Lake Artemesia LbNA #20505 (ARCHIVED)
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Add Location| Owner: | wood thrush  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Feb 21, 2006 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Berwyn Heights |
| County: | Prince George's |
| State: | Maryland |
| Boxes: | 3 |
| Found by: | Night0wl |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Aug 7, 2011 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFFFFOFFFFFFFFr |
| Last edited: | Feb 21, 2006 |
Special note 5.1.2012. The boxes are out for maintenance and will return soon!
Driving directions. From US Route 1 in College Park, take the MD 193 East (Greenbelt Road) exit. Look for a small brown sign pointing the way to Lake Artemesia. You will need to be in the left lane at the first light once you pass over the Metro and CSX tracks. Make the left onto Branchville Road. (This road turns into 55th Avenue). It will take you through an industrial area, bearing left and left again, crossing under Greenbelt Rd. where it changes into Ballew Ave. Just after the stop sign at Berwyn Rd., turn left into the parking lot for Lake Artemesia. The lake is not visible from the parking lot. Just walk along the path into the park.
About Lake Artemesia. Lake Artemesia is a 38-acre, man-made lake that was developed during construction of the Metrorail Green Line. Builders removed sand and gravel from the park area to use in the rail project in exchange for building a lake and developing the natural recreation area. The park is maintained by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Department of Parks and Recreation. There is an aquatic garden, good fishing, a handicapped accessible fishing pier, and more than two miles of hiker-biker trails. The lake was named for local resident Mrs. Artemesia N. Drefs, who donated 10 lots to be used for open space.
About the letterbox. This letterbox has been designed to allow you a relaxing and scenic walk, stroller trip with young ones, or bike ride around the lake (1.35 miles). The grounds are very well maintained, so we have chosen to place the letterbox along the park’s perimeter fence. Please note that the letterbox is in two film canisters hidden very close to each other. One canister contains two stamps; the other contains a third stamp and the log. Inks that work well with these stamps are light blue, brown, black and silver.
Clue From the parking lot, follow the paved path up to the lake. Stop at the information sign and get your bearings. Take the path to the right. The lake will be to your left, and off to the right are the Metro tracks. Occasionally a Green Line train will pass by. Notice that as you walk around the lake, there are signs painted on the paved path that tell you you’re on the “LA LOOP.” Whenever you come to a branch of the path, be sure to take the one (usually to the left) that keeps you on the LA LOOP. You will also find distance markers painted on the path.
When you pass the park headquarters building on your left, stay on the LA LOOP. Soon you will spot the distance marker for .4 mile. Next you’ll see a gazebo on your left by the lakeshore and birdhouses #7 and then #8 to your right. You are near the top of the lake. When you reach the top, the LA LOOP makes a left turn, and you’ll see a marker for the Paint Branch Trail to the right. Stop here. You will see two benches to your left on the LA LOOP, facing the lake, and two benches to the right, on the Paint Branch Trail.
Watch for runners, walkers and bikers—the lake can be a busy place, and these folks appear out of nowhere.
When the coast is clear, sit on the first bench on the right. Look straight ahead and you will see the black perimeter fence, and every so often, a fence pole. From the bench walk straight and slightly left to the pole with the canister.
Notice that the pole is in two parts. The first 5-1/2 feet or so from the ground up is vertical, and the fence is attached to it. Then there is a “hole” in the pole, and after that the pole bends backwards at about a 45 degree angle to accommodate barbed wire along the top of the fence.
The film canister is in the hole, tight against the back of the metal pole, held in place by Velcro.
Now go over to the other set of benches, the ones that face the lake. Walk behind these benches to the fence, and look for the nearest pole. It holds the second canister in the same manner as the first one you found.
Stamp in on the benches and enjoy the lake and its activity. There are many water birds here, including my favorites, grebes. These are small diving birds with black and white heads. When they are floating on the surface, all you can see are their necks. When they dive, count how many seconds they’re underwater before they resurface.
The three stamps are: #1 Waterfowl; #2 Cattails; and #3 The Metro. Have a good time!
When you’re done, replace the film canisters in their hiding spots. Three things to remember:
1) It doesn’t matter which canister you put on which pole.
2) Make sure you press on the Velcro so the canister will “stick.”
