Rokeby Stables

Upperville, VA

“Paul Mellon established Rokeby Stables near here on property purchased in 1931 by his father, Andrew W. Mellon, financier and U.S. secretary of the treasury. Paul Mellon bred and raised champion racehorses, including American Way, Grand National Steeplechase winner in 1948; Arts and Letters and Fort Marcy, Horses of the Year in 1969 and 1970, respectively; Mill Reef, winner of Europe’s most prestigious races in 1971; and Sea Hero, Kentucky Derby winner in 1993. Mellon twice won the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Breeder. He collected equine art and donated many pieces to the National Gallery of Art, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Yale Center for British Art, which he founded.”

This marker was erected on Rokeby Road in 2019. I happened to visit Rokeby on a garden tour this spring and it is a lot more than stables. It includes several homes and barns, and a lovely garden designed by Paul’s wife, Bunny Mellon. 

Tuesday Treasures 

Donkeys and Friends

Rockingham County, VA

 

I took these pictures three weeks ago. Most of the leaves have fallen now.

No Campfires

Shenandoah National Park

On Tuesday I had an appointment with the foot doctor in Front Royal, and afterwards I drove into Shenandoah National Park, which is next to the town. There were signs at the entrance warning of wildfire smoke and a ban on fires. There are two wildfires burning near the park, the result of a prolonged drought. Hopefully the rain but we had today will help firefighters to get the fires under control.

By the way, photographing that electronic sign was challenging. For some reason, the phone does not record it in the way that the eye sees it. I could tell that the letters were disappearing when I looked at my screen, so I took some pictures using LIVE mode as I waited for the drivers in front of me to pay the entrance fee. When I edited the pictures, I was able to select one with the letters showing.

Someone said these clouds were smoke from the fires, but that may be an overstatement.  Certainly there was a layer of smoky haze along the horizon, but the fires are well to the south and east of this scene. I only drove the northern section of the park, exiting at Thornton Gap.

There was still plenty of beauty and plenty of tourists. 

Birding Trail at Sweet Run

My post yesterday neglected the variety of trails at Sweet Run State Park. One of my birding friends asked about the birding opportunities there, and indeed there is a birding trail.

The sign is actually next to a chimney-style tower that was built for chimney swifts. Another sign tells about chimney swifts, which come here in the spring to nest. I did not see any, but they may have already migrated southward.

I believe these are Audubon style towers, and there are a number of them in Pennsylvania with a similar sign.

I heard birds in the nearby trees, but only saw one in the sky, which may have been a vulture.

Since I don’t have any pictures of swifts, I asked the StarryAI app to create some. Results were varied.

(LOL. Forgive my wordplay, please.)

Discovering Sweet Run State Park

Loudoun County

I read that a new state park was open near Purcellville, so a week ago I went to check it out. I ran into heavy traffic on Route 9 because it is the detour for 340 in Harpers Ferry, which is closed for rock slide repairs.  Other than that, the ride was pleasant. 

I came to the Sawmill Road entrance first. It is basically access for horse trailers, but the road looked splendid in fall colors.

I drove back out to Harpers Ferry Road and found the main entrance to the park. The property was obviously a farm at one time. There is a restored farmhouse among other farm buildings.

I was a little puzzled by some things that were new. Our local state park was basically undeveloped when it opened, but this one is farther along than ours already.  Then I saw a sign that explained it.

The property was improved by the Robert and Dee Leggett foundation as the Blue Ridge Center for Environmental Stewardship. 

Sweet Run State Park

Across Massanutten to Luray

Today I drove to Luray by way of the "slow route" across Edinburg Gap and past Camp Roosevelt. It doesn't take much longer than going to New Market and crossing the Massanutten Range using Route 211. I couldn't resist stopping at the scenic overlook on top of the mountain.

Here you’re looking down on Page Valley and Luray with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance.
 

Once I got to Luray, I drove down to Ruffner Plaza to check out the murals. The faded mural I photographed several years ago has been replaced by three different panels.. 

Dogwood is our state flower. The mural in the center shows an old-fashioned scene, perhaps in honor of the mural that was there before.

Monday Murals / Garden Affair 

Nearby were some planters with flowers, including chrysanthemums and decorative cabbage.

There was also a display of painted rocks with a Halloween theme.

Frog Valley Sunday

Near Berkeley Springs

Tuesday Treasures / Wordless