The Salisbury Zoological Park has new residents.
These are alpacas. They are related to llamas, but are smaller and quite dainty. Their wool is of very fine quality.
Month: October 2012
-
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Chestertown, Maryland
We discovered this very interesting history in Kent County, Maryland, hardly 7 miles west of Chestertown.
The oldest occupant of the cemetery is one Michael Miller whose gravesite is very near the old church and is marked as born in 1624, died in 1699. Mr. Miller donated 8 acres of land for the church site and grounds in 1696. Another 2 acres was donated soon after, and the remaining 9 acres of the tract was bought a lot later. Much of the last bought land was Remington Arms property.
The cemetery grounds hold several very early graves, and is still in active use today. The cemetery overlooks a small millpond that was created by the damming of a creek.
At one time there were several large oak trees on the grounds, but time and weather has taken all but one of the relic trees. Still standing tall at about 120 feet is a Swamp Chesnut Oak. It has a crown spread of 90+ feet and a trunk circumference of 24 feet and 6 inches. We believe it to be the largest trunk we have seen, at least in a long time. The tree is recognized as the largest of its species in the United States. It is estimated to be more than 400 years old. If we consider that the average armspread of a 6 foot tall man is about 6 feet, four such men standing fingertip to fingertip could not quite wrap around the tree trunk. It is truly awesome.
One tombstone marked as died in 1729 brings a bit of a smile. It reads:
"Behold and see where now I lye, As you are now, so once was I, As I am now, so must you be, Therefore, prepare to follow me."
The once popular actress, Tullulah Bankhead, was buried here in 1968.
There are a number of Civil War veterans buried here. There are believed to be some veterans from the War of 1812, but that has not been proven.
Built in 1713, St Paul's is the oldest continuously used Episcopal church in Maryland. The church has a more limited service schedule today. It is quite beautiful inside, and the outside is very well kept. There are a number of other more modern buildings on the site.
It is a pleasant and very interesting place to visit. The extensive boxwood plantings are considered one of the largest collections in Kent County.
-
A day at the Salisbury Zoological Park
"I've been here a long while waiting for the bus" (This is actually a prop for the Night of the Living Zoo tomorrow night and Saturday night at the zoo)
The handsome, or otherwise, cuckoo
The brilliant sun conures
The wise spectacled owl
The eye of a sleepy bison
The majestic eagle
"Sorry, you can't come down here now"
A sleepy spectacled bear relaxing in his hammock
Rhea
