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First aidThe Mad Chef Letterbox LbNA #701

Owner:Adoptable
Plant date:Sep 7, 2002
Location:
City:Jamaica Plain
County:Suffolk
State:Massachusetts
Boxes:1
Planted by:Cavy Lovers
Found by: Troop 77246
Last found:Nov 26, 2023
Status:aFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
Last edited:Sep 7, 2002
For formatted clues, go to http://home.comcast.net/~adelcoll/letterboxing/#arnold

Arnold Arboretum, Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts

We recommend parking along Route 203, the Arborway, near the Main Gate to the park (125 Arborway St.). Immediately to your right when you go through the gate is a visitor center at which you can purchase a map for $1.00. Also there are public rest rooms and a drinking fountain.

A map and visiting hours for the Mad Chef's home can be found at http://www.arboretum.harvard.edu/visitors/visitors.html.

Please respect the plant life. Finding the Mad Chef can be done without disturbing or stressing any living thing.

The Mad Chef Letterbox
The Mad Chef is terribly upset because recently all his culinary concoctions are continually combusting. To help him cool down, we've tucked him into a restful spot in a shady park where he can study for a less incendiary career in horticulture. Please pay him a visit at this "zoo for trees" in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.

Here is our recommended path to the Mad Chef, but you take your own tour of the park by examining the map. Note: No cars are permitted along the "roads" shown on the map. Below I have referred to street and path names as they appear on the map. However, there are no signposts in the park. "Streets" are paved. "Paths" are not.

After you leave the visitor center, continue on the road a short distance and you will come to a trail on the right. Take this trail up the hill and see the tulip trees, among other varieties. Soon you will see some formal gardens to your right. They are not fully planted yet, but follow the path through them up the hill where you will find a delightful bonsai exhibit (opposite the Dana Greenhouses). After examining these tiny trees, continue along the paved road in front of the bonsai house (with your back to the bonsai house, go left down the road). This will bring you to Bussey Hill Road. Go right. Soon there will be a fork in the road. Take the right branch. Soon, the road ends; go left. (To the right you can see/hear a gate to well-trafficked Centre Street).

Continue about 500 feet until you come to Conifer Path on the right -- sand and gravel path leading up a gentle hill. Not sure it's the right path? Look to the left and see some large but low rocks. On the right, find the Pignut Hickory Tree. Travel up the path about 83 adult steps. On the left side, look for an unusual pine tree with reddish-orange bark. A tag hanging from a left side branch indicates it is a "Japanese Red Pine".

Standing on the path with your back to this pine you will see a hillside clearing. Walk about 15 steps from the center of the path up the hill into the clearing. To you left will be a large oak and straight ahead of you will be towards a large "Christmas Tree" (Arbovitae?). Look between these two trees. About 30 adult steps away you will see another large oak visible amongst some small pine trees. Walk straight to the oak.

When standing at the oak, facing it, turn right about 90 degrees and see some rock outcroppings. Walk to the (adult) knee high rock and step up on it. Keep your back to the oak. In front of you is another rock outcropping. Look in front of you for the cleft in the rocks. Go to the cleft. The Mad Chef is awaiting your visit at the bottom of the cleft, tucked under the right side. It has been disguised with a small rock and some leaves.

To complete your tour of the park and return to your car: Return to the Conifer Path and follow it to the end. Turn left onto Hemlock Road. Hemlock Road will come to an end at an intersection, but you can continue in the same general direction by picking up the Beech Path. At a fork along the path, stay left. Soon after you will be returned to Bussey Hill Road. Bear Right onto the road, and then turn Left at the rose garden and lily pond. Continue about 3/8 mile to the visitor center and the Main Gate.

Placed 9/7/2002 by Adelcoll Cavy-Lovers