Monday, December 17, 2012

Ice Age National Scenic Trail - Watershed #8


Ice Age National Scenic Trail

www.iceagetrail.org


Gardens at Waters East sits near a network of outstanding hiking trails.  They are easily accessible and stretch for miles throughout the watershed that feeds the gardens and much of this area of North America.

For some basic fundamental facts and photos about the watershed here, see the archive posting for July 2, 2011 in the archives.  Other past postings in the Watershed Series cover additional examples of this important geographic resource.

Today’s posting will focus on one of the major trails near Gardens at Waters East,  the Ice Age National Scenic Trail which stretches over 1000 miles through the state of Wisconsin.  This whole area was sculpted by the glacial ice sheet of 12,000 years ago.  As it retreated, it left behind a vast variety of unique landscape features.  These ice age remnants are now considered among the world’s finest examples of how continental glaciation sculpts our planet.  Most photos posted here were taken within ten miles of the gardens, two are from the trail about 25 miles away. 

Enjoy your hike along the trail.

Hike near Foot Bridge

 Along the Sturgeon Bay Shipping Canal

 Niagara Escarpment
(more information on this in the archives)

 Fall colors on the trail

 Joe Pye Weed along the trail

 Wild vines on the path

 View of trail in late Fall

 View of the same trail as above in early Winter

 Trail along the Ahnapee River

 Trail along the Kewaunee River

 Coneflowers, Rudbeckia, Liatris etc. at edge of trail

 Fall along the river

 Fellow traveler on the trail

 Field of wild phlox

 Fallen leaves on Karst Limestone

 Butterfly soaking up the sunshine at edge of trail

 Wild Columbine


NOTE:   All photos posted on this Blog are always taken on the property of Gardens at Waters East except for those posted in this series titled Watershed.  This series takes the Blog beyond the immediate gardens to the fuller area that nourished its “neighborhood”.




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6 comments:

  1. The trail in early winter, contrasted to the fall view, really speaks to me. I still remember the sound of crunchy snow in NW Minnesota at 10F...I can feel it! So much to see in this country, or in each corner of it.

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  2. I have sent some seeds to you, hope they will arrive soon and germitate in your garden some day.

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  3. What a gorgeous photos, Jack! Love the view of the trail in late Fall.
    Just amazing the Niagara Escarpment too. It looks like a cave.

    I hope you have a good week ahead.

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  4. Lovely images, and the region is close to my heart. Soon, it will all be covered in a thick blanket of snow!

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  5. nice turtle and butterfly pic happy xmas and new year never on skype any more

    charles

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