_ _ _ _ My OH just called me, as there is a juv. GS Woodpecker on our peanut feeder!!
Good morning, all. Well, since Brenda mentioned it, I thought I would give you a report on my weekend trek in the wilderness. If anyone isn't interested, you don't have to read this account. :-)
I left Saturday afternoon and headed for the Shades State Park, which is not really a park but an expansive 3,000-acre state-owned forest. The entrance gate is less than 5 minutes from my house.
My grandfather was a forest ranger at the Shades in the '50s and '60s. The area is very close to my heart, so forgive me if I blather too long. (Shades State Park: Click on "Gallery" at this link for a short video and a slideshow of photos.)
The Shades in AutumnGovernment Photo: Fair Use, Labeled Free for Non-Commercial UseIDNR/Outdoor Indiana magazine
Aerial view of the ShadesGovernment Photo: Fair Use, Labeled Free for Non-Commercial UseIDNR/Outdoor Indiana magazine
Part 1: Background
Historically, the area was called The Shades of Death. Some historians believe that it was so named because the towering, old-growth trees are very dense, creating a dark, cool, "black forest" atmosphere.
Sassafras TreeGovernment Photo: Fair Use, Labeled Free for Non-Commercial UseIDNR/Outdoor Indiana magazine
Others believe that the name originated from a fierce and bloody American Indian battle. The tribes of the Miami Nation of Indians lived here before white settlers claimed the region for themselves.
I've also read that the Shades of Death name arose from very old legends about mythical spirits, called "shades", that are said to inhabit the forest shadows (I didn't see them :-)
The Shades has 10 marked trails (rated from easy to very rugged) through the forest. The rules prohibit people from wandering off the trails. Trail 10 leads into the Pine Hills Nature Preserve, which is adjacent to the park proper. Pine Hills is an especially pristine and highly protected deep forest ecosystem. The water in the creeks there is the most unpolluted in Indiana.
The Shades is not a fancy state park -- no amenities like those at Turkey Run State Park, which is just a few miles down the road from me. No restaurant, inn, or cabins. No horseback riding, swimming pools, etc. Just primitive camping, pit toilets, and very rugged wilderness.
I put on my backpack, which contained a small cot-tent and some food for the night and morning. I bypassed the general campground and hiked 2 1/2 miles over relatively flat, forested terrain into the remote backpackers' campground, where I set up for the night. My joints were shouting from carrying my gear! I need to remember that I'm 55 now. LOL The weather wasn't too hot, and lots of birds were singing.
Part 2 to come.
LINDY - what amazing designs !
DIANE - wonderful photographs - it looks like autumn has arrived in the bottom one (fall, I should say) . What an adventure you had. Hope none of those Shades followed you home :)
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Lindy: Glad you saw the GS woodpecker!!! Lovely flower photos!
Brenda: Glad you saw the osprey. How special is that!?!!!!
Alan: Love the photos, especially the cormorants. Also loved the jokes. LOL!
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I do so hope that ALICAT was able to get to LG on Sat when she arrived in the north! But she has had a reasonable chance of seeing Odin. I did suggest she was too late for EJ and might not see the girls either!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
OOOH! A new Report from Richard, and a lovely long description from DIANE! Lots for me to read, later - have to go cook dinner now.
I also thought of Alicat, OG - wonder if she is watching Odin, now.
So much going on here today – feel like I am juggling about ten balls and trying to keep them all in the air! The good news is that J has been asked to work at the Academy Thursday (first day of term) and Friday (and they may want him longer than that). Next news is that J found me a working set of speakers for my PC at the recycling project (only £2) – fitting them somehow lost my internet connection, but PC and speakers (woofer plus two) are working at this moment in time! Next news OH took PC junk from the loft to the “tip” at last! Got a “thunder headache” which is taking a long time to go as the short storm this afternoon was just too far away to make much difference. Otherwise, only minor stuff to think about - rant over!
Hello, again, to Cirrus and Clare! I hope we’ll see more of you during autumn, winter and early spring, until EJ and Odin are here to thrill us all again!
Linda – sharing PC was not good – especially when J also had some problems and OH thought he had a quick fix and made things worse – he also is now up and running again! Sorry about the yoghourt spill – yukk! I love yoghourt, but not the aftermath of spillage! Enjoyed more Tatton pics yesterday and today – remain unsure about creating artistry with lovely natural flowers, but the blooms do look very nice. I hope Buzz has been okay today! I could have given your Red Crocosmia (“Lucifer”?) as ours has spread exponentially and will need reducing next spring (or this autumn if we break the usual pattern and have some dry days in autumn!).
Patricia – I hope you and Fly enjoyed her walk yesterday, before it rained. I suppose she needs exercise to keep off the weight that she would previously have worked off at agility, and I hope her leg has recovered.
Brenda – been watching for migrating Ospreys here – nothing yet. Our winter Robin has arrived, and Starlings are beginning to gather. Sorry about potholes – sadly part of life these days!
