2017

Back From the Most Magical Place on Earth

2:29 PM

Pictures I took from each park (EPCOT, DAK, MK, and Hollywood Studios)

Hello Hello Hello! Long time no see!
After trying to post on this blog all summer and not being able to upload anything (wifi was not the best,) I'm back! This summer I have spent 3 wonderful months working as a Professional Intern in Horticulture at Walt Disney World. It was truly an amazing experience!
I joined 30 other environmentally inclined interns of varying ages and from all over the USA in an opportunity of a lifetime. I worked within a group of 7 all summer, and rotated with them to each of the four main parks as well as some of the waterparks & mini-golf courses. 

My first pair of Mickey ears!

Some questions I frequently get asked:
What did you do down there?
I was a garden intern, where I did mostly landscape maintenance. This includes weeding, pruning, watering, planting, and much more!
What was your favorite park to work at?
To be honest, I enjoyed working at all of the locations! There was always something new to learn and different types of plants used as well. The themes of each park were displayed beautifully and as a landscape designer - it was really exciting! If I had to really pick a single park however, I might have to pick either Fantasia mini-golf or Magic Kingdom.
Would you ever go back?
I would! Maybe in the future. I do really enjoy gardening but sometimes I feel like doing other things as well, so not sure.  
How many Mickeys are there?
There is only one Mickey Mouse. 

Taking a picture of Everest
I was so lucky to have gotten this experience and hope that the internship program continues at WDW. It was helpful for students/interns, as well as for the gardeners! I met some truly amazing people down in Florida and hope to stay in contact with them. 

I will probably post more pictures from WDW at some point but this is it for now. Thanks for reading!

disney

May

7:41 AM

Here's a few flowers that are hiding in my garden at home! April and May have been crazy months and I have so much to share. 
 Lily of the Valley (Convallaria majalis)

First off. April. School is finally winding down, and things are harder than ever. Chemistry II is probably the hardest class I have ever taken, and I'm not even sure why! I study a lot and practice equations etc, but nothing sticks in my head for quizzes/tests. Now its May! I am in the process of graduating, and if I can't graduate it will probably be because of chem! Unfortunately, even if I do get to graduate, I am not able to attend. BUUUT its for a good reason! (Phew) I am going off to work as a Professional Horticulture Intern at Walt Disney World!

 Bleeding Hearts (Lamprocapnos spectabilis) 

I didn't want to announce much about me becoming an intern at WDW because I couldn't even believe it myself. I went down to Orlando in January for a student competition and saw a presentation about how Disney's gardens are brought to life. I applied right when I got home and didn't hear anything until around March. But now, I leave this Sunday (Mother's Day,) and have an appointment at 9:40 on Wednesday. My dad and I are going to drive down from NJ to Orlando in a short amount of time, but its definitely doable. 15 hrs? Psssh. Time has passed so quickly and I've had multiple freak-outs after realizing that it is starting so soon! 

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

Another thing I am excited and nervous about is attending Rutgers University (again) in the fall. I am transferring as a Plant Science/Biology major with a concentration in Horticulture and Turf. I've gone in for advising and have done other prep things, but if I don't graduate from CCM I'm not sure how it'll work. Since I won't be around to be able to retake Chem II over the summer, I'm left in a little bit of limbo at the moment. We'll see! I should know by next Monday. (When I'm on the road!) 

Globemaster Allium (Allium 'Globemaster')

I am trying to get back on a better posting schedule and to post more often. Trying is a key word here! I take a lot of photos but I often either just post them to Instagram or have them just sit on my computer. This will be a challenge for me, but since my memory goes bad so quickly, keeping a record of everything is so rewarding in the long run. 

Thanks for reading! Have a great day!

garden

San Francisco Botanical Garden

3:27 PM

Magnolia

WOW. I mean WOW. This garden was so beautiful and so inexpensive to enter! Not everything was in bloom, but a lot was. We caught the tail end of Magnolia season, but the ones that were still in bloom were so wonderful!

Daffodils planted in rings around cherry blossoms

The day was absolutely perfect for walking around, and there was so. much. to see! 

Pretty pink bottlebrush

I took hundreds of photos and totally geeked out the entire time we were there. I can't post them all, but here's a few!

