Breakfast At Hovey Pond Park

When I run errands I like to get out and about early.  I can't make that happen as often as I'd like these days because you would be amazed at how tricky it is to get two small children out of the house at the same time, but when it does happen I like to reward all three of us with a treat.  So after grocery shopping yesterday at eight in the morning, we stopped off at Dunkin' Donuts for iced coffee, bagels, and a muffin, then went to revisit a park we hadn't been to in over a year.



I would like to suggest that if you've been away from Hovey Pond for awhile, or if you've never been, take an hour or so and treat yourself to a walk.  The park has undergone major changes in the last three years, with the addition of boardwalks through the newly cleaned and rehabilitated marsh area, complete with platforms and benches for sitting quietly and watching the wildlife around you.  The Robert Eddy flower gardens are a delight in spring, summer and fall and will give you great ideas for your own garden.  The pond is a great place to teach your little one how to fish and is stocked annually with trout.  Halfway Brook runs through part of the park and the foot bridge extending over it is perfect for playing "Pooh Sticks". *

View from the bridge.

There is a very small playground on the site (one slide, two swings, and a rope net for cimbing) but Harry spent only seconds on the swings before wandering off to look at the dragonflies and birds.  Additions of a water fountain and portable toilet open for public use make it easier to enjoy a picnic on a hot day.  The park has always been known for its wheelchair accessibility, with picnic tables, a fishing deck, a gazebo, and all boardwalks being wheelchair user-friendly.  Pets are allowed, but leash laws must be followed.

Boardwalk through the marsh.

Turn your computer's sound on, press play and listen to the birds singing!  You may want to look away from your screen for this, as I made the mistake of moving the camera and it's a bit bouncy.



Isn't that cool?

Pond within the marsh.

 Deck at the end of the boardwalk, overlooking the smaller pond within the marsh.

 The smell of waterlilies fills the air as you walk by the marsh ponds.



The grasses of the marsh make a great swishing sound as the wind tosses them around, and you would not believe the birds!

The gazebo that overlooks the entire marsh.

Can you spot the minnows?

Or the dragonfly?

At the large pond, some random guy spends his morning fishing.

If he moved a few paces to the right he would have seen an entire school of fish.

Ducks like this spot in the shade, and barely moved when we strolled by.







Wildflowers circle the pond, and are just as splendid as the more organized gardens up the hill.

The big pond...you can just see the wheelchair accessible fishing deck on the right behind a tree.

Mr. Eddy's gardens.







Making the face he makes when you ask him to say cheese.

 Emma fell asleep seconds after I took this.

 The tree we planted with Mr. Eddy's help in memory of my grandfather.



If you decide to go, you can get basic directions HERE.  For those bringing little ones, consider bringing a stroller with bigger wheels if you want to go through the botanical gardens, as the gravel there is thicker and harder to push small-wheeled strollers through.  Oh, and don't lock your keys in your car like I did...although I was able to stand on our stroller and reach through the slightly open window to unlock the door.  Phew!

*Pooh Sticks is a game from Winnie-the-Pooh, in which contestants drop a stick on one side of a bridge and turn to see whose stick is first to surface on the downstream side.  Not very difficult or exciting, but great fun when you are two, apparently.