The Empty Basket Series - In Your Easter Basket

As you enter Ravine Gardens State Park, the first thing you will see is this lovely garden of stone columns.

 Then, when walking past the Nature Center, you will enter the formal gardens.

 Descend the irregular stone stairways and you will reach the first (northern) suspension bridge.

 If you visit the park at the right time of the year, you can see the beautiful azaleas on the Azalea Trail.

 View of the northern suspension bridge from the service road beneath it.

 There are several ways to get to this box.  My recommendation is to take the Loop Trail the whole way around the park and pass this interesting amphitheater.

 If you take the Loop Trail, you can descend to the southern suspension bridge from the amphitheater.

 Cross the southern bridge.

 When you get to the east side of the bridge, look for the staircase which leads back up to the Loop Trail.

 You will know you are at the correct staircase if you see the little people sign.

 Look across the trail and note the palm tree about 15 feet back in the woods.

Then look to the left of the palm tree and another 15 feet back in the woods to see this large live oak tree.

It's a whopper of a tree!

  Tucked in a little nook on the backside of the tree is the box that you seek!

 SPOILER ALERT!!!

This is My Pennsylvania - Wawa or Sheetz?

Go to this park.  Box is at 40.08208, -74.91279

 Head to the intersection of Oak Lane and Logan Walk.  

I found the quickest route was to park in this parking area along State Road.

 From this parking area, walk past the gate to the Hunting sign.  Turn left.

 Head down the trail, turning right when the trail curves.

 Continue walking down this trail.

 When you find this sign, head east on Logan Walk.

 See this tree? Ignore it.

 Instead, look across the trail at the downed tree.  Head to the root end.

 See this opening?

 Look what's inside!

This is My Pennsylvania - Slinky

Head to this strange little state park.

 Follow the road which meanders through the park until you see the sign for the Airplane Club.  Bear left and park in one of the six parking spaces on the left.  Then walk back to the kiosk.

 Take the short trail through the trees.

 The kiosk is naked on the front but has this explanation for the park on its backside.

 About halfway through the wooded section, note this big old tree a few feet off trail on the right.

From this tree, walk past the big tree behind and slightly to its left, to the Y tree with lots of exposed toes.  The Y tree is about 38 steps off trail.

 Check the backside of the Y tree and be very careful to avoid all of the deer droppings in the area.

The Empty Basket Series - Give Peace a Chance

Find this sign and the trailhead sign below

Take the left side of the Loop Trail.

Pass through the fence which runs on both sides of the trail.

When you reach this rustic looking bench, stop and take a break.  Then, look around you. 

See!!!  My lovely assistant, Three Flamigo's is looking around!

But you don't have to look as far as she did.  Just look for the tree which is directly to your right as you are sitting on the bench.

Carefully check in the palm fronds behind this tree.

Then, after you stamp in, take a walk a little further to the observation deck.  The morning we were there it was foggy but it was still beautiful.

 While you are walking, take note of all of the deer moss along the trail.  Three Flamigo's introduced me to this lichen so I did a little research and found this interesting info.  

"In parts of Florida you will see grey-green, cloud-like clusters of deer moss on the ground. Deer moss is a very slow growing lichen and large mats may take decades to develop. Fire kills this lichen, so if you see large carpets of Cladina, it is an indication that the area has not been burned for a long time.

Like all lichens, deer moss has no roots and gets all its moisture from the air – when the weather is dry it is brittle and crunchy, after rain it can be as soft as a cotton ball.

Architects and model railway enthusiasts often use deer moss to make realistic looking miniature trees and shrubs."  

 Spoiler alert!!!

Stained Glass #8

Welcome to my Stained Glass #8 picture clues.  Before we get started, I ask...no, I beg, when you are finished stamping in and ready to close the box, please push on all four corners of the lid to ensure that the box is completely closed.  You need to hear that snapping sound on each corner to help ensure the longevity of the box.  

Thank you!  Enjoy!

Please, please, please do not step in the ferns, it should not be necessary to reach this box.