Smallwood Village Lake, Waldorf MD

I had to visit Waldorf for several doctor's appointments, so I took a pleasant break at Smallwood Village Lake/Post Office Lake during my lunch time.  The easy flat walk around the small lake is less than a mile and includes some different sights during various season of the year.  It's a little oasis in the middle of a bustling city.  I saw several different birds, floating vegetation islands, a small bridge and a little children's playground.  During other visits, there were fishermen as well.  The parking is a little difficult, since it is on a divided highway, and only easily accessible from one direction.

                          

The whole lake
                  

The bridge is just out of the photo on the far right.

Great Blue Heron

Possibly black ducks

Red winged blackbird

The floating islands in the lake had a few flowers.  I didn't notice that they were moving around at first, but when I started photographing them, I noticed they had shifted to new places.  They seem to be made of some type of floating plastic sections hitched together, so they move around easily.  

Some people refer to the lake as Post Office lake, so it confused me a little.

 

River Concert Series July 19, 2024

The last River Concert of the summer was presented at the usual venue, on the townhouse green at St. Mary's College of Maryland at 7 pm.  The previous concert for July 12th was cancelled due to rain and is hopefully planned for Nov 8th indoors, but the weather was fairly good for this one.  The Chesapeake Orchestra was in good form, and I particularly liked "The Firebird Suite", by Igor Stravinsky.

Chesapeake Orchestra

Susan Paul, St. Mary's College of Maryland Foundation Introduced the concert

Bryan Bourne on trombone

Kathryn Farenish, flutist

cellist

Chesapeake Orchestra at sunset

The harpist's hands

Jeffrey Silberschlag, Music Director, conducting

Backstage

French horn players

José Cueto, concertmaster and 1st violinist

Great Blue Herons

River Concert Series John Williams and Fireworks July 5, 2024

One of the largest crowds I've seen at the concerts graced the lawns of the Townhouse Green at St. Mary's College of Maryland to hear the Chesapeake Orchestra play popular strains of many musical works composed by John Williams.  We heard The Throne Room from Star Wars, The Patriot, The Theme from ET, Superman, Raiders of the Lost Ark and of course, a few patriotic works like Stars and Stripes and The 1812 Overture.  The concert began at 7 pm and while very hot, there were no longer storms in the weather forecast.  In fact, Maestro Jeffrey Silberschlag thanked the Executive Director of the St. Mary's College of Maryland Foundation, Inc. for the improved weather.  He explained that "There was a human sacrifice that took place.  I think we can all agree it was worth it and in time the families will get over it."  We always enjoy his sense of humor!

Please appreciate a few photos from the blockbuster River Concert performance on July 5th, complete with Independence Day Fireworks behind the band shell.  

Chesapeake Orchestra

I love bubbles!

Introduction by Bonnie Green (greeting Jeffrey Silberschlag)

Jeffrey Silberschlag, Music Director

José Cueto Concertmaster

Patriotic Fireworks