Acadia National Park, ME - Jordan Pond House

Our summer vacation destination included hiking White Mountains in New Hampshire (Cedar and Angelica) and an adventure to Acadia National Park in Maine, known as the Crown Jewel of the North Atlantic Coast. Hiking, camping, biking, or enjoying popovers at the Jordon Pond House, there's something for everyone. Early in the morning the kid's hiked the Beehive Trail, billed as a thrilling Acadia classic with challenging rungs and ladders but majestic views. Let's just say, don't read the reviews before the hike. Angelica and Cedar seemed to think it was a breeze, the reviews leave you trembling in your boots before you even attempt this must-do hike. They returned triumphant and hungry. Our next stop was at the only restaurant in Acadia National Park, the Jordan Pond House, where they are famous for their Popovers and Tea. With seating inside or outside overlooking the vast pond, we were excited to sit down to a plate of popovers. Nellie McIntire, the original proprietor started serving her now-famous popovers in 1893 and they never stopped. Served on a first-come-first-served basis, we were thrilled to be seated inside and equally as thrilled to find a parking spot. Acadia is one of the ten most visited National Parks, and attendance was high the day we were there.

We enjoyed a plate of cheese, fruit and toasted baguettes prior to the popovers. 

Waiters carrying large baskets full of popovers were flying out of the kitchen trying to keep up with the demand. Fresh, warm, and served with butter and strawberry jelly, they were delicious!

Once we had our fill of popovers and tea we piled in the van and headed up Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the Eastern seaboard with its 1,530 foot peak.

Fairy House Village - Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

A journey to Boothbay, ME included a visit to the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. With over 300 acres of gardens and natural spaces; including a butterfly garden, the mammoth Guardians of the Seeds, a Children's Garden, and sculpture art throughout, it was an adventure to explore. 

As we walked through the various gardens in search of the trolls, we happened upon the Fairy House Village. This delightful fairy village is nestled upon a hilly expanse in the forest where children young and old can gather materials from the forest floor and create unique fairy dwellings. Birch bark, pinecones, stones and other treasures found are put together to create a welcoming habitat for the fairy folk. It's quite an amazing compilation of buildings, limited only by imagination. Tucked at the base of a tree, or standing alone, creativity abounds at this magical location. It is hard to capture the expanse of this fairy house village, but we're happy to share a few of the fairyland creations!

 There is no doubt that we walked among the fairies on this warm summer day in late July!

Guardians of the Seeds - Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

A midsummer vacation took us north to Maine, specifically the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay, ME, where a giant treasure hunt is taking place. Thomas Dambo, a Danish artist has been building and creating with wood since he was five. Known as a "recycle art activist", his trolls can be found worldwide, sharing a global connection and telling a story of sustainability. The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens are the home of five of his magical personalities, with each troll telling a story about the importance of trees. Dambo's team, staff from the botanical gardens, and over 150 volunteers took approximately two months to create this garden adventure. A map is provided, a few instructions offered (don't climb on the trolls, for example), and we were off to discover the Guardians of the Seeds. The easiest troll to find is Roskva, which stands for Trunk of the tree. She knows that a tree trunk has many lives from supporting a tree, to providing habitat and food for different animals. Eventually, the trunk will become a part of the soil, and new life will begin again.

Meet Birk, he holds the roots of the tree. Birk understands that the tree's roots are as big as the branches above ground, and that the connection between roots is invaluable, providing a wood-wide web to signal distress as the roots communicate with each other.

Tucked in amongst the forest greens is Lilja. She knows that everybody including the insects of the forest needs flowers, and she holds the scent of the flowers of the tree.

This whimsical troll is Soren, and he sticks up for the Branches of the tree since he knows that many animals call the treetop home, from birds and animals nesting to certain lichen and plants that only live in trees. 

And Gro smiles with the Leaves of the tree. Gro understands that leaves turn sunlight into food.

What a fun quest it was to discover all the Guardians of the Seeds hidden in the Maine woods, home to these trolls. They are in place, quietly telling their stories, for as long as Mother Nature welcomes them.

The Garden Tea Room - Afternoon Tea 'To Go'

Our summer vacation took us north this year, and conveniently Marnie, of The Garden Tea Room in Conyngham, PA was offering an afternoon tea 'to go' for pickup on the day we were traveling. Her tea room has been closed during Covid, and still closed at this point, but she occasionally offers a themed tea 'to go'. How fortuitous for us that she offered a Strawberry Themed Tea on our first travel day, and she was willing to accommodate our late arrival time.

The front window display cheerfully announced the themed event. Red and white checked cloth, hints of pink, and strawberry fields forever. Marnie embraced this theme and we were delighted to savor and enjoy her efforts.

With Covid still lurking around, Marnie has decided not to open her tea room at this time. We eagerly picked up our teas and headed to a local park, and found the perfect red gazebo with a picnic table for our summer strawberry tea.

