[Durham INC] Use caution driving across and walking along railroad tracks; basic info regarding & reasons to ride Amtrak; favorite winter plants

[Laura Drey]

Amtrak

I urge you to use caution driving across and walking along railroad tracks. One time a staff person on Amtrak informed me that it takes 3 miles for a train to stop. I would urge you to consider this when considering when driving across railroad tracks.

Please do not let accidents steer you away from riding the rails. Accidents do receive a lot of publicity but they are a rare occurrence. 

I love to ride Amtrak for many reasons. As a passenger I get to observe diverse scenery that one does not get the opportunity to see from a car window because the trains routes are different from highways and other roads. I find the routes to be more scenic and diverse because they pass directly through the heart of cities, towns, rural and industrial areas. I can afford to be more observant while I am not driving. The seats are comfortable. There is lots of leg room to spread out in. You can get up and stretch as you walk through the cars. There a volunteers that can assist you, including with questions regarding what you are seeing. There is a car with tables to visit around, play games, etc. I enjoy talking with strangers and there is ample chances for such conversations. As we all know by taking Amtrak you are using a system of mass transit so you are contributing to there being fewer cars on the road so less air pollution is generated and there is less need for building and maintaining roads. There are plenty of places you may travel to. Train cars have computer hooks ups. (I do not have a lap top and I think even if I had one I would not choose to use them while riding on the train.) Think of the experiences you can have and the stories you will be able to share.

Price of ticket varies. There are discounts (see below). The cost depends on availability so that the sooner you purchase a ticket the more likely you are to pay less. The US government covers part of the cost of tickets.

Amtrak
Schedules and fares: (800) 872-7245 [1-800-USA-RAIL]

o   See Travel Options—Prices vary according to availability, purchase and travel dates, and time of day: rail passes; multi-ride tickets: advance booking, and more: http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=AM_Content_C&pagename=am/Layout&p=1237405732514&cid=1241267347506 

·       Discounts

o   AAA, groups of 20+, students, seniors, children, and more: http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?c=Page&pagename=am%2FLayout&p=1237405732514&cid=1241213285737

http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=am/am2Station/Station_Page&code=RGH
http://www.amtrak.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Amtrak/HomePage

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Plant Favorites that Flower in the Winter

Recommend a fantastic book called Landscape Plants of the Southeast by Halfacre to learn about bushes, trees and groundcovers.


Bushes 

·  Camellia (Camellia japonica): Evergreen bush, comes in a variety of blossom colors; some bloom in winter, some in the spring and others in the fall.  http://www.floridata.com/ref/c/cam_jap.cfm

·  Edgeworthia (Edgeworthia chrysantha): Silvery blue-green leaves for spring and summer, yellow fall foliage, and bright blooms on the bare winter silhouette!

·  Fragrant Sweet Box (Sarcococca ruscifolia): Tiny white flowers http://www.frenchgardening.com/inprofile.html?pid=309514014118439

·  Fragrant Tea Olive (Osmanthus fragran): Evergreen bush with clusters of small, fragrant flowers that bloom from October-February.  http://www.floridata.com/ref/O/osm_frag.cfm

·  Oriental Paper bush (Edgeworthia chrysantha): Small clusters of white flowers bloom on bare branches December–January.  http://bloomtown.typepad.com/bloomtown/2007/03/edgeworthia_chr.html

·  Winter Daphne (Daphne odora): Small evergreen shrub, fragrant flowers January- March, solid dark green or variegated with white trim on the leaves; one species buds red and opens white, the other buds white and opens white.  http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/15985/

Small plants

·  Hardy Cyclamen (Cyclamen hederifolium): 2-4-inches tall with variegated leaves; when flowering the leaves are not showing and when leaves are showing there are no flowers.

http://www.humeseeds.com/efcycl.htm

·  Hellebore/Lenten Rose (Helleborus): 12-18-inch evergreen and has flowers with a variety of colors; bloom from January through May, although the later months the flowers turn light green) Gethsemane Garden, in Guilford County, has large number of unusual species.

http://www.lentenrose.com/
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