Yesterday I went with my good friend, Kay, to enjoy some fall color at two parks in the West Bend area. Firefighters Memorial Bluff Park, and Lizard Mound State Park. 

​I'm still recovering from shoulder surgery, so she was kind enough to drive. Both of us were hankering to get out and take in some of the seasonal scenery. I'm so glad we did. ​

It was a chilly, but beautiful, sunny day. It's been a strange year for leaf peeping. Some trees are stunning, draped in vivid autumn hues, some drab and brown, some still very green. Even so, it was worth taking the time to go. To slow down and spend an afternoon in the company of a friend and nature.

Less than a ten minute drive from the bluff is Lizard Mound State Park. One of my fall favorites. It never disappoints. It was adorned in a mix of bold autumn color, faded brown, and plenty of still-green leaves. Goldenrod still standing tall, but brightness faded. Milkweed pods open and seeds ready to scatter with the next gust of wind. 

The effigy mounds were still draped in green grasses. In years past they would be covered in fallen leaves by now. Those are still to come, I'm sure. We wandered some of the easy walking trails, admiring the woodland dressed in russets, golds, and oranges. We even spotted a few late season dandelions. 

A peaceful park surrounded in bold natural beauty, it's worth a visit in any season. Fall here is stunning.  Though November will find it past peak color, it's  quiet beauty will remain.

​Take some time before all the hustle and bustle begins to slow down and enjoy our gorgeous state. Even better, go with a friend.

Here in southeastern Wisconsin, fall is taking hold. Cooler temps, changing leaves. While peak color can already be found in the northern parts of the state, the lower portion is still getting there. There's  time yet to get out and enjoy the beauty of this annual transition.

​Some of the younger trees have burst into color, but there is plenty more to come. A few spots to consider:

We recently took a walk at Deer Creek Sanctuary in New Berlin. As we wandered the trails squirrels could be seen frantically gathering nuts to store for winter. Plenty of woodpeckers about, too. 

One of my favorite local fall spots is Schoen Laufen Park in Germantown. We visited a couple weeks back. It was still pretty green, but there were hints of change. It's a gorgeous park to wander any time of year, but in fall it's especially pretty. And it's a great birdwatching spot, too.

If you enjoy art exhibits, check out the new installation at Forest Exploration Center in Wauwatosa. The outdoor exhibit opened on October 4, and will be on display through early December.

​Forest Exploration Center is awe-inspiring in autumn. Golden! A perfect opportunity to get out for a peaceful walk, enjoy the autumn tones, and take in an art show featuring local artists, too! 

I'm anxiously awaiting a fall trip to Lizard Mound State Park in Washington County. In recent years I have been awestruck by the incredible lush colors along the trails and through the woodlands here.

The hiking trails are an easy walk. Peaceful and contemplative as you pass by the many indigenous effigy mounds throughout. It's become an annual autumn trek for me.

Don't let the season pass by without a drive through the Kettle Moraine Forest. The drive alone is especially scenic in autumn. Got time? Spend the day driving from the southern portion to the northern portion.

One of my favorite spots in the Southern Kettle Moraine Unit is Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail in Eagle. It's a great birdwatching spot, and there are plenty of trails to wander. Some beautiful sunsets to be had here, too.

Want more options?  Check out the Fall 2025 Edition of TheParkNextDoor Magazine for all kinds of autumn adventures. 

Last Saturday afternoon we set out for a bit of nature and art. A perfect combo for a warm, early October day.  The inaugural art exhibit is now on display in the Forest Exploration Center in Wauwatosa.  The exhibit, which is free and open to all visitors, will be on display until early December.

The exhibit is located along the Forest StoryWalk trail, which is located just off the main all-accessible trail loop. It features original artworks by two Wisconsin nature enthusiasts, John Suess, and Holden Van Dyke.

John's pieces are paintings of familiar nature spots of the area, including some very recognizable scenes from the Forest Exploration Center. They express his appreciation of the beauty of the land, the light, and encompass all four seasons. 

Holden's works are photographs of a variety of birds he has seen in Wisconsin nature areas. From the common American Robin to a rarely spotted in Wisconsin Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. An avid birder, he has captured some incredible shots of wild birds in natural habitat.

We were thrilled to have the opportunity to meet both artists at the opening. The forest trail gallery is a perfect venue for a show of art inspired by nature. There's a symmetry to that. 

Take advantage of our beautiful autumn weather and get out and enjoy a walk along the trails, and an art show, too.

ALL THAT TREES PROVIDE 
         
​The Value of Trees and Forests in Our Everyday Lives

Community-Curated Trail Spur Art Exhibition now open at:
​
FOREST EXPLORATION CENTER
1800 Forest Exploration Drive

We sit at the patio table some summer evenings. In-between watering the garden and grousing about how we should be weeding more. "Hello!" I exclaim. My husband looks up from his phone. "Who are you talking to?"  "A firefly," I explain. He smiles slightly, "I see."

