Pictured here is the 2010 Simsbury collectible ornament. It is the second in a series of ornaments, designed by Simsbury resident Susan Singer. The 2010 ornament features a likeness of the Drake Hill Bridge of Flowers just down the way from us here on Riverside Road. We sell the ornament here at the Nursery, as well as the 2009 ornament portraying our fellow inhabitant, the black bear! A portion of the sales of this year's ornament benefits the Simsbury Land Trust!
To us, this bridge symbolizes a couple of different things. Firstly, it memorializes the past...back to the times when Riverside Road was much less traveled and the Drake Hill Bridge could only accomodate traffic from one side at a time. It was a one lane bridge, in other words.
Secondly, now that this bridge is strictly for pedestrians, and filled with gorgeously growing planter boxes and well-tended hanging baskets and perennial gardens during the Summer and Fall, we find it to be a peaceful spot.
The bridge tends to attract active community members who like to bike, walk, boat, or just hang out and enjoy the view from the bridge. More recently, we've seen some wedding ceremonies happening there as well. It represents a peaceful spot, filled with the natural beauty that is found everywhere in our Farmington Valley, with a real community feel!
