Fall in the Japanese Garden

Fall is setting on Missouri Botanical Garden’s Japanese Garden. This is  14-acrespace, one of the largest in North America, represents an evolution of centuries of tradition and a multiplicity of distinctly Japanese cultural influences.

Incorporating carefully designed plantings, waterfalls, beaches and islands, the Japanese Garden invites visitors to experience the thrill of personal interpretation and discovery in a serene landscape that’s uniquely beautiful in every season.

One of my favorite areas to walk.

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Groundskeeper’s House

Exploring the Missouri Botanical Garden, this is one of my favorite buildings.

In 1895, the Cleveland Avenue Gatehouse, now named the Herring House, was constructed in accordance with Henry Shaw’s will to be a residence for the Garden’s groundskeeper. The surrounding new landscape design was inspired by influential British horticulturist Gertrude Jekyll. The rear garden will be known as “Lauren’s Secret Garden” where the peak bloom season will occur in the summer.

During the Christmas season, large groups of people walk by without paying attention. If you take a closer look, you will see a complely decorated Christmas Tree, complete with toys ready to be found and snaks waiting for Santa.

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Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal

Door County

Here is a view of the Sturgeon Bay ship canal from the Front Pierhead Light. Next to the canal is the Sturgeon Bay Rear Canal Light. Both lights lead the way into the canal. The Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal is a ship canal connecting Sturgeon Bay with Lake Michigan across the Door Peninsula in Door County, Wisconsin. A dredged channel continues through Sturgeon Bay to Green Bay.

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Washington Island Stavkirke

Door County

The Washington Island Stavkirke was modeled after the Borgund Stavkirke constructed in 1150 near Laerdal, Sogn. That church was chosen since it is the best preserved and least altered example of this style of church architecture. The building has twelve 18-foot “stavs” or masts, all from Washington Island. Eleven are Pine and one is White Fir. There are over 9,600 four inch wide shingles on the six-tiered roof. Sitting in a small forest grove, a winding prayer path leads the way to the structure. The Stavkirke has become a vital part of the ministry of Trinity Lutheran. It is used year ‘round for special worship services and as a place of quiet meditation for many as throughout their days. Every year, thousands of people visit and spend a little time going back in time and listening’for God’s “still small voice” in the quiet peacefulness that this place provides.

Inside:

Door County

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Stylized Art of Cana Island Lighthouse in Door County

Door County

This is a closeup of the Cana Island Lighthouse. Near the northern tip of Door County, the light signifies the area between the straits into Green Bay or Baileys Harbor. The photo is stylized with software I have been experimenting with that gives it the look of a painting.
The lighthouse is surrounded by Lake Michigan allowing the ability to explore the beaches around it.
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Fall colors at the Missouri Botanical Garden

While taking a Fall walk through the Missouri Botanical Garden, I found this area I had never seen before. These are the best fall colors in the area, in an unusual setting. These are possibly plum trees.

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Pilot Island

Door County

Pilot Island with its lighthouse and living quarters is a dead island. Nothing grows there and no one lives there or is allowed to visit. The light is the light of Porte des Mortes or Death’s Door. It sits in a strait linking Lake Michigan and Green Bay between the northern tip of the Door Peninsula and the southernmost of the Potawatomi Islands. The strait has shallow rocks and heavy fog at times making it an important place for a light house. Unfortunately, this area is filled with cormorants who have taken over the island. Their droppings have poisend the earth making it unhealthy to get near. An automatic light has been installed making visits intermittent.

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Road to Northport

Just up the road from Gus Klenke’s Garage is the “windy road” or Highway 42 just before Northport. Northport is at the end of the Door County peninsula and where you catch the ferry to Washington Island.

One story has it that the road was constructed to weave around utility poles that originally went straight down the center of the road. Utility poles are now located to the west of the road, buffeted by a row of trees. The more commonly cited reason for the 15 curves that wind Highway 42 through the woods says that the design of the road was influenced by famed landscape architect Jens Jensen. 

This is a very popular place to photograph and it is not unusual to drive through here and past photographers with cameras on tripods in the middle of the road (I was one of those people)!

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Gus Klenke’s Garage

Glen Kenke's garage

During my first visit to Door County, I was driving through Ellison Bay on Highway 42 and had to pull off the road to photograph this place. An old, abandoned garage with a pickup truck in front suffering the same fate. Interestingly someone was keeping up a flower garden in the back of the truck making it kind of a surreal situation.
Apparently, the local historical society has claimed the property from its now deceased owner, Gustan Klenke, added someone’s defunct pick-up truck and turned it into a historical site.
The historical society must have a good sense of purpose for the site and community since it caused me to immediately pull off the road to take some photos. Other artists think the same thing since you can purchase artwork in local galleries and online based on Gus’s garage.

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Exploring North Pierhead Light in Door County

Door County

When visiting the North Pierhead Light, you can walk out to get a closer look or turnaround and see the Sturgeon Bay canal with the Coast Guard station next to it. Also, when out there you can experience Lake Michigan (should they call it lake Wisconsin?) and see the long sandy beach stretching out into the mist. This is one of my favorite stops in Door County becuse of the red lighhouse and all of the great ways to photograph it.

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