Celebrating Mother Nature's garden, the National Parks
Golden thryallis (Galphimia glauca)
Last week, as my family and I watched the celebratory Ken Burns series The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, I thought back over all the visits to national parks that I’ve made with my parents, my husband, and my children over the years. Summer seems somehow incomplete without a trip to a national park, and my husband and I love to visit new ones and old favorites, hike the trails, and introduce our children to their wonders. I’d love to visit all 58 national parks (and 100 national monuments), though with limited vacation days and travel funds it wouldn’t be easy. It’s nice to dream though.
Why not dream together then? I’m sure I’ve mentioned how October is a month of celebration and renewal for this Austin gardener. Let’s collectively make next week, October 11 through 17, a garden bloggers celebration of Mother Nature’s garden—the national parks!
If you’ve ever visited a national park, whether years ago or just this summer, blog about it, tell your story, show us pictures, even if you have to scan old printed photos. Tell us what was special about the park and what your favorite memory is. I’ll put up an introductory post on Sunday the 11th, and you can leave your link in my comments section so that everyone can find it. Some bloggers may post just once; others (like myself) may want to post about national parks all week. Together we’ll add to the celebration of Mother Nature’s garden.
And if you’re a blogger outside the U.S. and would prefer to post about your own national parks, please join in. I’d love to see the natural wonders of your country too.
I hope you’ll join in and help celebrate these national treasures. When you put up a post, please come back here to leave your link so we can find it. Thanks!
All material © 2006-2009 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
What an excellent idea. I can’t wait to read all about them.
Me too. I hope you’ll find time to contribute also, Lisa. —Pam
What a great idea! I have been to Shenandoah Ntl. Park more than any other because it is only a few scenic hours away. I have also been to The Smoky Mountains Ntl. Park several times including on my honeymoon. On our first trip to Colorado in ’04 we went to one of the newest parks, Sand Dunes. It was like looking at a landscape on another planet, but alas I can not share my pictures. I will however offer a link to this summer’s trip to Rocky Mountain National Park, where we had such a good time.
I watched all of the PBS series, each night that it was on (much to the chagrin of my son). I came away with a bigger itch to travel and a greater appreciation of the country and what it took to get these lands protected.
Your post about Rocky Mountain NP, Les, helped give me my national park fix this summer. Thanks for the link. I’ll add it to next Sunday’s comments (or you can) so people can find it with the other ones. —Pam
What a great idea! Growing up, we would go camping in National Parks, mainly out West…of course, at the time, I thought it cruel and unusual punishment. LOL!
I hope you’ll contribute a post about your experiences next week, Jenny B. It would be funny to hear about it from a bored teen’s perspective. 😉 —Pam
Yes what a wonderful idea. Can’t wait to see what gets posted. 🙂
I was very moved watching this program. While I have not seen the whole week yet (I dvr’d it), what I have seen really touched me. Our country is truly a magnificent place.
The series was inspiring, Jackie. I learned a lot about John Muir, and now I’d like to read some of his writings. I hope you’ll join in next week and contribute a post about national parks you’ve been to. —Pam
What a GREAT idea, Pam. I grew up in the middle of the Big Thicket National Forest. Although, it was a preserve back then. Hope that counts…it’s an amazing place. I hope I can find some old pictures!
I’d love to hear about your childhood in Big Thicket, Mamaholt. Please do join in! —Pam
What a cool idea! I grew up in Wyoming, home to the first national park and my favorite national monument (Devil’s Tower). I can’t wait to read other people’s memories and see their photos.
Hi, Willi. Thanks for visiting! Devil’s Tower has been on my list of must-see places since watching Close Encounters of the Third Kind as a kid. I WILL get there one day. And Yellowstone is one of my all-time favorite parks. I hope you’ll contribute a post too. —Pam
Oh! boy Pam. Will I ever get any gardening done? It is going to be a difficult task choosing which ones to blog about. Likely the first up will be The Black Canyon of the Gunnison. We have been up there every summer for the past 3 years. Did I mention fly fishing!!!!
I can’t wait to read about your park experiences, Jenny. Listen, we can garden during the day, composing posts in our heads, and typing it all up in the evening. No problem! —Pam
I don’t have a blog but I would be interested to see other parks. The Smokies are my favorite, been there many times.
This is a great idea, Pam.
Thanks for following along, Lola. The Smokies are a long-time favorite for me too, having grown up in the Carolinas. —Pam
Your national parks are really wonderful in the US and I love to visit them! We are also lucky in GB with our National Trust, which means that we get to see the houses and the gardens!
I hope you’ll post about either a U.S. park or one of your National Trust sites, Charlotte. I’d love to hear about what you’ve seen. —Pam
Great idea, Pam. I haven’t watched the TV series yet, but have the whole thing on DVR, to have the luxury of watching when the time is right. I did a couple of posts last year about visiting the park closest to where we live, Nothing But Good> and stopping for a short hike on the Appalachian Trail, Appy Trails To You . I have not been to any of the big parks, or have photos from the many trips to the Smoky Mountains for some reason. Next time. 🙂
Frances
I remember well your Appalachian posts, Frances, and I appreciate your adding the links come Sunday. I look forward to reading them again, but I’ll save it until next week. —Pam
Oh, Oh, I want to play, too! I’ll be thinking about all my park visits over the years (Mesa Verde is #1!) and link it through. Fun idea, Pam!!
I’m glad you want to play too, Jocelyn! I haven’t seen Mesa Verde but would love to; it’s not that far away from Austin…comparatively. I look forward to your post! —Pam
Great idea. If my broken hand will cooperate, I will post about my favorite – Big Bend National Park.
I hope your hand cooperates, Caroline. I’d love to see your post about Big Bend. I still haven’t been out there yet, to my regret. —Pam
Good timing — we’re midway through school holidays here atm, so I’ll see what I can organise!
Wonderful, Chookie. I look forward to hearing about Australia’s national parks. —Pam
Been to a few Canadian national parks, no American ones. But I share your sentiments about supporting them, for sure.
I’d love to read a post about your favorite Canadian national park, Jodi. I hope you’ll join in! —Pam
haha, how funny! The husband and I will be backpacking in Big Bend most of next week. 🙂 I’d love to participate, but I don’t know how much I’ll be able to manage with only being in town for one day during the week.
And watching that Ken Burns miniseries did make me want to visit all the national parks, too.
Wow, that sounds great, Katina. Maybe you’ll have time to participate after you get back. It’s OK to send the link in later. I’d love to see it. —Pam
Fun idea Pam! I think I am the only loser who doesn’t have a love affair with the National Parks, not that I don’t like them, I’m just not that passionate about them. Kind of a neutral thing I suppose. I’ll be enjoying your posts though!
Oh, Loree, you’re not a loser if you aren’t in love with the National Parks. Maybe you’ll want to do a post about being tortured by being dragged along on a National Park vacation—ha! That would be fun. —Pam
This is a lovely idea that will undoubtedly foster even more care and concern and awareness of our National Park System. Good for you, Pam. I’m looking forward to seeing some of your past trips. And may you see many more! 58, huh? Wow. I had no idea! xoxo
Fifty-eight is a lot of parks, isn’t it? Even if one were able to visit one each year…well, it would take a long time to see them all. Virtual visits, as I hope next week will turn out to be, may be the ticket to seeing many of them. I hope you’ll join in, Kathryn. —Pam
Okay, I’m in. I’ve got a photo from Big Bend that will knock your socks off.
I can’t wait to see it, Susan! —Pam