Alan – yes, it’s good to know who I am now – seems to be the only certainty around here right now! Really amazed by the GCGs building yet again – but nice to know you have seen one young from another nest! Enjoyed the Cormorants. Langholm Moor Hen Harriers are not very far away from us, and Cat Barlow, who writes the blog, is so clued up on moorland birds and land management.
Annette – sorry about yesterday’s reaction to the plants – I hope your eyes are more comfortable today.
AQ – pleased your brain is waking up, and I hope the rest of you will soon feel better, but do take care not to do too much!
Clare – max number of Goldfinches here today was 6 – including Fat Baby who spends a long time on the feeder every day!
Diane – so enjoyed Part 1 of your account of the Shades F P – and more lovely pictures with it!
Now getting quite tired – back tomorrow.
OG: Great news about J getting some work at the Academy: do hope it lasts longer. Sorry to hear about your thunder headache - I get them, I can always tell when the air pressure is changing as my head goes sort of s t r a n g e & then later I sometimes get a headache as you describe. Hope its gone when you read this. Buzz has been fine today, apart from being rather miffed about being left at home when we went out this morning, but it was quite sunny and we didn't want him to get too hot if we left him in the car. His Dad took him for a nice walk twice today so he has been spoiled to make up for it. Yes, the Crocosmia is a 'Lucifer' and one of our neighbours saw us getting it out of the car, and offered us some more from her garden when she saw it! She also has a yellow version, but not sure if she wants to split it yet. So we are very pleased that we shall have some more colour, both in our garden and we also plan to take some to Wales with us as there is a lovely hedge behind our caravan and we can plant it with some bright plants (there is already some Crocosmia there).
Diane: Thanks for your lovely description of your break - Part One! Now we are all looking forward to Part Two!! I knew nothing about this place, so its all new to me!
Annette: Slightly worried this morning to hear that there are now further fires spreading in California due to the dryness. Do hope they are all out now. Hope you are feeling better, too.
Was sorry to hear yesterday that the comedienne Phyllis Diller had died - she made me laugh a lot when she first came on the scene, and was always such a joy and so much fun.
Went online to look for an illustration of a Crocosmia Lucifer in case anyone was wondering, and found this pic with a Hummingbird on it!! - doubt if I will find such a bird on mine, ever!!
HSA joins the battle against the badger killers:
http://hsa.enviroweb.org/
Roy Dennis on Twitter at last.
Evening all: Spent a couple of hours up the orange tree today - phew - must've picked about 200 and there's another batch on the opposite side still to go! Still, that'll be it for the year. I did a lot of tidying up of old wood, useless growth, etc., which should make it easier next year (I hope). I'm the one who goes up the ladder coz OH gets dizzy and we can't risk him falling into the rose bushes!! Anyway, will make orange juice from some oranges, deliver others to neighbors, then take the rest to the Food Bank. Am planning to spend some time on the beach tomorrow, even though the weatherman is forecasting cooler-than-normal temps.
Clare: Still have some strawberries and ice cream left, but suspect we'll polish it off tonight.
Margobird: So sorry to hear you're still wiped out from the bug. It's so tiresome to wait for these things to go away.
AQ: Sounds like England, rushing in and out with laundry to avoid showers! I've heard of frangipani, but hadn't connected it to plumeria. The white is most common here, which I think is the most fragrant.
OG: Tea and treats are a big part of book club. Love those sunflowers - they always give me a lift; such happy blooms! Brilliant news about J's work and your PC speakers and OH's trip to the "dump" as we call it.
Lindybird: The floral version of the Royal Barge was great - it deserved the Gold Medal The two bad fires are up north and still burning; lots of dry fuel in our hills and it doesn't take much (I think it was lightning in those cases). That's an amazing shot of the Crocosmania w/hummer.
Diane: Shades Park looks lovely and lush; what a nice connection through your grandfather. I've always thought forest rangers have the perfect job (depending on the forest I guess!). I've e-mailed the Gallery link to myself to look at tomorrow. Great that the weather was comfortable.
Off to catch up on some other stuff. Have a good Thursday all.
Haven't posted for a few days. Glorious day here so garden calls I think.
OG Good news about J. I am so pleased.
Can't remember if I said that my broken tooth was in fact a filling out. Had it replaced and guess what it came out again on Tues so have made another appt. Hope they won't charge me again!!!!
Good Morning: Dull here but dry. Just paid the Milkman and he is still wearing his shorts, so it must be OK!
dibnlib: Sorry about your tooth/filling - that's what often happens to me, I'm forever in the Dentists Waiting Room: he usually fills it again for free if its been recent. Hope yours does.
Annette: You must be seeing oranges in your sleep. Don't get too ambitious about reaching for them when up that ladder!
Must go & Do Stuff as out later with Friend for lunch and a gossip: have to get the laundry up to date as we hope to go away again for a bit, early next week.
ps: Alan, thanks for the link to the HSA report on the Badger Cull. It just sounds so barbaric, it makes my blood boil.