Pine Barrens

For a lot of people who only know New Jersey from TV shows like "The Sopranos" and "Jersey Shore", the dense nature of the Pine Barrens can be a bit of a surprise. But for those of us who live here and travel the area regularly, we know what the middle of the state has to offer. Well, mostly.

This week marks 10 years since the fire that destroyed 5 homes and damaged more than a dozen others.  I remember it was an unseasonably warm day so I went to Island Beach State Park with my guy who took the day off of work.  From the comfort of our beach chairs we saw the dark clouds of smoke in the distance...

New Jersey forest fire officials warn that with the onset of spring, the risk of fires in Jersey's woods increases.

Some stunning examples of the orchid can be seen right here in the Garden State's biggest garden...the Pinelands.

I saw the Philadelphia Flower Show last night and, as usual, it's full of beauty, color, and artful designs.  It's one of my favorite ways to beat the winter blues and get a jump start on spring. This year's theme is "Explore America" which celebrates the centennial of the National Park Service...

Following up on our post yesterday about "Prescribed Burn" season in New Jersey, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service just issued a number of alerts for controlled burns that are taking place today.

The sight of heavy smoke rising from the Pine Barrens always makes us here in Ocean County look twice, but this time of year it's not always a bad thing.

Yale University Professor Noël Valis has covered a lot of topics in her career - from The Spanish Civil War, to poetry, and kitsch & culture, she has published two dozen books, traveled extensively, has been honored by The New England Council of Latin American Studies and is a Guggenheim fellow. Professor Valis also grew up in Toms River.

History is being brought to life in the Pine Barrens where some Monmouth University students are investigating the archeology of the Cedar Bridge Tavern and a settlement in Barnegat, dating back to the 1700's.

Check out this Months Photography Blog