Photo crawl today

Taking a cue from the book's "Sprinkler Park Crawl," the Divas headed out today on a much-needed "photo crawl" to collect images for the new edition. We blasted through four destinations in one day!

First stop was the Butterfly Place in Westford, where we snapped photos of the delicate winged beauties of every hue surrounding us. Then, after fueling up with yummy cheeseburgers and some middlin' fries from Five Guys in Lowell, we swung by Chip-In Farm (Bedford) for fresh corn and peaches and the petting zoo. 

Caitlin held a chicken! The pig was huge! More photo snapping.

With the afternoon waning, we peeled over to Garden in the Woods and New England Wildflower Society in Framingham, where we met up with new communications director Julia Homer, circled the Lily Pond, and checked out the "fern maze" under construction in the children's play area. Then came the slow crawl up 128/95 toward home with the rest of humanity.

Whew! It felt good to return home, but it was so refreshing to spend a day away from the screens.

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Pictured is DayTripper intern and Diva-in-the-making Caitlin Morrow, with the camera bag and the itinerary she prepared for today's photo crawl.

Care for some cranberries with your football?

Photo by Caitlin Morrow

Football season is right around the corner and many New Englanders are setting their sights for Gillette Stadium and Patriot Place. But for the rest of us, a picturesque, quintessentially New England secret lurks just behind Bass Pro Shops at Patriot Place. For those who've had enough of sports, concerts or shopping, the Ocean Spray cranberry bog and half-mile nature trail is a great spot to take the kids to see wildlife like birds or turtles, and for strolling couples and active walkers looking for a change of scenery.

Look! A Crane!

This cranberry bog was planted in 1929. Because the flower of the cranberry looks like the crane, head, and beak of a sandhill crane, the name "crane berry" came to be. Dating back to the 17th century, these berries have been used for medicinal purposes and health benefits. Along the path, there are red signs that reveal information about cranberries and their environment. It's a perfect blend of history and nature. 

Fauna with your flora

On our recent visit, the DayTripper Divas spotted an adorable pair of turtles, perched on a small wooden plank, basking in the warmth of the sun, and an "aw, so cute" escaped our lips. A variety of other animals are await explorers of all ages here.

Photo by Caitlin Morrow

With a separate parking lot, a sign pointing you in the right direction, and a DCR "Healthy Trail" certification, this destination is a hidden gem. We visited in mid-summer, but it's also strikingly beautiful in the fall when the leaves are changing and the bright-red cranberry harvest is underway!

Oishii Desu Yo!

Scorpion bowl to share!
Photo by Caitlin Morrow

If you're gallivanting down Newbury Street in search of delicious sushi or authentic Japanese cuisine, then don't pass up a meal at Itadaki Japanese Restaurant and Bar: just look for the giant "scorpion bowl" outside! With a cute, close-knit outdoor seating area, it is the perfect spot to bring your friends to enjoy a summer night out. The name is a shortened form of the Japanese word "itadakimasu," which is said before every meal in Japan. It is like saying "bon appetit" in French. 

For those that have been fortunate enough to visit Japan, this is pretty darn close to the real thing. They have selected a group of actual Japanese chefs and American servers that know "what's what" in the Japanese food world. A personal favorite, gyoza, or pork dumpling, can be found on the menu and is delicious or "oishii!" In Japan, they have restaurants that serve all-you-can-eat gyoza, which are very popular there. Let's not forget to mention the fresh sushi and sashimi, which is melt-in-your-mouth tasty right here in Boston! 

Everything appears to be served with chopsticks, so it's the perfect place to practice using those wooden utensils or ask a friend to help ya out! 

 With quick service, a happy waitstaff, and a great location...Boston is the new Tokyo :) 

Address: 269 Newbury Street 

Web: http://www.itadakiboston.com

Castle Island: Where am I?

A photo taken of a passing sailboat amid vibrant yellow wildflowers.
Photo taken by Charlotte Pierce

"Am I in the city, the park, at the airport, or the beach?"

Located in South Boston, Castle Island offers a miscellany of settings, thinning the line between commercial industry and nature. It is the perfect place to take a walk, fly a kite, have a picnic, lounge in the sun, or simply contemplate life. Smack dab in the center is a large pentagon-shaped structure, known as Fort Independence. Overhead, one will continuously see the arriving airplanes, beginning their descent on Logan Airport. They are so close that one can easily see, without squinting, where the aircraft originated from. 