I can't help it.  If there's a living creature in my midst, well, a living thing, I tend to talk to it. Bees, birds, spiders, chipmunks, squirrels, plants. We don't have conversations. I mean, they don't talk back. But if a firefly glides through the air in front of me, I'm going to greet it. I'm happy to see it.

I've been saying "Hello!" a lot this year.  Firefly season started in late June and is still going strong. Each night since the first sighting the numbers have grown. For an hour or two our backyard twinkles magically. I've been trying to photograph them, without much luck. It's tricky. But, it's fun to just sit and watch them dance through the flowers, grasses, and trees.

We garden for wildlife in our yard. Which means no pesticides. Yes, we have plenty of dandelions and other weeds. We pull or mow what we can, but we still have plenty. The wildlife enjoy them. Including the fireflies. By avoiding pesticides, and letting our backyard grass grow a little longer, and leaving some longer grasses in spots, the fireflies have plenty of ground to inhabit season to season.

Driving around the area this spring I noticed more front lawns dotted with dandelions. Those same lawns now have fireflies rising from the grass at dusk. It's a hopeful sight.

​If your living space doesn't have a yard, pay a visit to a local park, and look for areas where there are tall grasses. Fireflies, for us, have been active at least a half-hour before dusk. And are especially busy just after dusk.

Earlier this week I visited Forest Exploration Center before dusk. Stepping just inside the entrance path the fireflies were already waking. Blinking low to the ground, scattered across the forest floor, and then rising, bit by bit.  The fields surrounding the parking lot were twinkling wildly. An amazing sight to see!

​But, where there are fireflies there are also mosquitoes. And they were very hungry. So I stayed long enough to watch in awe, take a few seconds of video, and headed home to watch the fireflies in my backyard, too. 

​The center is open daily Dawn to Dusk.

It wasn’t long after she went on hospice that I got my first bad cold.  ​

Grief presents itself in many ways. Sometimes it is obvious, sometimes it sneaks up on you. After Cheryl passed away the anxiety attacks increased. The insomnia increased. I finally called my doctor for some help.

I also remind myself, after having physically exerted myself in nature, one way or another, that I might be sore from hiking, or digging, or weeding, that I am calmer afterward. The value of time spent in nature in my healing process has been huge.

I set up some sessions of virtual talk therapy. I got out a journal and started writing things down. The talk sessions were helpful. The meds started to kick in. The physical therapy started to loosen things up. Summer kicked in, and things improved. 

​I’ve been working in the garden a lot. Flowers sown are beginning to bloom. Short walks in local parks are helpful.  I haven’t had the chance for many new park adventures yet this summer. The garden has been a priority, and a positive force in my days.

But those green spaces await, and I'm looking forward to getting back on the trails soon.

​Kimberly








Note: If you are suffering from grief, anxiety and/or depression, please talk to someone. You don’t have to walk this road alone. ​

Hot summer days speed by in a flurry of activity as we try to make the most of the short season here in Wisconsin. Family vacations, festivals, weddings, county fairs, sporting events, farmers markets and more keep the calendar full.

​When the chaos of your world gets to be too much, head for a cathedral of trees nearby.

Something about a tree lined trail beckons. No matter the season. But in summer, the green leaves rustle in the breeze, providing delicious shade and cooler temperatures. A relief from the heat of an open, sunny sky.

​No matter where you live in Wisconsin, there's a cathedral of trees waiting to give you respite. To offer you a quiet walk, a chance to clear your mind, cool the skin, stir your soul.

Whether it's a simple ten-minute stroll in a neighborhood park, or a longer hike in a nature preserve or state park, the comfort of trees, the protection of the canopy above, the sound of birdsong ringing out from the branches, offers a break from what ails you.

​Go solo, or with family or friends. Either way, you're bound to find some moments of tranquility to sustain you.

Seeking out nature in the city is one of my favorite things.  Years ago I believed that to experience the wild and wonderful natural world, I would have to visit the wilderness of state parks, trails, nature preserves, and remote rural areas.

But as I began to explore our city parks, and urban green spaces, I was pleasantly surprised to find a wide variety of trees, gardens, birds and other wildlife, close to home.

I've heard from more than a few visitors to Wisconsin that they are impressed with the amount of trees and green spaces we have throughout the state.

Our parks, whether they be state, county, or local and neighborhood parks, should be a source of pride for Wisconsin residents. 

I am often amazed by the amount of wildlife living among us here in the city.  Of course, birds and squirrels are front and center. If you're not a bird nerd (which I am), you might not notice the wide variety of birds that reside here in the city. Or who pass through during migration season on their way up north to nesting grounds. 

