Elizabeth Park

         Elizabeth Park can be coined the most peaceful and serene places you could find in Hartford, Connecticut.  Located at the corner of Prospect Avenue and Asylum Avenue, the park sits amongst the Elizabeth Park Pond, the Rose Garden and the Tree Trail which contains more than 40 varieties on a mile long walk.  The park is known for its listing in the National Register of Historic Places and the home of the Centennial Rose.  As commemoration for the Park's 100th year, John Mattia of Orange Connecticut, was in charge of hybridizing the frequently blooming, pale pink rose.  It has a raspberry color edge with a pink center.  This beautiful, highly esteemed hybrid proves to be the face of the Elizabeth Park Rose Garden.

         The owner, Charles M. Pond, willed away the estate to the City of Hartford with the requirement that it be a horticultural park that be named after his wife Elizabeth.   The first project started on the property after his passing was the rose garden which commenced with only 100 bushes to over 2 acres with 15,000 bushes that are currently there now.  The park now reaches over 102 acres and has multiple gardens, greenhouses, lawns, and recreation areas.  The garden remains one of only 22 public All America Test Gardens in the country.   This allows for testing of new roses before they are released to the public.  
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The vast expansion of roses include more modern types that can be found in the main garden whereas traditional and historic varieties can be found in the Heritage Rose Garden.  Elizabeth park is currently homes about 800 different types of roses on its premises.  They all reside in 5 different garden areas as well as herbs, tulips and ornamental grasses.  Each garden highlights certain colors and textures and provides unique views.  Aside from the gardens Elizabeth Park has multiple greenhouses that

are used to grow the annuals that are then planted into the gardens and distributed throughout the city.   Permanent collections in the greenhouse include the most unique floral displays including those of poinsettias, palm trees, birds of paradise, cacti and much more.

Another interesting feature is the park's Summer Concert Series featuring music from all different genres like salsa, rock, rhythm and blues. Concerts are head on the Rose Garden Lawn and occur every Wednesday night from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.

The abundant selection of roses supply an overpowering fragrance to accompany the peaceful quietness of the gardens.  The park provides ornate, colorful and lively views that ensure relaxing and serene views with the perfect backdrop for photography enthusiasts.

Resources:
http://www.elizabethpark.org/index.html
http://elizabethparkct.org/

Ben & Jerry's

       Vermont is home to beautiful expansive views and an abundance of activities for families, hikers and adventurers. One of Vermon's prized delicacies though is the Ben & Jerry's ice cream factory. Originating in Burlington, Vermont, it's first home was an old gas station building in May of 1978.  The owners Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield used an old-fashioned ice cream freezer and began to churn out the infamous flavors of Ben & Jerry.  They loaded the rich and creamy base flavors with their favorite fruits, nuts, candies and cookies.  They became so popular that the company expanded from the old gas station to be sold at local restaurants and grocery stores throughout Vermont and since has expanded even farther.

        Over the years many things have changed and they have overcome many milestones along the way.  To celebrate their one-year anniversary they had their first-ever Free Cone Day in 1979.  Free Cone Day continues to be an annual tradition in scoop shops around the world.  In 1980 for the first time they began to package ice cream in pints for easier distribution.   In 1981 the first franchised Ben & Jerry's scoop shop opened in Shelburne, Vermont. In 1983 their ice cream was used to build the "world's largest ice cream sundae" in St. Albans, Vermont which weighed 27,102 pounds.  In 1985, the Ben & Jerry's Foundation was established to fund community-oriented projects.  In 1987, the first flavor ever to be named after a rock legend was created from the idea of two men in Portland, Maine.  The flavor was named Cherry Garcia after the Grateful Dead guitarist, Jerry Garcia.  In 1988, Ben and Jerry were named "Small Business Persons of the Year" by President Reagan in a White House garden ceremony.  In 1993, Wavy Gravy influenced new flavors inspired by the 1960's Woodstock festival.  In 1996, Ben & Jerry's introduced new non fat, non cholesterol and non lactose sorbets made with pure spring water and natural fruit flavorings.  Over the next few years they established many more flavors with famous inspirations as well as increasing their involvement in fair trade and partnered with many influential groups and campaigns to ignite change.  Their involvement in not only the local community but the national community represents their dynamic interests and ideals.  Not only are they providing the world with sensational ice cream flavors but they are encouraging youth to vote, campaigning the fight against global warming, protesting oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and much more.
      One particularly exciting part of the Ben & Jerry's franchise is the opportunity to tour the factory. The guided tours teach the production process as well as the incorporation of their mission statement into all aspects of the factory happenings.  You get a glimpse of the manufacturing process as well as a movie sharing the history of Ben & Jerry's as well as tasting the sample flavor of the day. 

 

Resources:

http://www.benjerry.com/