If you're looking for a nautical adventure, look no further than the Harry McDonough Sailing Program on the adjacent pier. When hunger sets in, Sullivan's is a quick and great place to order a "lobstah" roll or some fish n' chips! If you feel like catching your own food, bring along your fishing poles and head to the Lt. John J. McCorkle, Boston Fire Dept. Memorial Fish Pier. The seagulls will join you as they catch crabs off the seaweed-covered rocks. 

A perfect place to spend time with your "main squeeze," this place can bring back nostalgia for some. If you classify yourself as a "beachcomber," why not scavenge the beach for something of value or interest? The next big photographer or lacking in creativity? Castle Island's varied landscape lets you experiment with different camera angles, perspectives, and lighting. 

If nothing I hinted at seemed to "float your boat," then at least come to 'people watch.' You might even come across two elderly women, matching in their white sweatshirts and blue pants, taking in the sights through their binoculars!!! 

Capitol Theater block anchors vibrant East Arlington

http://fieldtripper.com/c/5wM0uNE_468/capitol-theater-building I thought you might find this interesting, too. *It's your world, explore it.*: http://fieldtripper.com

Arlington Public Art: Chairful Where You Sit 2013

Are you sitting down? Check out Arlington Public Art's blog for an eyeful of "Chairful Where You Sit 2013." Join this wonderful, artful community event for its second year and create your own throne of fanciful splendor! Guidelines for Chairful 2013 are here.

Mountain biking on reservation lands

Dust off those wheels and tune 'er up! When trails dry out sufficiently, usually by mid-May, Leominster State Forest offers some of the best mountain biking around, within an easy day trip of Metro Boston. Click here to see a trail map. For general information on trails on central/western Massachusetts accessible lands, plus conditions and opening dates and ways to volunteer and contribute, contact The Trustees of Reservations, Doyle Community Park Center, 464 Abbott Ave., Leominster, MA 01453; phone: 978-840-4446.

Other Trustees of Reservations properties that allow mountain biking include Brooks Woodland, with 693 acres and 13.5 miles of trails at East St. and Quaker Dr, Petersham; North Common Meadow, with 25 acres and a half-mile trail at 22 North main St & 27 East St, Petersham; and Tully River Campground with 31 acres and 22 miles of trails at 25 Doane Hill Rd, Royalston, 978-840-4446. You can also bike some of the trails at Willard Brook State Forest. Rt 119. Townsend, MA. 978-597-8802; and Pearl Hill State Park, New Fitchburg Rd. West Townsend, MA. 978-597-8802.

When you're on the trail, Tweet your photos and reports to @DayTripperDiva to win biking gear! The Johnny Appleseed Visitors' Center would also like to see your photos and videos of biking in North Central Mass; post on Facebook page or upload to their website.

Spring Splash at Old Frog Pond Farm

Buds appear on the apple trees in mid-April

One of our favorite spots, any time of year, is Old Frog Pond Farm in Harvard, Mass. Families can visit, volunteer, and purchase fresh fruits and vegetables from the organic farm stand. Adding to the experience are outdoor sculptures by Farmer Linda Hoffman and her colleagues, which surprise the visitor around every turn, and perfectly complement the farmscape.

Right now, the buds on the apple trees are beginning to open (see photo). First, a bit of green peeks out, then the bud-leaves start to unfold. Orchardists have names for every stage of the bud opening. This one is called 1/2 in green or mouse ears, an apt description for the tender leaves. The amazing small signs of life in the orchard affirm the mystery of growth about to burst forth. We're clearing out all of last year's canes, fertilizing the young plants, and beginning the spring weeding. Volunteers are always welcome, please send an email if you have a few hours to share. It's lovely out in the fields with the plants.

In Linda Hoffman's sculpture studio, "3D Play" sculpture workshops are led by Linda and

Applying bio-fertilizer.

Margot Stage. In the first class, participants made sculpture with wire, wood, apple branches, and found objects, learning to attach disparate materials and ground their project with a solid base. The next two classes will be sculpture that hangs in the air and sculpture that floats on water. To be on the list for future classes, email farmer/sculptor Linda Hoffman.

"Right now, there is a spreading carpet of greens growing - salads, kale, spinach, mesclun, and more. We will be selling greens directly from the farm. The first planting will be ready in two weeks," Linda told the Dispatches. To be to be notified, send an email to vegetables@oldfrogpondfarm.com.