Branching Out: Enchanted Arboretum combines art, nature

May 16 by in Arbor Day, Art, Enchanted Arboretum, General, Nebraska City, Trees tagged , , , , , , with no comments

Enchanted Arboretum in Nebraska City

Nebraska City is known for being the home of Arbor Day, the tree planter’s holiday. And now, it’s known for bringing tree-themed sculptures to the streets in a public art project called “The Enchanted Arboretum.”

A total of 72 poly-resin tree sculptures have been placed at various points around town for the summer, letting the locals and tourists alike enjoy their whimsical beauty.

All the trees will be displayed in Nebraska City until late September 2013.  The six-foot trees done by professional artists and high school students will be mounted on concrete bases and set into the ground in public outdoor places.  The rest of the trees, all four feet tall and designed by students, will be displayed at various businesses throughout the community.

Read More…

A Trip to Market: Susan & Christy take on Atlanta

Jan 18 by in General, Nature tagged , , , , , with no comments

Welcome to Market! Floor upon floor of unique finds.

Susan Freshman & Christy Kuhlmann, retail managers at Arbor Day Farm, are just back from Georgia for the Atlanta International Gift & Home Furnishings Market® — better known just as “Market.” The Market is an annual showcase of new gifts and treasures, and Susan & Christy make the trip annually to be inspired by new selections for their shops, and to bring back the best of what they think Arbor Day Farm visitors would like to shop for. This blog post is a collection of Susan’s favorite stories, photos and finds at Market. Enjoy!

Friday, Jan. 13
Greetings from Atlanta, Georgia, and the AmericasMart Gift Show. I love the energy and excitement of new products, new artisans and vendors, and all the buying and selling of such unique finds. There’s just no telling what you might find! There was also a Footloose flash mob this year (click to watch) , and while I can assure you that neither Christy nor I were in on the “mob,” we enjoyed it just the same.

Humanitrees by Joan Klostermann-Ketels

HumaniTrees, by Joan Klostermann-Ketels, was one of Susan's picks for adult readers.

Even in the midst of this huge retail show, I’m reminded of what a small world it is! I was placing an order for some of the Tree Adventure’s best-selling plush animals and meanwhile, Diana Fusco of Atlanta is telling me how much she loves Arbor Day Farm since attending a wedding at Lied Lodge a short time ago. It’s fun to make those kind of one-on-one, personal connections, despite being far from Nebraska City.

Read More…

What’s On Tap: Draft Beers of Lied Lodge

Apr 07 by in Beer, Food & Drink, General tagged , , , , , with no comments

Ales, lagers, stouts… When you’re thirsty for a cold beer, our very own Library Lounge here at Lied Lodge won’t disappoint. Watch as Bartender Matt showcases a few of the delicious draft beers he’s pouring for our guests. Not only do we love these beers for their distinct flavors, but we especially love the eco-friendly, sustainability stories that accompany a few of them.

Employee Soup Challenge

Feb 17 by in General tagged , with 2 comments

Crock-Pot_300

Fifteen Arbor Day Foundation employees brought their bubbling, steaming crock pots into work today for the 2011 Arbor Day Foundation Employee Soup Challenge. The culinary creations ranged from chicken and beef to veggie and mushroom, and all employees were encouraged to participate – either by entering a soup or by tasting and voting for their top three favorites.   

And the winner is…  

Read More…

Fall Foliage Tour at Arbor Day Farm

Oct 27 by in Fall Foliage, General, Leaves, Nature, Trees tagged , , , , , with 2 comments

Ginkgo trees in fall color, Arbor Day Farm

So we’ve shared on this blog before some of the inherent perks of working at Arbor Day Farm, but during the fall time of year, as our workplace is surrounded by trees with leaves in every color, it’s hands-down gorgeous. 

Bring Your Kids to Work Day — Arbor Day Farm Edition

Aug 18 by in Arbor Day, General, Nature, Orchards & Apples tagged , , with no comments

Paige talks about her experience at "Bring Your Kids to Work" Day at Arbor Day FarmYesterday was our very first Bring Your Kids to Work Day here at Lied Lodge and Arbor Day Farm. Twenty-four wide-eyed youngsters came to work with their parent and got an up-close and personal look at a day in the work life of mom or dad.

It rained on us a bit, but that didn’t put a damper on the fun. And let’s face it — Arbor Day Farm is the complete opposite of most people’s work environment, with all that green space and fresh air, and all those trees…

We put together this short video highlighting Bring Your Kids to Work Day 2010; kids say it best, don’t they? Enjoy.

Watch the Video — “Bring Your Kids to Work” Day, Arbor Day Farm Edition

A Tree House Proposal

Aug 03 by in Engagement Proposals, Nature, Tree House, Trees, Weddings tagged , , , with 6 comments

Engagement-Couple_200

 

It all started on a cold winter day in December with a little movie called “Swiss Family Robinson.”  This 1960 Disney Classic would spawn my ingenious idea that would later unfold at Arbor Day Farm in Nebraska City, NE.  As I sat on the couch with my girlfriend Melanie that day, I was informed multiple times how amazing the tree house in the movie was.  Being an interior designer, Melanie deeply admired the craftsmanship of that tree house, noting the clever design by the Robinson family.  She pointed out the awesomeness of it every chance she could.  By the end of the movie, I had no doubt that she genuinely wished she could live in a tree house.  As the credits rolled, I had my “Ah-hah!” moment.  That was it.  The engagement idea I had been searching for. 

I knew then and there that I had to propose in a tree house.

Read More…

Slow Down & Enjoy the Simple Things

Jun 17 by in General, Nature tagged , , , with 5 comments

Dandelion-Fuzz_inset

‘Kids, wait a minute – stop everything……please ….. just take a moment – would ya just LOOK at that tree!!?’ 

That’s the conversation I have had so many times with my children. As a mother of four, I find myself developing a reputation and not even realizing it. My children’s friends know me as that weird mom who makes us stop just to see the sunset, or just to see the colors of the distant trees. 

Read More…

From the Lied Lodge Kitchen: Layered Strawberry Dessert

Jun 11 by in Recipes tagged , , , , with 1 comment

Layered Strawberry Dessert

The strawberry season is in full swing, and here in the Lied Lodge kitchen we’re finding lots of tasty ways to serve this summer fruit. All of our berries come fresh-picked from the fields at Kimmel Orchard & Vineyard in Nebraska City, so they’ve traveled about two miles by the time they make their way to your plate. Local food tastes better!

Today I’ll share a recipe for Layered Strawberry Dessert — it’s a classic. White cake, strawberries, sauce, and whipped cream. And if you don’t want to slave in a hot kitchen during these hot summer days, I’ve included some shortcuts to help speed things along for you. Enjoy!

Read More…

Asparagus Recipes from the Lied Lodge Kitchen

May 13 by in Recipes tagged , , , with no comments

AsparagusApp_425

A restaurant nestled in the middle of 260-acre Arbor Day Farm definitely has its benefits.
The benefit du jour: loads of fresh asparagus, fresh from our own backyard.

With anywhere from 30-80 pounds of perfectly crisp-yet-tender Arbor Day Farm asparagus being harvested and brought to the kitchen two or three days per week, the culinary team here at Lied Lodge is finding all kinds of great ways to prepare this seasonal treat for our guests.

Today I’ll share a recipe for Bacon Chicken Asparagus Wraps with Orzo Pasta Salad

Read More…