Packed inside a brown paper bag was this cheerful pink striped box (well, 5 of them) which had a checkered paper plate, napkin, and red and white string holding everything together with a strawberry pick. The theme was quite evident from the start. The attention to detail was noticeable too.

Once the box was opened, more red and white with the napkin and the menu, Everything was individually wrapped, including a sample of Strawberry Kiwi herbal, a blend by Harney & Sons.

Oh my goodness! Such a delightful sweet tea. Celebrating the taste of summer with strawberries, the menu included a sweet strawberry fruit "sando" sandwich, a mini cream scone with strawberry jam and cream, a strawberry tart, strawberry lemon blondie and a strawberry streusel muffin. Strawberry candies rounded out the box.

Just look at that sandwich! I have seen pictures of a 'Sando', but didn't know anyone who has made them. Amazing! This style sandwich is based on the Japanese fruit sandwich, also called strawberry sando. It is made with a sweet creamy filling, fresh strawberries and other fruit, perfectly placed, so that when it is cut, you have a beautiful floral presentation. Special thanks to Marnie and The Garden Tea Room for offering this beautiful summer tea. What a perfect start to our vacation!

For updates on when she is planning her next tea 'to go', be sure to 'like' her Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/TheGardenTearoomConynghamPA/ 

Marnie and The Garden Tea Room are proud members of the Mid-Atlantic Tea Business Association. 

Happy Fourth of July!

Lovely Lavender Afternoon Tea

Traditionally June is the month when we hold our annual Lovely Lavender Afternoon Tea. It coincides with the glorious lavender blossoms in full bloom in central PA and it happens on the same weekend as a local lavender festival. The tables were wet with as many purple teacups as I have with coordinated deep purple, pale lavender and garden green napkins. The menu, printed with purple ink and graced with a beautiful lavender photograph sets the scene. Once guests begin to arrive, tea orders are taken. In addition to our usual list of teas, we add Lavender Black, Fig & Lavender, Lavender Earl Grey, and Lemon Lavender Herbal to accompany this special event.

The first course featured Mixed Salad Greens with Summer Berries, Feta Cheese and Lavender Balsamic Dressing along with a refreshing Citrus Lavender Herbal Spritzer.

The sandwich course included a Sweet Cornbread Muffin with Lavender Honey Butter, Lavender Apple Chutney atop a slice of Pork Tenderloin, Lavender Mint Cucumber Triangles, Pimiento Cheese with Strawberry Lemon Lavender Preserve, and a Lavender Goat Cheese Croustade garnished with a fresh sprig of lavender. To my taste, the lavender flavor was most predominant in the chutney, and the goat cheese sandwich with the fresh lavender sprig. The other sandwiches were a bit more subtle in lavender flavor.

The following course included Lavender Sage Golden Raisin Scones and a slice of Lemon Lavender Blueberry Tea Bread. These were served with Sweet Cream and Lavender Lemon Curd. Fresh Strawberries were glazed with a Lavender Syrup.

The dessert medley featured a Lemon Ginger Lavender Blueberry Trifle, Lavender Leaf Candies from Provence, France, a hand crafted Lavender Truffle by a local chocolatier (Brittle Bark), and a Crystallized Lavender Stem sugared and preserved a week or so earlier. A lavender themed napkin was tucked under the dessert assortment.

Thank you to everyone that attended our Lovely Lavender Afternoon Tea on a beautiful Saturday afternoon in June. This special event is a fragrant and sweet nod to the beautiful herbal harvest the many varieties of lavender blesses us with each summer. 

The Queen's Tea - 2021

A festive celebration took place recently in the tearoom as we celebrated the occasion of the 95th birthday of Queen Elizabeth II at our annual Queen's Tea. Although the Queen's birthday is in April, the royal celebration takes place in June when the weather is better! We are happy to celebrate with her. The best china, red roses, and menus that feature pictures of the Queen grace the table. Festive bunting was hung throughout the tearoom also to complete the decor.

The first course featured a salad selected from Eating Royally, a cookbook written by Darren McGrady, personal chef to Princess Diana and chef to the royal family for 15 years. Assorted leafy greens were tossed with parmesan cheese, goat cheese, sugared pecans, and fresh pears. An olive oil dressing laden with parsley and spring onions completed the salad.

The sandwich medley featured a Herbed Cucumber Garden Party Sandwich, Buckingham Palace Rose Garden Sandwiches, Pecan Edged Chutney & Cheese Sandwich, Brie & Apple Crostini, Strawberry Basil Mascarpone Tartlet, and 1953 Coronation Chicken Salad Triangle.

Scones included Kensington Palace Scones (heart shaped) and Claridge Hotel, London Currant Scones (triangular shaped) both served with Sweet Cream and Lemon Curd alongside fresh fruit.

While the dessert course include a Coconut Pecan cake with Cream Cheese frosting, Rosemary for Remembrance Cookie, and Chocolate Biscuit Cake (the Queen's favourite). The recipe for the chocolate biscuit cake is also from the Eating Royally cookbook.

The Beefeater kept guard as we enjoyed our Afternoon Tea.