April Surprise

After the storm in Jericho Center.

If you weren't in northern Vermont for this week's wild winter storm, maybe you heard about it. Less than a week after the snow tires were taken off my Subaru, Mother Nature decided to dump more than a foot of heavy, wet snow across the Green Mountains.

Here we are just a few days before the first of May, and it snowed for about 30 hours straight. Power lines came down, trees were uprooted, and cars slid off the road. It was ridiculous.

Before this happened, it seemed like spring was in full swing in Vermont. The landscape was blooming, the birds were singing, and the peepers were loud at night.

So I really wasn't ready for 22 inches of snow to fall in my backyard on Wednesday. But thankfully it's melting fast. Like most people around here, I just want it to be spring again.

Underwater Treasures in Lake Champlain

The U.S. Coast Guard Station in Burlington.

Lake Champlain is one of the most historic lakes in North America. The lake, which became a vital transportation corridor in the 19th century, was a location for military activity and battles during the French and British military conflict, the Revolutionary War, and the War of 1812.

Resting at the bottom of Lake Champlain are about 300 shipwrecks dating back to the 1700s, including commercial, military, and private vessels. A handful of these wrecks are part of the state's Underwater Historic Preserves and are open to scuba divers to explore. You can also catch a glimpse of some of these shipwrecks wrecks (and stay dry) on a special boat tour that uses a remotely operated vehicle equipped with an underwater camera.

Also, the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum is proposing to open a Shipwreck Center at the old Moran Plant, just north of the U.S. Coast Guard Station on Burlington's waterfront. The center's permanent exhibits would focus on the shipwrecks of Lake Champlain with recovered artifacts, replica vessels, and collection objects.

You can see a partial list of the lake's shipwrecks on the Lake Champlain Maritime Museum's website, www.lcmm.org. The list includes the names and backstories of dozens of boats that sank in Lake Champlain, including the diesel ferry Roosevelt II, the lake schooner Sarah Ellen, and the sailing canal boat General Butler.

A view of the Adirondacks from Burlington.

Waterfront Park in Burlington.

Route 100: Granville Gulf Reservation

Moss Glen Falls on Route 100 in October.

Vermont's Route 100 winds through small towns and scenic villages in the heart of the Green Mountains. When you drive along this famous Vermont road, you come across white steepled churches, cozy ski towns and country stores.

One of the most unique areas of Route 100 is Granville Gulf Reservation, a remote, six-mile stretch of road between Granville and Warren. The area's most popular attraction is Moss Glen Falls, a stunning waterfall.

The May issue of Smithsonian magazine includes an in-depth travel feature about Route 100, and mentions some impressive tidbits about Granville Gulf Reservation.

Here's an interesting fact I learned from the Smithsonian article: most of the reservation's 1,171-acres were donated in 1927 to the state by former Vermont Governor Redfield Proctor, Jr., who stipulated that the land be forever protected and preserved. What a gift.

Happy Earth Day!

Ski Season Comes to a Close, Almost

A springtime view of trails at Sugarbush Resort.

The ski season is winding down in Vermont, and by all accounts it was a good one. Even though the season got off to a late start, business was strong at resorts.

In some places, the ski season isn't over just yet. Jay Peak and Killington remain open after picking up a few inches of new snow over the weekend.

For the latest conditions, visit www.skivermont.com.

Gardens and Flowers at Trapp Family Lodge

Summer at Trapp Family Lodge.

The gardens at Trapp Family Lodge in Stowe have everything from primrose and geraniums to impatiens and tulips. And of course, there's Edelweiss.

Every summer Dave and I visit the 2,400-acre resort to admire the gardens around the property. Last summer I spent a few hours photographing The Cutting Gardens and Greenhouse, which is located just down the road from the main lodge.

This year I plan on taking photos of The Rock Garden, originally designed and planted by Maria von Trapp. It's the oldest garden on the property and is the most colorful in spring and early summer.

I don't have much of a green thumb and I don't know a lot about flowers. But these gardens definitely inspire me.

Eggs, Sheep, and a Barn in Underhill

I've driven by this little farm in Underhill dozens of times. For some reason, it's just one of those places I've always had a good feeling about.

When I stopped by to take some photos last week, a woman who owns the farm greeted me and told me a little bit about the barn and her animals.

She then invited me to check out the sheep, and I foolishly approached the flock too quickly and scared them off. So I waited by the fence for 15 minutes, hoping to regain their trust. Eventually, they came out of hiding and looked right at my camera.

Cloverdale Barn

Photos of an old barn near Underhill taken on Easter Sunday.

Hubbard Park in Montpelier

Montpelier is one of those cities with interesting bits of trivia. The Vermont state capital is the smallest in the nation and the only one without a McDonald's.

But one notable fact about the city tends to get overlooked: Montpelier is home to one of the best parks in Vermont. Hubbard Park, which sits on 194 acres, has been part of the city since the land was donated in 1899.

Located on a hill that overlooks downtown and the Vermont State House, Hubbard Park includes seven miles of hiking and Nordic skiing trails, as well as picnic areas and a 54-foot observation tower offering panoramic views.

It's just the kind of park you would expect to find in a healthy little city with 8,000 residents and no fast food.

A view of the Vermont State House and Hubbard Park.