Prepare to take your shoes off and roll up your pants if you want to cross this bridge!
For those in the eastern part of Massachusetts this week, you understand how much water fell during the four day rainstorm starting last weekend. For those not able to experience it first hand – it’s awfully wet around here!
The photo on the right was taken Monday afternoon in the midst of the rainstorm and really, it’s just a short walk up the hill to the Visitor Center and Park Headquarters inside the Buttrick Mansion. When at the Bridge on Monday, you could easily cross from the monument to statue without getting your feet wet… aside from the rain, of course!
And the photo below was taken of the very same sign early afternoon today, almost 48 hours after the above rainy day photo:
Yikes! You need a boat just to get close enough to read the sign! Fortunately the sun is shining today which makes a world of difference in being out in the park to enjoy seeing the magnificent flooding. And since there are flood plains alongside the river in the park, there’s no real damage taking place.
However, if you want to see this sign for yourself – prepare to have some cold feet! Both ends of the bridge are now underwater requiring a few quick steps through some chilly river water to cross the bridge from either direction. The statue is also on island – which makes for incredible pictures, but adds an element of difficulty to actually taking a picture. If you’d like to see more of the North Bridge, during and after the recent rainstorm, check out our photos on Flickr – or go ahead and add your own!
Thanks to the expected deluge from Tropical Storm Danny this weekend, the Middlesex County Volunteers Fifes & Drums concert planned for Saturday, August 29th has been rescheduled for Sunday, September 13th at 4:00 p.m. The concert will take place at the Buttrick Garden outside the North Bridge Visitor Center, 174 Liberty Street, Concord, MA. To learn more about MCV and hear samples of their music, visit their website at www.mcvfifesanddrums.org.
For details about this event and other happenings around the park this weekend and in the future, please call the Park’s Interpretive Division at (978) 318 – 7825.
U.S. Air Force Band of Liberty, The Colonial Brass
August 16, 2009
2:00 PM
Join us today for an afternoon concert! The Colonial Brass is the Band of Liberty’s brass ensemble. This six piece group utilizes a wide repertoire of music from Bach to Sousa to Miles Davis. They have appeared at prestigious venues such as the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), and the New York Brass Conference. The Colonial Brass is sure to dazzle and delight audiences of all ages with their wit and artistry.
Location: North Bridge Visitor Center, 174 Liberty St. Concord MA
The Buttrick Gardens at the North Bridge Visitor Center are looking beautiful these days and those that have visited the park recently have been able to see the showy irises at their peak! Park Ranger Maria Cole encouraged me to take a few moments last Sunday to step outside, and boy, was it worth it!
The photos in this slideshow were taken Sunday, May 31st… but there are still plenty more flowers to see. The peonies are now near bursting with their full blooms and the colors are truly spectacular!
Do you have photos you’d like to share? Load them to flickr.com and tag them with ‘friendsofmmnp’ and we’ll try to share them here on the website. Now get outside, visit the Park, and enjoy the gardens!
P.S. If you are a true garden lover and supporter of the Buttrick Gardens, please contact us at info@friendsofminuteman.org to learn more about volunteer opportunities and a special Garden event on June 18th!
HUNDREDS TO CELEBRATE ARBOR DAY
WITH TREE CARE DONATION
On Friday, May 1, 2009 the Massachusetts Arborists Association (MAA) will celebrate Arbor Day with their 30th annual volunteer project at Minute Man National Historical Park in Concord, MA. An estimated 200 MAA members will professionally prune, plant, and transplant an array of specimen shade trees throughout one of the state’s most scenic & historic properties.
Minute Man National Historical Park preserves and interprets significant historic sites, structures, and landscapes where the American Revolution began on April 19, 1775. The area of focus at the MAA’s Arbor Day celebration will be the North Bridge area, including the historic and much-loved Buttrick Gardens designed by Harold Hill Blossom. This work will make significant contributions to the gardens and the historic landscape of the North Bridge. Without the support of the MAA, this important tree preservation work could not be accomplished. Preliminary estimates put the professional tree care donated by the MAA member volunteers at more than $150,000. The Friends of Minute Man NP will be providing lunch for the crews and that has enabled this event to occur. For more information visit the MAA at www.massarbor.org.
Please note: The North Bridge Area from the Minute Man statue uphill to the North Bridge Visitor Center and parking lot will be closed to the public as “hard hat” work zone from about 6:30 am to 5:00pm. The Monument Street Parking lot will remain open.
Visitors to the Park during Patriots’ Day Weekend may have noticed a new addition near the North Bridge Visitor Center… GayGrace Teas Mobile Tea Room. This English cottage tea room on wheels will offer tea and tea fare from the customer service window of the truck.
Please feel free to say hello to Gay when she is in the park! The tea room will next be in the Park for Memorial Day and then again on Saturdays in July and August. For the full schedule, menu and other information about GayGrace Teas Mobile Tea Room, please visit their website at http://www.gaygraceteas.com.
Join us today for an afternoon concert! The Colonial Brass is the Band of Liberty’s brass ensemble. This six piece group utilizes a wide repertoire of music from Bach to Sousa to Miles Davis. They have appeared at prestigious venues such as the Music Educators National Conference (MENC), and the New York Brass Conference. The Colonial Brass is sure to dazzle and delight audiences of all ages with their wit and artistry.