, were a delight to the senses and the mountains and lake vistas were breaathtaking. They all seem so far from the chaos of the everyday world!

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  44. some very interesting flowers in your collage...Germany has such a beautiful landscape...i wish i got out in it more when i lived there.

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  45. looks like a wonderful contact with the nature :)

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  46. What a gorgeous collection of photos. I especially love the heron and the collages. Beautiful.

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  47. Very nice hike. Love the views of the lake.

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  48. Fantastic photos of nature, and your mosaics are absolutely beautiful. What a great way to spent the day!

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  49. I LOVE your mosaics! You really captured the beauty of nature on your outing. Thanks for visiting my Ruby Tuesday. Have a great week.

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  50. What absolutely beautiful photos, so filled with vibrant tones, wonderful paths and scenery. A haven for sure.

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  51. Your pictures and mosaics of the park are beautiful. I'm glad you were able to find some relief from the heat in such a pretty place.

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  52. Great to see where your footsteps and the pabble boat lead you.
    Have a good week. FAB.

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  53. So many lovely photos on your bloggy- these images you've put together are fantastic- so enchanting Eileen!!

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  54. You seem to always find the neatest nature places and are always rewarded with wonderful photography opportunities. Love the collage!

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