An unapologetic plant geek shares advice and opinions on gardening, the contrived and the natural landscape, as well as occasional topics from the other side of the gate.

February 21, 2016

Winter Walk-Off 2016

     It's time once again for my annual Winter Walk-Off, and this year marks the 5th anniversary of this little meme of mine. Lately I seem to have trouble finding the time to blog, so I had momentarily considered not holding a Winter Walk-Off at all, but then thought better. I am also having trouble walking great distances right now; an aging body has made its presence known in my right knee, and I've had everything medically done do it short of replacement. However, I can still ride a bike unhindered, and that is precisely how this year's event was celebrated. I do hope you will join in, on foot or on pedal. I would love to catch a glimpse of the world as you see it.

As always, the rules are simple, the rules are flexible:

  • On your own two feet, leave the house, and share what can be seen within walking (or biking) distance of your home (if you want to drive to your walk destination that's OK too). Your post does not have to be about gardening or a travelogue (though I do like both), unless you want it to be. Maybe instead you will find some unusual patterns, interesting shadows, signs of spring, a favorite restaurant or shop, questionable landscaping, or local eyesores. Whatever, just keep your eyes and mind open, be creative, and have fun, but don't show anything from your own garden.
  • Post your own Winter Walk-Off on your blog, and link it back to this post. Also, please leave me a link and comment here when your post is up. If you have recently written something similar, you are welcome to recycle.
  • I will keep the challenge open until midnight on March 19th, the last day of winter (or summer for those of you below the equator, who are welcome to join in).
  • Everyone who participates will have a chance to win one of two prizes, and a totally disinterested teenager will randomly draw the winning names (if the totally disinterested teenager and I are ever home and awake at the same time). One participant will win a box of assorted treasures pulled from the Atlantic. The other winner will receive a different prize, as soon as I figure out what that will be. Surprises are good. I will contact each winner, and mail the prizes after the Walk-Off is over. 


  • I hope these guidelines are simple enough to sway you to join in, because the more, the merrier.
    *****
         For this year's Walk-Off I rode through the Ghent section of Norfolk, which lies roughly between downtown and the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. A thick verge of trumpet vine (Campsis radicans) and perhaps a fence somewhere hidden under those vines separate the tracks from my first stop, Robertson Park, a small park with big trees,
    Robertson Park

    Trackside (1)

    Norfolk Southern (1)

         I then stopped at Weyanoke Sanctuary, which is a remnant natural area wedged between the massive rail yard and the neighborhood of West Ghent. The sanctuary's volunteers have done a remarkable job of reigning in a who's who of invasive species (Hedera helix, Vinca major, Lonicera japonica, Ligustrum sinensis, Arum italicum) in favor of natives. Their work is ongoing. 
    Weyanoke Sanctuary (1)

    Weyanoke Sanctuary (3)

    Weyanoke Sanctuary (4)

    Weyanoke Sanctuary (6)

    Redgate Ave.

         In the middle of West Ghent is a small park whose centerpiece is a 350 year old live oak (Quercus virginiana). The tree and park were dedicated to those who died in "the World War", back when it didn't seem necessary to number wars. The tree is no Angel Oak, and it is in rough shape, but still a marvel.
    Westover Memorial Park (1)

    Westover Memorial Park (2)

         As I left West Ghent I passed by another small park dedicated to victims of the Yellow Fever epidemic of 1855 which killed 2000 people, many of whom are buried here in a mass grave.
    Yellow Fever Park

         Heading into Ghent proper, I made my way to Stockley Gardens, which is more park than garden. Nearby and along the edge of the park are some of the city's most beautiful houses of worship, and even though I rarely step through their doors, I do admire sacred architecture.
    Sacred Heart (1)

    Ghent Methodist (1)

    Christ and St. Luke's (1)

