Having not done a real hike since November, it seemed the perfect time to launch myself on ~40 miles over 3 days backpacking.
Day 1 started in old growth redwoods, passed remains of homesteading, then climbed past a selection of trees to one of the old growth redwood backpacking camps.
Day 2 wasn't far, but had excursions to make it longer than the first. Out along Hanson Ridge and up to the fire lookout on Grasshopper Mountain and one that shall simply be known simply as The Excursion.
Ya'll please forgive my being a Chatty Cathy this morning. I am in COVID quarantine but feeling fine so antsy as heck. I am happy to discuss anything, especially ecology, alternate fuel, alternate transportation, water conservation. I have a decades-long native flora restoration project on my acre in Illinois, and a 2-yr watershed management and desert flora restoration project i help with on two suburban lots in Arizona to talk about. #joinin #water #desert #prairie
A great look at the process of reintroduction of native animals on reservation lands in Montana, from the Smithsonian, American Prairie, and Aaniih Nakoda College.
So Justin #Trudeau, our "#unifying" prime minister who wants to "build #bridges, not sow #division", announced the suspension of the much-hated and regressive #carbon#tax on #heating#oil - but only in the Maritime provinces, because heating your #house shouldn't be expensive, and the #Maritimes are mostly oil-heated.
The west, which is mostly natural #gas-heated, or #propane-heated, which are also carbon taxed?
One of my favorite things about Chicago Parks is that many of them have sections that have been allowed to revert back to wild prarie grasses. Sometimes that can be so thick and teaming with life, even in the wind down of Autumn.
This particular section near Horner Park was planted to help deal with soil erosion into the river. The river is still polluted from years of industries but it has been steadily improving for decades.
These little patches are glimpses of a world that was before Europeans came to the Midwest. They will pop up in my photos very often.
A mass bloom of Rudbeckia or black-eyed Susans at Terry Trueblood Recreation Center, in Iowa City, Iowa, last summer. Looks like that might be fleabane mixed in here and there.
(06/27/22)
Six weeks ago, the rosinweed flowers stood tall above the foot-high grass - now they are barely visible. Tallgrass Prairies covered much of the Midwest where woodland systems transitioned to grasslands. Relying on regular fires and occasional intense grazing to maintain their biodiversity, they now usually require human intervention for maintenance.
The pictures below were taken at eye level - just to give an idea of the height of the grasses.
A native #prairie#pollinatorgarden at the local recycling center. I went on a hunt for butterflies and unfortunately did not spot a single one, but this beautiful display of #nativeplants put a smile on my face.
Silphium (Silphium integrifolium or prairie rosinweed, a native wildlfower, seems likely) a'bloomin' in a section of restored prairie along the trail in City Park in Iowa City, Iowa.
(08/02/23)
A native #prairie#pollinatorgarden at the local recycling center. I went on a hunt for more butterflies today and unfortunately did not spot a single one, but this beautiful display of #nativeplants put a smile on my face.
ART FESTIVAL PRAIRIE VIEW #2
Purple prairie clover look on as the Des Moines Art Festival begins the first of its 3-day exhibits. Nearly 200 thousand art patrons and admirers will enjoy the sculptures, wall art, photography, fabric art and wearables, woodworking and jewelry of 200 artists. This contrast of nature and hand created beauty is an annual must-see for this photographer/artist. #BuyIntoArt#AYearForArt#Mastoart#AppArtist#ArtFestivals#Prairie#Wildflowers
ART FESTIVAL PRAIRIE FLOWER VIEW #1
The Des Moines Art Festival is a nationally-ranked annual event with nearly 200 artists. This view is from a prairie lawn at the headquarters of a regional convenience store chain. The artist's booths line two main streets where nearly 200 thousand art patrons and admirers replace vehicles for the 3 day event. A beautiful art image for an admirer of art and nature. #BuyIntoArt#AYearForArt#Mastoart#AppArtist#ArtFestivals#Prairie#Wildflowers
Unfortunately, you're asking the wrong person. I'm not a big fruit person. I don't mind an apple or a banana or maybe an orange once in a while, but I don't eat berries, peaches, mangos, etc, etc.
I'm told by family that like them that Saskatoons are like a more flavourful blueberry; like wild blueberries "but different" 😆
So I've tried them once or twice, but that's it. Some prairie boy here, too.