Monday, October 4, 2010

Fly-over country


On a recent vacation day from work, I went out for a long, leisurely walk around Ada Hayden park in north Ames.  It was a bit on the chilly side and there was a light sprinkle, so I bundled up in my hooded sweatshirt and hit the trail that curls around the lake.


I adore this place because it's not your typical green lawn/tall oak tree type of park.  They turned the old limestone querry into a restored prairie wetland.


I've had a fascination with prairies ever since my high-school science days, when our instructor made us memorize the names of different prairie flowers common in Iowa.  I've forgotten most of those names, although I'm able to recognize a few of the "easier" prairie plants.

Here's golden rod.


And a milkweed that's home to a fuzzy catepillar, a sure sign of fall in Iowa.


I crossed a bridge.


Then decided to take a left at the fork in the path.



And discovered a flock of migrating birds in the pond.  Pelicans, I think, but I'm not for sure.


They don't call Iowa fly-over country for nothing :)

At the end of a trail, there's a living sculpture -- willow trees that were planted, bent and shaped into a twisting cave.  The trees will continue to grow throughout the years, so the sculpture will always be changing.


I can't believe fall is already here.  I never want this lovely season to end.

1 comment:

  1. Very nice photos!
    I reblogged your pelican photo today at:
    http://adahaydenpark.blogspot.com/2012/02/feb-15-2012-archive-pic-of-day.html

    Kevin

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