Tuesday, November 1, 2022

Bicentennial Park in Williamsburg, Virginia

While we were in Colonial Williamsburg we parked next to the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum.  Both of these wonderful museums are under one roof.  We did not tour the museums this time, but if you get a chance it is quite wonderful.  There is a lovely cafe' that we did enjoy lunch a couple of our days on this visit.

The sign was interesting.  All Kinds of One-of-a-Kind!

I wanted to share a little park that sits a street over from the museum.  We've seen it before but were always on our way to the Duke of Gloucester Street in the colonial area. 

This small park has bronze sculptures dotted along the brick lined path that covers the area.  We have seen folks walking their dogs and children playing along the paths.  On this day it was very quiet and we enjoyed it all to ourselves.



This Cedar Waxwing by David Turner is so lovely with the sun lighting up its details!  Turner is an alumnus of William and Mary and lives on the Eastern Shore.  Many of his works are located on the W&M campus.


The above piece is called A Slice in Time by Kristen Visbal.  After doing some research I've learned it was based on the young George Washington and his cutting down of the cherry tree.  This piece is said to be like all of Colonial Williamsburg's nods to the past, and the fleetingness of the present.

The next sculpture along the path is quite different and so unique.


This piece is called Fraga Magna Rotabila---Latin for "large strawberry with wheels!"  Merrilee Cleveland is a local artist that fashioned this darling piece.

I hope you will read more about it here:


Girl Chasing Butterflies is the last sculpture in the Bicentennial Park.


She is another sculpture by Kristen Visbal.  She really is a darling piece that I really enjoyed seeing. 


Blue Star Memorial markers are allowed in parks, gardens, veteran facilities, and National cemeteries.  It was nice to see the marker here.

Near the marker we noticed a very large tree!!



This very large tree is the Eastern Cottonwood.  The last measurements I could find about it said the tree was 123 feet tall and 303 feet in circumference!  The Virginia Big Tree Program named it the largest Cottonwood in 2020.

The Bicentennial Park is quite a gem that has been overlooked by us until our last visit.  Thanks for visiting with us!



 





21 comments:

  1. Isn't it wonderful to find and explore somewhere new while visiting an old friend? To have the park to yourselves was a bonus! xoxo

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  2. I like it all, except for one. Bet you can guess. It must be my day for being outspoken. That tree is mammoth! You look like a child standing by it.

    Do you ever watch Knorpp and South. They were recently in Virginia and everything, including the foliage, was so lovely. They also visited The Natural Bridge, which was incredible. I'm sure that you have been there.

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    1. Vee, I'm guessing the sculpture of George Washington. I seem to recall your thoughts about the cherry tree incident!
      I do not watch Knorpp and South. Maybe I'll have a look. I haven't been to Natural Bridge since I was a teen. That area must be lit up with colorful foliage now.

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    2. 😁 You're fun! Well I'm pretty sure that he didn't chop it down; he only "barked" it. No, there's one that sticks out like a sore thumb.

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    3. Vee, there's only one left that I imagine is the sore thumb for you. The Fraga Magna Rotabila. I found it quite charming though different. That's the thing about art, we all have different opinions about what appeals to us.

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  3. I can't ever remember going to the Bicentennial Park Martha Ellen, you've sown a seed for our next trip. Thank you so much! The sculptures are wonderful and I enjoyed the interpretation of Fraga Magna Rotabila. All the sculptures would draw me to them. Looks like you had a wonderful trip. So glad you enjoyed yourselves.

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    1. Denise, it's always nice to discover new and interesting places. Bicentennial Park, though small, is a peaceful and lovely spot in Williamsburg. I'm sure you would enjoy a visit when you get a chance.

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  4. Wow! That cottonwood is huge! Great sculptures!

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    1. Thank you, Ellen for stopping by. The cottonwood was a lovely sight to see in Bicentennial Park along with the sculptures.

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  5. I never knew about this park! How beautiful. I especially love the bird sculpture -- that's a stunner. That cottonwood is enormous. I'll have to check this out if we ever get back there.

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    1. We were happy to explore a new spot for us, too, Jeanie. I loved the cedar wax-wing --it is quite large. I hope you get to return one day.

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  6. I love that sign at the cafe, it's wonderful. The sculptures at the park are delightful, the bird and the girl chasing butterflies, and I really like "a slice in time" sculpture too. That tree has a huge trunk! It looks like two trees grew together. It's beautiful, Martha Ellen. Glad you had your picture taken next to it. This looks like a lovely park with so much history attached to it. Thank you for sharing your journey with us, and I hope you have sweet November days.

    ~Sheri

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    1. Sheri, I think you are right on cottonwood tree. It was so large I wanted to get Grayden to take my photo with it for perspective. I hope your November days are sweet as well, my friend!

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  7. I must get there to see this! Blue star markers are important and especially when I take my grandchildren to see this tribute to our veterans. As my retired army husband would say "Hooah". Yes, this is good to see. Love that girl chasing butterflies sculpture. Very nice art and thank you for sharing.

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    1. The next time you visit Williamsburg you should go to Bicentennial Park, Betsy. It's a sweet little spot that I'm sure you and your family would enjoy. We loved seeing the Blue Star Marker.

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    2. I surely will and Steve and I will love seeing it too. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  8. Such a lovely place to visit, I enjoyed seeing your photographs.
    That cottonwood tree is so big!
    The sculptures are all so good.

    Wishing you happy November days.

    All the best Jan

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    1. I'm glad you enjoyed visiting, Jan. The cottonwood was a giant! Happy November days to you!

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  9. There is so much to do in the Williamsburg area! I'm glad that you tried something new and found it so enjoyable . . . a hidden treasure! And, yes, that tree is amazing!

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    1. Cheryl, you are so right about Williamsburg. We never have to wonder what to do while visiting there.

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