         Norfolk is home to a diverse and thriving Jewish community. The city's first Reform congregation was Ohef Sholom (Lovers of Peace), and when it came time to build a new synagogue they chose a site overlooking Stokley Gardens. The choice of neo-classical architecture projected the congregation's desire to be accepted as one part of a larger community, and not as something exotic or foreign. Written above the columns in English is "My House Shall be Called a House of Prayer For All Peoples".
    Ohef Sholom (2)

         Despite a plethora of temples and churches, when it came time for my wife and I to marry, we chose Beechwood Park, under a live oak, within a circle of stone.
    The Hague (3)

         Beechwood Park lies in the middle of The Hague, Ghent's oldest neighborhood, and is home to some fine residential architecture.
    The Hague (2)

    The Hague (1)

    The Hague (7)

    The Hague (4)

         You would think that the house below was vintage, but it is only a few years old, built high because The Hague floods regularly. In fact, with the exception of New Orleans, Norfolk is more at risk from sea level rise than any other American city. Not content to let fate take its toll, the issue is forefront at city hall, at Naval Station Norfolk, and at local universities. The issue is also inspiration for local artist, Christopher Revels' Walking Houses project.
    The Hague (6)

    The Hague

    Walking Houses (1)

    Walking Houses (3)

    Walking Houses (2)

    The Chrysler (1)

         Heading home now, I passed Maury High School where my son is a senior, and where my wife, her mother, and my wife's grandmother all graduated. Named for Matthew Fontaine Maury, "Pathfinder of the Seas", a prominent wave motif is incorporated into the building's exterior. On the adjacent street and sidewalk, seniors let the world know where their intended post-graduate loyalties will lie.
    Maury High School (3)

    Maury High School (1)

    Maury High School (2)

         Crossing the tracks, my final stop was L. Chenmen's where old navigational buoys line their salvage yard. I wonder how one or two of these would look in my garden.
    Chenman Salvage (1)

    Chenman Salvage (2)

    Chenman Salvage (3)

         Well I hope I haven't maxed out your allotment of pixels or bandwidth with this post. Sometimes I don't know when to stop. I do hope you will show a similar lack of restraint with your Winter Walk-Off, and I look forward to seeing your entry.
    Wish You Were Here

    59 comments:

    1. Oh, good. I'm glad you're doing the Walk-Off meme again this year. Actually, I took a walk yesterday and snapped a few photos, so I'll be joining in--probably in early March. I have a couple of other posts scheduled first. The architecture in Norfolk is indeed beautiful, and the angles of your photos show it at its best. What a lovely community!

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      1. Thanks, Beth! I look forward to your entry, and yes my community does have its moments.

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      2. I am glad you found time to join in Beth.

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    2. You always have the best posts Les. I love Ghent. Met my hubby at Maury High School 50 years ago (class of 1966). Thanks for the great pictures and interesting written narrative. Vikki

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      1. Hey, Vikki! Thanks for taking the time to comment.

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    3. I have always loved the Ghent section of Norfolk...very artsy, interesting, historic, and charming. I didn't know that about Maury HS with the 'artwork' of future loyalties, very cool.
      As for the buoys, I think you need at least one in your garden - truly a must have.
      Sorry to hear about your knee, sucks to get old eh?
      Will put together a post before the 19th.

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      1. Janet, I am looking forward to your post - you are a Winter Walk-Off legacy.

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      2. A legacy eh? Nice. Here is my post--
        http://thequeenofseaford.blogspot.com/2016/03/casual-observations-while-getting-my.html

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      3. Thanks, Janet! I always enjoy walking with you.

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    4. Glad your knee lets you bike. Mine just HATES to pedal. You certainly set the bar high with your walk off post. What an amazing city you live in. I've been crappy about blogging lately but will give it a shot.

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      1. Sybil, I have not been the best blogger either. Life can be awfully busy.

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    5. This might sound dumb, but I had no idea Norfolk was so pretty til I started reading your blog!

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      1. CM, please don't thing the whole city looks like this. I could have taken photos in more uninspired and downright ugly areas too.

