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Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Visiting Empire Gold Mine State Park




The area of northern California where I was (see last post) had been a gold mining region. So one of the excursions we had as part of the NEWSTART program was a visit Empire Mine State Historic Park. The site includes a museum and Visitor’s Center with a scale model of the mine’s below the surface workings, a gift shop, mine shafts, the owner’s mansion, called "The Cottage," the mine superintendent’s house, a club house and beautiful grounds. For this post, I’ll focus on the beautiful outdoor views that I photographed while there on July 4, 2010.



Here is a view of the fountain across the lawn in front of the mansion





Two stately planted urns frame the approach up to The Cottage:





The Cottage, home of the owner of the Empire Gold Mine, William Bourn, Jr.


Façade of The Cottage

Roses in front of the mansion


Side view of the front of The Cottage Floral beauty in white at the side of the mansion

Light fixture on a side porch at the mansion

Another light fixture in front of the ornate front entrance



Stately Italian cypress across the lawn

Formal sunken garden on the grounds


Towering Ponderosa pines

Textured bark of a Ponderosa pine


Closer look at the bark of a Ponderosa
Yellow flowering ground cover. (Sorry, I did not get the name of this plant)


This post is linked to the following blog events:

My World Tuesday, hosted by Klaus.



Outdoor Wednesday hosted at Susan’s blog, A Southern Daydreamer

12 comments:

Diann said...

Oooh, that looks like a beautiful place to visit!!

xinex said...

The mansion is gorgeous and the grounds are fabulous. What a lovely garden!...Christine

The Tablescaper said...

Looks like a wonderful day and a gorgeous mansion.

Thanks so much for coming to visit.

- The Tablescaper

jlshall said...

That's quite a "cottage"! It's an amazingly beautiful old place, and you did a great job with all the photos! Just lovely.

Happy Outdoor Wednesday! from Joy @ Joysweb

Manuela@A Cultivated Nest said...

Wow, what a beautiful place to visit. The house is just out of this world and I love that huge urn!

Manuela

nannykim said...

Such a beautiful cottage!! Did you go inside?

http://nannykim-nannykim.blogspot.com/

tea time and roses said...

Hello Carrie,

What beautiful photos! The cottage is amazing and the ponderosa trees are beautiful! I would love to visit someday, a simply lovely place.

Thank you so much for sharing. Continue to enjoy a beautiful summer.

Smiles.....

Beverly

saltbox
treasures
said...

Thanks for visiting. Beautiful pics!
~ Julie

Carrie said...

nanykim,
No, we arrived close to 4 p.m., too late to go inside. We did meet and talk with a couple who dress up in 1905 period costume and portray Mr. and Mrs. Bourne for a living history feature on summer weekends.
I enjoy visiting historic houses and was so very disappointed not to see the inside.
Carrie

Ivory Spring said...

Hi Carrie,

It's lovely to hear from you. It's been so long...

Oh my - what a lovely place. I especially like the urns that are scattered in your pictures... and that "cottage" is to die for!

Nancy's Daily Dish said...

This is such a beautiful, beautiful place. I love everything about it, the architecture, landscaping, all of it!

I really loved seeing the Ponderosa close up too. Very beautiful and interesting!

Nancy

Fishtail Cottage said...

Would love to have you join my garden party...Cottage Flora Thursday's with a gardening post you'd love to share!!!! oxox