The entrance to the bridge

We took another one of our drives recently, and this time, we wanted to visit Shelburne Falls in the Berkshires. For those of you who do not live in New England, the Berkshires are gentle mountains in eastern Massachusetts. This little town took a terrible hit from Tropical Storm Irene last year, and so did its most famous attraction – the Bridge of Flowers. Here’s a link to some unbelievable video shot during the flooding last August.

When we saw the water rushing OVER the bridge and all its beautiful plantings, we were heartbroken, and certain that they would have to take down the bridge due to structural damage from the floods.

The Bridge of Flowers

But despite warnings that the bridge  might have to be demolished, it survived. Here’s how it looked when we visited. Absolutely fine!

This is what the bridge looks like when you’re walking it.

We were so relieved to see that  all the trees and flowers were intact. Amazing, when you consider the extent of the disaster here. Many homes and businesses were lost.

Wisteria strangling a fence

These roots in the above photo are wisteria, of which there are several planted along the span.  The gardeners who volunteer to maintain these plantings do a terrific job. It’s clear that this is a well-loved feature of this charming town. If you go, admission is free, but there’s a donation box at one end. The money is used to pay for bulbs and plants.

Here’s a link to the official website.

Shelburne Falls is also home to some very interesting glacial potholes. The town abounds with artists and there are some good restaurants there, too. It’s a perfect day trip if you live in our area – and very dog-friendly.

Some cool “lawn sheep” by the river