City of Zug: The Farms around the Old Lorze River

Sunday April 23, 2023 -- More unpredictability in the weather forecast, so it's impossible to arrange to travel to parts of Switzerland renowned for their fabulously blossoming cherry orchards. Fortunately for us, Zug is also a renowned cherry growing region (particularly known for the brandy called Kirsch, made from the cherries... and subsequently the patented recipe for the famous Zuger Kirsch Torte). Even just looking out from my balcony I can see so many blossoming trees, not just cherry, but apple and the high-growth pear trees.

On this Sunday we had some wonderful sunny weather (very local), so I set off to do a 4-km round tour of the neighbouring farmlands to photograph some of these beautiful trees (cherries almost finished, and pears not quite in full bloom). Part of my tour was along the old Lorze River, and I was surprised that the bear garlic, which I thought was already finished, was just in full growth here. A pleasant surprise was a display of hand-painted rocks along the way, created by private individuals to make the trail more "fun". (We used to walk this trail often, and this is new).

It was nice to go visit the neighbourhood once again! 

(Note: One of Switzerland's most famous cherry-growing areas is Nuglar-St.Pantaleon in the western part of Switzerland. We did a "Cherry Blossom Hike" there in April of 2019, that was a very successful outing at the time, we timed it well, just before the end of the blossom season. Those photos are HERE).

From my balcony the view across the farms with their blossoming trees. The "New Lorze" river is along the line of trees below. 

I don't have to go far to enjoy the blossoming trees!

Especially the high-growth (pear?) trees are stunning

The lovely 4-km walk in the farmland between the cities of Zug and Steinhausen takes about an hour. We live in an ideal spot. In the city, but on the outskirts next to farmland, between the two Lorze Rivers (Old and New). (I started at 13:40)

The first stretch is next to the "Neue Lorze" river, with lots of nice trees along the way, to the West

This one is looking east toward Mt.Zug

A line of very pretty cherry trees

After crossing to Schochenmühle (this is a restaurant), you can join the smaller river called the "Alte Lorze" (Old Lorze River)

This is the Old Lorze River. I was surprised at how fresh the bear garlic is here. 

A pleasant surprise to see the trail next to the stream was decorated with these beautiful hand-painted stones. The artist calls them "Magic Stones". People respect the request not to touch or move the stones. 

A whole line of "Magic Stones". They've nicknamed this the "Gnome Trail" (Wichtelweg)

Details of the painted stones. The gnome says "Enjoy and rejoice, but don't move anything or take them away.... Thank You"

Some of the tree trunks were even decorated like little gnome houses, so cute

A view towards the mountains, where there were more clouds than here. 

Juxtaposition of old and new. 

Aren't these high-growth trees simply spectacular? (Mt.Zug in the background)

After walking for just over 30 minutes, I was too hot in my warm clothes so I sat on a bench in the shade for 30 minutes. When I continued on the walk, the sky had already gotten overcast. I got home about 20 minutes later, just before it started to rain.

At 14:45, an hour after I left the apartment, the weather had turned.

Crossing back over the "New" Lorze River (man-made canal).

City of Zug: St.Michael's Church and Blossoming Trees near the Lake

Tuesday April 18, 2023 -- The weather this April is pretty unpredictable, so it is hard to organize a hiking trip to areas of the country known for their fabulous cherry blossoming countrysides.

On the other hand, Zug also is a major cherry-growing area, and we have lots of blossoming trees in our neighbourhood. On this day I had an appointment in town, and decided on a quick detour to the south end of town to St.Michael's Church, where there is a double-row of fabulous blossoming Japanese cherry trees in the middle of the cemetery.

Unfortunately, those blossoms are now long finished, but nearby there are many other blossoming trees (perhaps cherry and pear?), so stunning in their white "garments", so I took a few photos of this lovely part of town before heading back home. (The weather got better later in the day).

St.Michael's church is a rather "young" church, built at the end of the 19th Century in the neo-gothic style

Probably the nicest part of the interior of St.Michael's church: The organ

There were a few interesting artistic touches, but no continuity of design

One of several of Zug's original city towers

There are so many other churches in the city to discover. 

The weather cleared up as I got back home, so I walked over to our local shopping center (not 100 meters away!) where there is a small hill with half a dozen cherry trees which blossom so beautifully at this time of year. I have long wanted to photograph them.

I sat on the bench for a while, until it got too cold again.