Sweet little flowers! I think this was a mimosa



The color of this flower was amazing! Beautiful yellow

HUGE ornamental grass





These little forget-me-nots grew like weeds everywhere! So sweet



Hot pokers



This was one of the strangest plants I have ever seen! Looked like a charlie brown christmas tree













The cutest donation collector ever!

Think of these pictures as a little preview, because there is so much more to see!
I think my overall message here is... if you are in San Francisco, and looking for something to do... Go to the San Francisco Botanical Garden! You won't regret it!

Thanks for reading!

art

Street Art in San Francisco

7:44 PM

One of my favorite parts about San Francisco was all of the street art everywhere! All of them were so colorful and amazing. Here's a few I took pictures of and the locations/districts around where you can find them.

Found while walking down Judah Street

Look its a corgi! Found this one outside of Duboce Park

I think this one was outside of the Tenderloins

Right outside of the Boudin in Fisherman's Wharf

Walking through Mission

Outside of a shop in Castro

 Right before our street in Ocean View

 Mission!
Mission. So much great art!

 Mission

Castro 

These pictures don't even do the city justice. There are hundreds more that I missed, but these were some of my favorites!

march2017

San Francisco

7:51 PM


The Painted Ladies

This trip to San Francisco was a celebration of many things, and I was so lucky to share it with one of my sisters! We both have never travelled so far before/to the west coast/to even a different time zone! She recently accepted a job (an actual adult job!!) offer to start after she graduates from college and I had a few things to celebrate myself! Besides turning 22, I was accepted into a professional internship at Walt Disney World for horticulture this summer, and also am closer to graduating from CCM and moving on to Rutgers. But anyway - back to San Francisco!

View from a huge hill (lol)

San Francisco was filled with so many beautiful plants and people as well. Walking through the streets, I could hear kind words spoken all over. It was refreshing! A little weird to get called cute by strangers but nice all the same. I have had a thing with several homeless men over the past few years, for example I have been serenaded for coffee (that I was drinking,) have been called out during a few street songs, and have been followed before. I am told by friends and family it is because I am kind and have a kind looking face. Oh well, its not all bad!

A VERY cool mural

The entire city was so inspiring! Everywhere you turned there was some sort of piece of art, whether it be a mural, a sculpture, or a garden. It was truly such a lovely trip!

Colorful pots in Castro

I took so many pictures over the past few days, so many that my camera started to have problems. The submirror began separating from the main mirror, so I had to tape them together with a bandaid for a few days until I could get tape. Then it started to glitch up, saying that the battery was low even though I had just charged it. Some other things occurred as well, and I've had this camera for about 10 or 11 years, so I guess its a little old for a DSLR. While as obnoxious as that is, I bought a new one so I can continue this blog and taking photos! I really loved my Canon Rebel XTi, so I upgraded to the more recent Canon Rebel T5i. I have never owned a camera with a video function, so I'm pretty excited! Over the next few days I am going to upload more of my trip pictures in batches/according to their subject. I'm still sifting and editing them!

Party Trolley

Thanks for reading!

crafty

22

1:46 PM

Yesterday, March 9th, was my 22nd birthday! It was a very usual day, I had class at 8, got out of class early, came home, napped a little, sewed (below) and went out to dinner! I am a triplet, all of us are girls, and have no problem sharing my birthday. Overall it was a really delightful day!

Me and my dearest friend O.C (outside cat/orange cat)

Daffodils covered in snow!

 Pretty purple and white crocus blending in

 More growth on the barberries!

 close up on a beautiful daffodil 

 found this moth resting in old grass, not sure what type!

On friday it decided to snow again, so no work before my trip. Too bad! I didn't take any pictures on my birthday (except some funny ones that I won't post here,) so these were taken on Friday. I started sewing a shirt Thursday and finished Friday, based off of a shirt I bought from target a while ago. It turned out cute! A little awkward fitting but I will definitely wear it in the summer when I'm not working. I also hemmed some very long linen pants into a culotte style. Very comfy!

 High neck top, used twisted cords for straps


Soon my sister and I will be in San Francisco! Very excited and ready for a little vacation. Getting mighty stressed out at home, a lot is happening all at once, but its for the better.