On the Road is a weekday feature spotlighting reader photo submissions.
From the exotic to the familiar, whether you’re traveling or in your own backyard, we would love to see the world through your eyes.
PaulB
Welcome to stage 8 of “Washington’s Ultimate Road Trip,” the Cascade Loop. Today, we’ll be visiting the Gorge Powerhouse in Newhalem. More specifically, we’ll be visiting the Ladder Creek Falls Gardens adjacent to the Powerhouse.
The falls and surrounding gardens were the brainchild of hydroelectric project developer J.D. Ross, who wanted to show off the wonders of electricity (this was in the early 1920s). Ross, the son of a horticulturist, planted tropical vegetation and exotic flowers, created pools that were stocked with goldfish, and strung (bare) electric wires and colored lights among the trees to provide a stunning nighttime experience. Phonographs and amplifiers were hidden throughout the hillside to provide even more of an experience for visitors.
Today, the lighting has been updated and most of the exotic vegetation has been replaced by native plants. It’s still a remarkable little oasis next to a hydroelectric plant.
Note: You can see full-size versions of these photos here.
The pedestrian bridge from the parking lot to the gardens. Despite its sturdy appearance, it noticeably swayed as I crossed. The bridge really is as narrow as it looks, barely wide enough for two people to pass one another.
A view of the Gorge Powerhouse.
The lower cascades of the Ladder Creek Falls.
Two views of the Falls.
A beautiful rhododendron along the path.
Another rhododendron.
I’m not sure what flowering plant this is. A little help?
A side view of the pedestrian bridge.
Wildflowers by the side of the road.
Jay
White Spirea
Spiraea betulifolia var. lucida
Mokum
The wildflowers look like Lupinus polyphyllus, native in Western US. But there are many cultivars of Lupine, so ymmv.
BretH
The Gorge Powerhouse looks like it belongs in a movie – probably a horror movie.
stinger
Great photos! I’m especially drawn to the Lower Cascades photo — I can hear, smell, feel the air! What is it about water tumbling over rocks that is so compelling? I mean, I know we are all primordial fish, but are we primordial salmon?
PaulB
To repeat something I wrote at the tail end of yesterday’s thread: If you’re doing the loop, definitely keep an eye on the air quality. A good site to bookmark is https://wasmoke.blogspot.com/. Be safe!
PaulB
This was the smallest of the four gardens I visited on this tour (we’re saving the best for last).
It’s funny to think now that people had to be convinced that electricity was safe, that beautiful things could come from the application of electricity. A visit to the plant and the gardens at the time was a real event. According to one site:
Much of that is gone now, but I believe the light show still remains. It’s a lovely place to sit on a bench, listen to the cascade, and be surrounded by greenery.
PaulB
Oh, and yay! The North Cascade Highway (SR 20) is now reopened.
Mike in Oly
@Jay:
Can’t be spirea. The leaves don’t match. I believe that is Cornus sericea, aka red twig dogwood.
Beautiful photos!
Yutsano
I’m not sure what that yellow flower is, but it’s not a rhododendron. It looks like some kind of lily to me. They’re absolutely gorgeous!
pieceofpeace
Your photos of nature with lots of moving water have put me into a comfortable place this weird and not-wonder-full week. Nothing can top them for stabilizing the craziness felt because of the news and views dominating our country. Yours is a “view” I appreciate.
Big thank you!
frosty
@PaulB: Good news for us about the highway!
I didn’t know about the Gorge Powerhouse but now I’m going to try to make time for it. Thanks for being my travel advisor. Perfect timing for these posts – we’ll be there next week.
StringOnAStick
@Yutsano: Its a “fancy” rhody, one of the many cultivars out there now. The leaves are right for a hybridized version.
The white flowered shrub is dogwood, probably the native Ozier variety.
Ruckus
There are many beautiful places in this country. When I worked in professional sports I had to travel a lot. OK more than a lot. Once had a Hertz employee tell me I was in the top 5% of Hertz renters, that’s how often I rented a car. And the best part of all that was that I got to see a lot of this country. It is more amazing than most of us realize. So many different places to see and see how our national and state governments take care of them. For all it’s issues, and sure it will always have them – humanity you know, this is far more often than not, an absolutely beautiful country. I’ve also traveled from the northern tip of Norway to the southern tip of New Zealand and many, many, many places in between. I like the world we live in, most of it is delightful, beautiful, stunning, sustaining. And the US is part of that. Even in places that seem dull, there is often a stunning somewhere that will amaze. I’ve traveled to 46 of the states and sure some/many places are just places, but there is more often than not, something stunning to see at the most unexpected times.