Hanging Laundry and Gardens

When you are "hanging" in an area what better thing to do than hike the "Hanging Garden Trail".  There is a dirt parking lot just on the south side of the Glen Canyon Bridge where you may park and hike 1+ miles to the "Hanging Gardens".  This is a pretty arid environment so we were curious enough to hike the 1+ miles to find out what exactly this was.

When we had stopped in the parking lot a few days ago I could have sworn, and so could TLE, that the sign said it was a 2+ mile hike, so we came prepared each with a Camelback hydration system to be sure neither of us got thirsty.  As it turned out the sign from which we gleaned the "2+ mile" info was for the hike down to the lake shore.  The actual hike to the "Hanging Gardens" is just 1+ miles each way.

This sign is right.....takes about 20 minutes walking each way, and if you spend 20 minutes there it would be a 1 hour hike......for us it was about 50 minutes.  Even by 10 am it was still coolish, so I wore my long sleeve hiking shirt.  This is pretty much a flat hike with a short uphill at the very end of maybe 30 yards.

The "Hanging Gardens" exist at the base of this sandstone cliff where natural seepage has created a perfect environment for a fern like plant to exist.  At this time of year it is pretty dry and the fern was a little worse for wear, but I have seen pictures that show it flourishing in wetter times.  In addition there is a type of orchid growing here too, although it was not in bloom.

Here is what the orchids look like when they flower....now I could be wrong about these being orchids, and I have a couple of friends who know a lot about orchids.....how 'bout it Ernie and Patty.....is this an orchid?

Taken from this blog

Yeah, I know, probably a little over dressed for this hike.

Our laundry hamper was over flowing by Friday, so next we headed to the local laundromat to do three loads of clothes.  Once we had the clothes in the washers TLE dismissed me to go run a few errands.  I mentioned I was assembling a small tool kit to keep in the VW.  I had the tow strap, and an assortment of small tools (see Thursday's blog), but I needed a shackle for the tow strap, and a small socket wrench set with SAE and metric sockets.  A quick trip to Page Lumber and I had what I needed.....now we are somewhat prepared for an emergency mechanical issue.

After I picked up TLE from the laundry we headed over Walmart so she could get a hair trim, and I could get a Subway footlong for lunch (TLE ate half), then a stop at the Post Office and then home for the day.  We spent the afternoon reading, and enjoying the big views.  

Late afternoon I got out the portable fire place so we could have a fire, and what a nice fire it was.

Thanks for stopping by!