Monday, March 28, 2022

Snow Squalls

Lest we forget, winter snow does happen even at this late date!  This is from recent walks on the area trails. Three days this past week had blizzard like snow squalls, but each time it only lasted on the ground for a day. At times, too cold to take out the camera so only a few photos of the trails this posting.

                                                                      Let's begin our walk.

                                                                    ice still on the marsh bay

I think the Robin was thinking "what is happening"!


                                                                    one of my favorite trees


                                    I say "enough already"!








Saturday, March 19, 2022

IN YOUR FACE !!!

In Your Face!!!

 

Me, me, me.  Look at me.  No, look at me.  Better yet, skip all those and look at me!  Walking through the Gardens at Waters East, one almost hears this constant refrain.  Every plant wants attention.  Every bloom is screaming – “I’m so beautiful just look at me!”  In many cases they are right.  Take a look at some of the beauties basking in the sun and calling to be the center of your attention. Checkout the detail of some of the garden residents.

 

All of these “portraits” were take here in the gardens.  Self centered though they may be, the flowers do make you stop and stare.  They seem to be doing “their thing” just for you.  So why not indulge them for a few moments while walking the paths.

 

Here then are photos for this posting

pause a moment - - - really slow down and pause a moment

see the detail

even if you only pick one or two of the photos - pause a moment

Enjoy



                                                    The focus of this posting is the - Hibiscus

I brought it inside this winter,

usually it is our on the patio. 

 

                                                                            Closer looks




                                                            After posting the above photos,

I thought I would add a couple more IN YOUR FACE photos

for your enjoyment!


                                                                        Daylily & Friend


                                                                                Milkweed


                                                                                    Poppy


                                                                            Trumpet Vine


NOTE:   Since this Blog is meant to be an accurate journal of the gardens;

no photos are “staged”, “arranged”, or  ”photo-shopped” in anyway.

What is posted – is what it here.  It is what it is.

 

  

Tuesday, March 15, 2022

Allen Centennial Garden

The Allen Centennial Garden is a free public garden of 2.5 acres on the grounds of the University of Wisconsin – Madison.  The grounds feature the Agricultural Dean’s House, a brick Queen Anne-style home build in 1896.  It was the home of the first four deans of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

 

In 1984, the house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The major emphasis within the garden is on herbaceous ornamental perennials but the site features many other plantings including annuals and woody plants. There are 21 individually themed gardens with thousands of different perennial, annuals, shrubs and tree and a koi pond.

 

This post is a contrast of photos of the Autumn and Winter seasons.  Trust me, the summer flowers are beautiful, but that will have to wait.

 

Great place to take a break and just relax for some quiet time at the university. 





Alpine Plants - Autumn


Same plants - Winter






                                                                             Koi pond 


                                                             one of many paths in garden

                                        While waking home I saw these ducks enjoying the river.




 

 

  

Sunday, March 13, 2022

Tree Bark #2

Every time I get out onto the nature trails, I am fascinated by many things and lately that has been the various kinds of bark on the many different tree species along the way.  This posting will show a few more of the bark variation along the way.


The last posting on BARK was January 11, 2022.   You might like checking that one out if you have not already viewed it because it shows some detail on a number of different trees in the area.

 

Let's get started on the hike.

As you can see, the bark on this tree has been infected.

Close up of interesting bark.

The roots with bark covering.

Some of the trees are really tall.



Some have "decorations".

This one is dead, notice the holes.

Love the swirl of this one.

Damaged trunk

Tall

Tree that has died many years ago.

Lake Mendota, Madison Wisconsin





 




 

Monday, March 7, 2022

BLOG SHOTS #147

Each month Gardens at Waters East (GAWE) will post a few never before seen photos of “garden life” called - - BLOG SHOTS.  Here are the photos for this posting.

 

moments in the garden - - enjoy

 

Inula & bee

 

Sunrise October

Daylily - hybridized #10


Queen Anne


Native Cup Plant & bee

Pelicans in front of GAWE garden on Lake Michigan


Look closely - a hummingbird


Butterfly on lantana


Daylily - hybridized #8


Sunrise - January

 

 

NOTE:   All photos use in this posting were taken on the property of Gardens at Waters East

unless otherwise marked.

NOTE:   Since this Blog is meant to be an accurate journal of the gardens;

no photos are “staged”, “arranged”,  or  ”photo-shopped” in anyway.

What is posted – is what it here.  It is what it is.

 

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Walking the Trails #1

 One of many walks taken on the nature trails at the University of Wisconsin.  Always great views and things to discover, even “fellow” trail walkers out enjoying the day.

There will be many more postings of the trails and views and trees and flowers in the days and weeks ahead.

 

Enjoy this snapshot of nature at UWM


Picnic Point - Lake Mendota



State Capitol



A fellow hiker on the trail



Interesting mushrooms
 
another trail

 

another trail



Something extra for you today. Ran out yesterday to take some of what little snow is left on trails here in the Lakeshore Nature Preserve at the university. These are extras for Daniel - a Blog follower, who enjoys hiking trails but cannot get out to walk like he use too.







The trails continue on - until we meet again!