Hey kids, we here at The New Utah Podcast just had our 6year anniversary and we are as surprised as you that we have lasted this long! To celebrate the momentous occasion, we started the evening with Ruby Snap Cookies.

We trued some new cookies that none of us had before:

Patsy Jane: Fresh blackberry cream drizzled in blackberry glaze and topped with, you got it!… fresh blackberries.

Darby: Chocolate oatmeal with a peanut butter cream cheese frosting and callebaut crips pearls.

Lola: A festival of lemon! Made with panela curd and topped with fresh squeezed lemon glaze and glacéed lemons.

We also enjoyed the tried and true favorites, Lola, Penelope, Vivian, and of course the always popular PB WOW.

Check these flavors out and so many more at Rubysnap’s

So, not only is it our 6-year anniversary it’s also Utah Adventure Week! This week was a ‘2-for’… Gilgal Gardens and the International Peace Gardens.

Located at 749 East 500 South in Salt Lake City, Gilgal Sculpture Garden was envisioned, designed, and created by Thomas Battersby Child, Jr. Tucked in the middle of the block and surrounded by homes, business, and apartment complexes it’s a place you would never know existed if you didn’t know where to look. Gilgal contains 12 original sculptures and over 70 stones engraved with scriptures, poems, songs, and literary text. Although Child was not a classically trained artist, he went to great lengths to obtain each stone for his garden.

The finished statues are unconventional, even eccentric: a sacrificial altar, a shrine to Child’s wife Bertha, and probably the most recognized piece is the Sphynx with Joseph Smith’s faced carved into it. Child knew that not everyone would appreciate his particular artistic vision. His primary concern, however, was that the garden would succeed in making people think: “You don’t have to agree with me,” he said. “You may think I am a nut, but I hope I have aroused your thinking and curiosity

This is one of the places talked about by so many of our guests over the years and you have to see it to believe it. One of our favorite pieces is the carving of the creator himself Mr. Child.  The different stones he brought together to create the pants, the suite coat, and the head are very interesting and intricate. His pants actually have a pattern to them!

You have to do yourself a favor and visit this MOST UNIQUE Utah location!

Our second spot was the International Peace Gardens located in Jordan Park: 1160 Dalton Ave S, Salt Lake City, UT 84104. This Park is one of only two peace gardens located in the United States. It was founded in 1939 by Mrs. Otto Wiesley, Citizen Char of the Salt Lake Council of Women. Its original dedication was planned to coincide with the Centennial Celebration of 1947, but WWII ironically interrupted progress and delayed the opening until 1952.

Each of the 28 countries represented in the garden is allotted a section which they design, create and plant at their own expense. Plans are approved by the City Parks Director before they are implemented. As each garden is completed, it is dedicated and presented to the city.

As we wondered through the gardens, we noticed that some of the countries are represented very well. China, Japan, Switzerland, were some of our favorite sections to visit. Others are in need of expansion, and a little more effort from their respective countrymen. One thing to note the fountains has not been turned on yet and most of the seasonal flowers were not planted or in bloom. As the summer progresses the induvial gardens will bloom and be even more amazing.

Both of the Utah locations are free to the public, so visitors can enjoy these parks year-round and for the best price of $0.00.

We are so excited to have reached this tremendous milestone in our little podcast’s history. Thank you to all the many wonderful people we have met along the way. So many fun interviews, field trips, and we have gotten to know and become friends with people we would have never otherwise been able to meet. Thank you for 6 wonderful years, and we hope there are many more to come.

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