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    6. I agree with Casa's comment ^ - of course your artistic eye probably has something to do with it. Knee issues suck...I hope yours somehow manages to improve! And I'm glad you're continuing this fun meme. Time to put on my walking shoes.

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      1. Loree, I am hoping to limp along (pun intended) a few more years before replacement becomes necessary.

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    7. Currently I have several posts ahead also, since I've been visiting a friend in South Carolina. We did have an inadvertent walk when an exceptionally low tide and a building sandbar conspired against us reaching our destination by water. But this is a marvelous idea and I love how you can "see" so much and share it with us.

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      1. I hope you didn't get stuck in any pluff mud.

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    8. Lovely! I especially enjoyed the corridor of trees. This might be my first "winter" walk off without snow in Maine. It's been freakishly warm: 50 today! Still, it's a bit icy in the woods.

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      1. That would be odd, a Maine winter without snow. I hope it is no portent of things to come.

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      2. We usually get less snow during the El Nino years, but this is signifcantly warmer than usual so I worry about climate change. I've posted my "winter" walk today: http://blog.sarahlaurence.com/2016/03/a-walk-from-bowdoin-college-to.html
        Thanks for hosting!

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      3. I am glad you joined in again. When I was a child I would ponder what would happen if spring never came. Now I worry about winter not showing up.

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    9. Wow, a colorful and varied post from a natural sanctuary to new-old houses. Those buoys would look awesome in the garden. Fascinating and fortunate your knee can take biking so you can bring us these wonderful views of your city.

      I'm joining up again after a few years off with a town walk from San Antonio.

      http://rockoakdeer.blogspot.com/2016/02/winter-walk-off-2016.html

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      1. Thank you so much Shirley, you are my first entry! I look forward to reading your post.

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    10. I always enjoy your winter walk off so I'm glad you were able to post one. I will try to get a post up. I do walk around a loop that circles one part of our property. It would be impossible for me to get such nice photos that don't show trash though as this community I live in is very dirty:( I marvel there is no trash in your photos and you are in the city! I really like those logos the seniors painted on the sidewalk. Beautiful!

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      1. Tina, I am so sorry you live near trashy folks. Nothing to me says character flaw like the willingness to liter. My walk-offs don't necessarily have to be pretty, though. An editorial post on liter would be welcome.

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    11. Nice tour. I love the huge trees. I did not know "with the exception of New Orleans, Norfolk is more at risk from sea level rise than any other American city." Interesting, but a bit scary with rising sea levels.

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      1. Donna, I spoke to a garden club this week about salt-tolerant plants, and my intro included info about sea level rise. All of the attendees live in waterfront homes, and most of the room had not heard about this area being so at risk. My jaw dropped.

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      2. mine too.

        We were at a U3A talk about climate change last week. And sea level rise is part of the conversation. The rate payers meeting had someone from Council talking about sea defense.
        Not something you can ignore.

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      3. Diana, I agree, this cannot be ignored, especially here. We are flat like a table here, with no hill in site. So the whole city is at risk, not just parts.

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    12. Loved the Winter Walk-Off through Norfolk. I accepted the challenge today and walked through the Carolanne Farms neighborhood park in Virginia Beach. http://www.ciophoto.com/2016/02/day-59-winter-walk-off-2016.html

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      1. David, I am so glad there will be another local entry. Thank you for playing along.

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    13. I enjoyed you Winter Walk-Off, seeing parts of the country I only visit through your photographs, and I'm glad some folks already posted entries. The vintage-looking homes remind me of old Europe, but my favorite picture is the Boulevard of Pines; simply amazing.

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      1. Thank you commenting Chaviliness. The pines were planted to separate the residential part from the rail yard. I am sure that worked when the pines were young, but now you can see right through the trunks.

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    14. Hi Les, Thanks for visiting my blog. It's my wrist causing me problems, and your knee you are having to work around. I hope we both heal up soon!

