Summer at Cedar Falls

 

I like to go to the local parks throughout the season to see all of the changes that occurs in the plant grow and to see what new things I can discover. It seems there is always something different to see on each visit.

Since we had a terrible storm this summer I did not know what to expect on this particular visit. Thankfully there was not to much wind damage. A few toppled trees and some washed out paths.


When you are walking the trails at Cedar Falls it is easy for you to  imagine yourself walking back in time to when the Native Americans travels through. Everything looks primitive and peaceful walking along the trials where cliffs and giant boulders have been for millions of years.

Water has worn rocks into all shapes as it has carved falls and solid rock creek beds as it travels down the valleys into Queer Creek.

along wet and mossy banks all manner of toadstools can be spotted growing.

Older decaying trees that have fallen are going back to nature and growing an array of fungi and lichens.

Along the creek the sun filters in and cast shimmering patterns and images upon the rock walls.

Centurea Bachelor Buttons
At this time of the year late blooming native plants are in bloom along the trails and upon the creek banks.

Red Lobelia Cardinal Flowers stand out amongst all of the green.

Blue Lobelia Cardinal Flower

Green Headed Coneflowers bloom along the  banks where the sun filters in.

 

Jewel Weed

Iron Weed

Heal All

Little holes in the rocks and caves can be found all along the gorge trail.

The creek was low on this day but there had been a hard rain just before my visit so the water was mudding.
On this day the many visitors were looking at the giant falls and the rock walls and boulders all along the trail.
They all were rushing around and looking up and not noticing the smaller things that can be spotted it you really look as you are walking along…….

Like a Snapping Water turtle that has just come up from the sandy bottom hiding in the muddy water in the creek.

What tiny eyes and nostrils. They look so out of proportion on this  big Turtle.

 

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The Butterfly Exhibit

 

Butterfly Wishes
Yesterday a butterfly
Came floating gently through the sky.
He soared up through the atmosphere
Then drifted close enough to hear.
I said, "I'd love to fly with you
And sail around the way you do.
It looks like it would be such fun
To fly up toward the summer sun.
But I have not your graceful charm.
I haven't wings, just these two arms.
I've been designed to walk around.
My human feet must touch the ground.
Then magically he spoke to me
and told me what his wish would be.
He said, "What I'd love most to do
Is walk upon God's Earth with you,
To squish it's mud between my toes
Or touch my finger to my nose.
I'd love just once to walk around
With human feet to touch the ground,
But I have not two legs that swing,
I haven't arms, just these two wings."
And so we went our separate ways
In wonder and surprise.
For we'd both seen God's precious gifts
Through someone else's eyes.
Author Unknown

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
Lona

 

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Summer at Conkle’s Hollow

 

A few weeks ago after the terrible storm we had I went up into Conkle’s Hollow for a walk. The damage there from the storm was much more disastrous than the upper trail at Old Mans Cave.

Fallen trees were everywhere along the beginning of the gorge trail.

Since fallen trees are cut from the trails and left to lie so nature can take over it is beginning to look really messy and not a pretty walk along the gorge trail as it once was.

Trees that had grown onto tops of the cliffs with little soil to anchor them down were no match for the tornado like wind we received from the storm that hit here.

Despite the fallen trees there was still a lot of beauty to be seen if you looked a past the fallen trees.

Pink and white Bergamont or native Bee Balm grows along the stream at the beginning of the trail where the sun filters through the trees.

Jewel Winged Damselflies were flitting around all along the stream bed.

Ferns and fallen trees that are returning to nature to host all kinds of insects are in abundant supply.


One day all of those fallen trees will look like these, green and covered in moss.

 
Smooth Phlox laberrima added color to the fields.

Queen’s  Anne Lace were just starting to open and bloom to add white to the green landscape.

The bees were thankful for the beautiful white blooms.

This Red Spotted Purple butterfly was looking for some nutrients in the wet puddles along the trail.

Along the shady trail other plants were getting ready to open their blooms.

If you walk slowly and really look around  you can spot all kinds of little things happening.

Phlox and Golden Rods grow along Pine Creek which flows
around the gorge of Conkle’s Hollow. On this day we were heading into a dry spell so the waterfall that runs into a small stream that feeds into Pine creek was just a trickle.
Minnows and Water Skippers were all vying for the deeper pools of water up in the gorge.

 

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