3) Be careful not to drop the canister on the other side of the fence!
Then just continue around the LA LOOP and back to your car, always keeping the lake to your left and following the painted signs on the path. We hope you enjoy Lake Artemesia!
Driving directions. From US Route 1 in College Park, take the MD 193 East (Greenbelt Road) exit. Look for a small brown sign pointing the way to Lake Artemesia. You will need to be in the left lane at the first light once you pass over the Metro and CSX tracks. Make the left onto Branchville Road. (This road turns into 55th Avenue). It will take you through an industrial area, bearing left and left again, crossing under Greenbelt Rd. where it changes into Ballew Ave. Just after the stop sign at Berwyn Rd., turn left into the parking lot for Lake Artemesia. The lake is not visible from the parking lot. Just walk along the path into the park.
About Lake Artemesia. Lake Artemesia is a 38-acre, man-made lake that was developed during construction of the Metrorail Green Line. Builders removed sand and gravel from the park area to use in the rail project in exchange for building a lake and developing the natural recreation area. The park is maintained by the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission’s Department of Parks and Recreation. There is an aquatic garden, good fishing, a handicapped accessible fishing pier, and more than two miles of hiker-biker trails. The lake was named for local resident Mrs. Artemesia N. Drefs, who donated 10 lots to be used for open space.
About the letterbox. This letterbox has been designed to allow you a relaxing and scenic walk, stroller trip with young ones, or bike ride around the lake (1.35 miles). The grounds are very well maintained, so we have chosen to place the letterbox along the park’s perimeter fence. Please note that the letterbox is in two film canisters hidden very close to each other. One canister contains two stamps; the other contains a third stamp and the log. Inks that work well with these stamps are light blue, brown, black and silver.
Clue From the parking lot, follow the paved path up to the lake. Stop at the information sign and get your bearings. Take the path to the right. The lake will be to your left, and off to the right are the Metro tracks. Occasionally a Green Line train will pass by. Notice that as you walk around the lake, there are signs painted on the paved path that tell you you’re on the “LA LOOP.” Whenever you come to a branch of the path, be sure to take the one (usually to the left) that keeps you on the LA LOOP. You will also find distance markers painted on the path.
When you pass the park headquarters building on your left, stay on the LA LOOP. Soon you will spot the distance marker for .4 mile. Next you’ll see a gazebo on your left by the lakeshore and birdhouses #7 and then #8 to your right. You are near the top of the lake. When you reach the top, the LA LOOP makes a left turn, and you’ll see a marker for the Paint Branch Trail to the right. Stop here. You will see two benches to your left on the LA LOOP, facing the lake, and two benches to the right, on the Paint Branch Trail.
Watch for runners, walkers and bikers—the lake can be a busy place, and these folks appear out of nowhere.
When the coast is clear, sit on the first bench on the right. Look straight ahead and you will see the black perimeter fence, and every so often, a fence pole. From the bench walk straight and slightly left to the pole with the canister.
Notice that the pole is in two parts. The first 5-1/2 feet or so from the ground up is vertical, and the fence is attached to it. Then there is a “hole” in the pole, and after that the pole bends backwards at about a 45 degree angle to accommodate barbed wire along the top of the fence.
The film canister is in the hole, tight against the back of the metal pole, held in place by Velcro.
Now go over to the other set of benches, the ones that face the lake. Walk behind these benches to the fence, and look for the nearest pole. It holds the second canister in the same manner as the first one you found.
Stamp in on the benches and enjoy the lake and its activity. There are many water birds here, including my favorites, grebes. These are small diving birds with black and white heads. When they are floating on the surface, all you can see are their necks. When they dive, count how many seconds they’re underwater before they resurface.
The three stamps are: #1 Waterfowl; #2 Cattails; and #3 The Metro. Have a good time!
When you’re done, replace the film canisters in their hiding spots. Three things to remember:
1) It doesn’t matter which canister you put on which pole.
2) Make sure you press on the Velcro so the canister will “stick.”
3) Be careful not to drop the canister on the other side of the fence!
Then just continue around the LA LOOP and back to your car, always keeping the lake to your left and following the painted signs on the path. We hope you enjoy Lake Artemesia!