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Iris Gardens Redux LbNA #15419

Owner:The Pakrat Contact
Plant date:May 29, 2005
Location:
City:Upper Montclair
County:Essex
State:New Jersey
Boxes:1
Found by: The Pakrat
Last found:Sep 10, 2024
Status:FFFFFFFFmFFFFFFO
Last edited:May 22, 2019
Clue image
This letterbox was originally planted by Rick_in_Boca.

Visit the Iris Gardens before the end of June for the best blooms.

Facility Amenities: Gift Shop

Hours: Park is Open Year-Round, Sunrise to sunset

Difficulty rating: 2 (Easy-Medium)

Terrain rating: 2 - Suitable for children. Only very light physical conditioning is necessary. Terrain is a rough trail with rocks underfoot. May have some overgrowth.

No special equipment is needed, the area is accessible by foot. No bicycles, wheelchairs, or strollers.

DIRECTIONS:
The Presby Memorial Iris Gardens are located adjacent to: 474 Upper Mountain Ave., Upper Montclair, NJ

STREET PARKING ONLY on same side of street as Gardens or above Gardens on Highland Avenue.

HANDICAPPED spots available in Staff Lot.

GARDEN STATE PARKWAY
· Take the Garden State Parkway to exit 151 - Watchung Avenue, Montclair.
· At the light at the top of the exit ramp, make a left turn onto Watchung Avenue.
· Take Watchung Ave as far as it goes, at one point following it under a railroad trestle and bearing right on the continuation of Watchung Ave.
· At the "T" intersection (stop sign) turn right onto Upper Mountain Avenue. Travel about 3/4 mile. Gardens are on the left, across from public tennis courts.

THE LETTERBOX:
The letterbox is hidden along the path of a hiking trail above the garden. The hiking trail is located on the road above the garden, midpoint along the back of the garden, just above the large clearing on the right.
Find the trail marked with maroon and green blazes.
After climbing the stairs to the trail, just after a large fallen tree with three trunks, the trail will split on a T. Follow the maroon blazes on the trail to the right. As you go along you will see a boulder with a green smiley-face on one side. The trail will hairpin curve up and over to the left. Further on, there will be a narrow place where the trail is constricted by a boulder on the left and a tree on the right. Continuing on, there will be a trio of identical sized rocks right next to each other on the right, lying parallel to the trail. Finally, look out for a tree on the right with a hollow bowl in the trunk. About 10-20 steps further down the trail, on your right, you will see in quick succession a pile of rocks, a large tree, and a mid-sized boulder. The box is in the middle of the rock pile under a cairn hidden by forest debris.

• During winter you will want to drive up to Highland Ave so you can avoid trying to walk up through the clearing in mud/snow.
• Please rehide so that the box is completely hidden from view. Try to arrange the rocks so that they are not resting directly on the box container.
• Bring your own ink; black is suggested.