Category Archives: Uncategorized

It was nice quiet in Estabrook this morning, and I almost had the place to myself. With all the leaves off the trees and even the bushes, it feels like walking through the skeleton of the biome we enjoyed throughout the summer. Everyplace seems much more accessible now, so I wandered into an area thatContinue reading “The Mammals Take Over”

Ha! I was just as stunned to find this as you probably are to read about it. My best guess is that this is a hairy goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) in bloom on DECEMBER 5TH at the top of the slope from the falls up to the beer garden. Surprise, surprise, eh?

U up? I haven’t been to the park much lately. Instead I’ve been riding my bike on the Oak Leaf Trail, and it is peak aster season right now. I hope you get a chance to get out and see them in all their glory. As luck would have it, there are even still aContinue reading “And yet, they persist…”

turn out the light, turn out the light, turn out the light. We all knew this day would come, we just didn’t know when. Today I walked up one side of the park and down the other and didn’t see a thing worth taking a picture of. Oh, I might see something fun or prettyContinue reading “When the music’s over…”

It is forecast to be nice and sunny this afternoon, but in the meantime it is still pretty grey, and there were only a few critters willing to sit, stand, or float for a picture this morning. On the river, a couple of mallards and a blue heron were going about their business, as usual.Continue reading “The sun tries to make a come back…”

It rained all morning so I stayed in. There was a break after lunch so I ventured out to see if anyone was about. I was happy to see two wood duck hens, two painted turtles, and even a huge bullfrog on the pond. In the meadow by the boat launch, I found a bumblebeeContinue reading “The rain’s not done with us yet…”

Well, the rain seems finally to be taking a break, but it’s still cool and dreary out. Baby steps, right? I was out earlier than usual and saw no deer nor anyone on the pond, but the river was pretty busy. One blue heron and one sandpiper were there along with a couple dozen CanadaContinue reading “The rain lets up at last…”

It was yet another cool, dark, and dreary morning, and the deer were nowhere I could see. Perhaps I was too early or too late or they’re just fed up with the weather, too. Instead, there was one lone wood duck hen on the pond. There were no geese on the river, but a fewContinue reading “Will the sun ever return?”

The cool, damp, and dim mornings keep coming, and the park was nearly empty again today. The gang of four took advantage of the peace and quiet to sample the greenery on the east side of the southern parking lot, the crabapples and hostas in front of the Benjamin Church House, and the bur oakContinue reading “The gloom continues…”