GLORIOUS LAGUNA GLORIA – AN URBAN OASIS FOR NATURE LOVERS BY SUZY MERIWETHER
The 14-acre Laguna Gloria site is an urban oasis providing a
unique art-in-nature setting. Laguna Gloria houses the historic
1916 Driscoll Villa with a formal garden as well as natural areas
along the lake. Members of the chapter enjoyed an ‘insiders’ walk
of the ground with Liz Brewer, the talented horticulturist and also
a chapter member. She talked about the evolution of the grounds
as invasive species were removed and replaced by native plants.
In addition to learning about native plants, Julian led us on a
birding by eye and eye walk. We spotted a red-winged blackbird
and bluebird, saw and heard about 17 species including:
- Red winged blackbird
- Eastern bluebird
- Mute swan
- Wood duck
- Least Grebe
- Black Vulture
- Osprey
- Red bellied woodpecker
- Vermillion flycatcher
- White eyed vireo
- Ruby crowned kinglet
- Blue grey gnatcatcher
- Carolina wren
- Eastern bluebird
- Red winged blackbird
- Black and white warbler
- Common yellowthroat
- Yellow throated warbler
The photographers among us had fun with the flowers and
sculptures. We even spied a mermaid overlooking the iris-laden
river’s edge!