      I love your photos! We don't travel much, so it's always a treat to get to see things like this.

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      1. Hey Sue, I am glad you enjoyed the post. Unfortunately, my knee issues will only be solved through more surgery, and I am putting that off as long as possible.

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    15. I have nothing like the town you have, how beautiful and historic it is. I am amazed.

      Well I will do my best, and take a walk, but I can't top yours, or even come close. Take care of those knees. Mine are also not so good--I know how that feels--bad.

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    16. I am debating with myself about Old Town Alexandria again, or my neighborhood. Old Town is has more interesting things to photograph.
      Ray

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      1. I would be happy with either one, your choice.

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    17. Here's my Walk. I made it!

      http://pieceofeden.blogspot.com/2016/03/winter-walk-2016.html

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      1. Thanks for playing along. I look forward to walking with you.

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    18. I finally did it! http://phillipoliver.blogspot.com/2016/03/a-walk-through-neighborhood.html

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      1. Great Phillip! I hope to get a glimpse of your new town.

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    19. Sorry to hear about your knee. Thankfully we can get replacement parts these days, not that surgery is a total picnic in the park but seems like a great alternative to being in pain. Speaking of walks in the park, yours was quite grand and I especially loved the architecture sacred and residential. A buoy or two would look fabulous in your garden. After all, the song says, "Where the buoys are, someone waits for me."
      Thanks for hosting again this year!
      My walk is here: http://outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2016/03/winter-walk-off-2016.html

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      1. I just recently heard about stem cell therapy of knees; you can believe I am going to ask the doctor about it. Thank you for joining in Peter. I look forward to walking with you.

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    20. Hi Les, just discovered your blog and meme, the Norfolk I knew was in England and Ghent was in Holland, very interesting to have a tour of your home town in the US. That avenue of 350 year old oaks is amazing. I'll join in if I can get it together in time - but it will have to be a summer walk-off!

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      1. Hello Sue! I would love a summer Walk-Off. It's been a while, but we had a couple in my earlier Walk-Offs. The city was named after Norfolk, England, but Ghent is named for the 1814 Treaty of Ghent.

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      2. I took a walk and snapped some pics, don't think I'll make by March 19 but I'll do a post on it anyway. It was a fun and enjoyable and stimulating thing to do. I'll keep in touch.

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    21. I realized I actually MAY have a post that qualifies for this. I took a long walk in Manteo but, at the time, thought I had to walk from my house. http://mkircus2.blogspot.com/2016/01/morning-stroll-in-manteo.html

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      1. Marilyn, my rules are so flexible that they should be called suggested guidelines. Thank you for joining.

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    22. I made it! Just under the wire...
      http://www.thedangergarden.com/2016/03/winter-walk-off-on-south-waterfront.html

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      1. I am so glad you made it Loree, especially since you have been under the weather, and having bad weather.

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    23. A lunchtime stroll around the 'other' part of town produces this year's walk-off in Old Town Alexandria. (Sorry it sounds like a tourist brochure.)
      -Ray

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      1. Thank you once again Ray. I am going to include your link here for others to see.
        http://leafychronicles.blogspot.com/2016/03/winter-walk-off.html

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      2. Thanks Les. I put an active link in my comment, but after posting, see links are not underlined or colored so they don't show up until you roll the mouse over it.

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    24. In on the last day with my walk-off visit to an old abandoned greenhouse:
      http://threedogsinagarden.blogspot.ca/2016/03/in-search-of-local-history-my-winter.html

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      1. Old abandoned greenhouse? Sounds like the beginnings of a mystery - I look forward to reading your post. Thank you for joining in Jennifer!

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    25. I'm glad you're still able to get around on your bike. The architecture there is beautiful.

      Here's my entry, literally at the last hour: http://sweetbay103.blogspot.com/2016/03/winter-walk-off-2016.html

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      1. I am glad I can still get around on my bike, just not today - it is pouring. Thank you for walking with me again; I appreciate it.

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