Many of these birds might even stop off in your backyard, or at your neighborhood park, looking for food (bugs, seeds, flower nectar, caterpillars), and water (streams, creeks, birdbaths, puddles). 

But beyond the smaller birds  like chickadees, 
hummingbirds, and sparrows, for example, there are robins, common grackles, starlings, crows, blue jays, cardinals, and even larger birds like cooper's and redwing hawks, to name a few. 

There are other wild creatures among us, too. Just last week I was driving along the Root River Parkway and spotted a very large snapping turtle  heading into the road, and oncoming traffic. 

I had not seen a turtle on this portion of the parkway, and hadn't seen one locally that was anywhere near as big. From the tip of his tail to the top of his head was maybe two feet long. I didn't actually measure. But there was no way I was going to be able to pick him up to help him across the road.

I pulled over and stood in front of him, hoping to get him to turn back towards the wetland area, but he knew where he wanted to go. Fortunately, traffic wasn't too busy, but I did direct a few cars around him. Another passerby pulled over, and together we stood on either side of him and walked along as he worked his way across to the other side of the road, up over the curb, and into the tall grasses that led to the creek.

To be so close to this amazing creature was an unexpected experience. And so exciting!

Last summer I witnessed a turtle laying eggs in the grassy area next to the pond at Greenfield Park. The turtle digs a hole and lays the eggs in it.  A group of park visitors watched in awe as it went to work. Someone contacted the parks office so they could place a barrier around the area to keep people from stepping on the nest of eggs.

Many of our county parks and nature centers have ponds, and where there are ponds, there are also turtles.  It's common to spot a turtle or three sunbathing on a log in the pond on a nice summer day.

In recent years I've noticed wild turkeys have become more commonplace in our parks and green spaces. I've seen them along the parkway in West Allis, crossing the road in New Berlin  and Brookfield, and they are often spotted in Wauwatosa.

Color me surprised when, last spring, a pair of them stopped by our West Allis backyard for the day. I was shocked when I looked out the window onto our city backyard and saw two turkeys pecking at the grass and lounging beneath our big colorado spruce trees.  I got excited, thinking they might be looking for nesting space, but, alas, they did not stay.  When I looked out a few hours later they had moved on. I'm sure they found someplace more suitable.

The placement of native plants, shrubs, and trees, along with a simple birdbath, has brought many visitors to our little habitat.

Lately, I've been going out most days for short walks, quick stops at local nature spots, neighborhood parks, a few minutes along the Root River Parkway. In search of  signs of new life.

​Tree buds opening, green shoots coming up from the dirt, birds and other critters displaying nesting season energy. It's been helpful to push myself outdoors. Even for just a bit. To alter my perspective. 

Yesterday was Earth Day. It started out gray, with a bit of rain. But the afternoon cleared up, and I took a walk at The Forest Exploration Center in Wauwatosa. There I did find signs of renewal.

​Lots of buds on tree branches beginning to leaf out. Wildflowers like native bloodroot blooming as I walked the trails. Green shoots of trillium popping up, jack-in-the-pulpit, too.  The woodlands should be alive with lots of blossoms soon.

Migrating birds have begun returning to the north. Yesterday I spotted a handsome yellow-bellied sapsucker, and a pair of dueling northern flickers vying for nesting area.

​Red-bellied woodpeckers, blue-jays, robins, and white-breasted nuthatches called from the tree canopy above me. Chipmunks chirped and scurried over fallen trees and mosses. Things are finally happening. Huzzah!

We are tethered to this beautiful earth. There are days when that awesome fact slips away from me. But there are  days when I am reminded, too. 

​During a walk around the pond at a local park, a hike through the forest, watching robins at the birdbath in my backyard, or spying last year's bird nest in a tree in the parking lot of the supermarket. The evidence is there, big and small. I just need to keep my eyes open.

Eagle Adventures Bus Tour - Horicon
​
Saturday, February 15: 1pm - 4pm
A guided bus tour from Horicon Marsh Education Center will visit known eagle sites.

​Tickets are $15 per person.  Limit 30 persons. Tickets must be purchased in advance to reserve a spot.

CANDLELIGHT HIKES 
​IN WISCONSIN STATE PARKS

Candlelight hikes are offered in Wisconsin State Parks throughout the state. They will be held on Saturdays: February 1, 8, and 15.  Parks included: Peninsula State Park, Black River State Forest, Blue Mound State Park, Zillmer Trail in Kettle Moraine State Forest, Pike Lake State Park, Interstate State Park, Blue River State Forest, Newport State Park, Lake Wissota State Park, Governor Thompson State Park, Rib Mountain State Park, Sandhill Wildlife Area, and the Mackenzie Center. 

CANDLELIGHT HIKES IN ROCK COUNTY PARKS

Hikes will be held on Saturday evenings during the month of February.

The schedule is as follows:
February 1st: Androne Woods
February 8th: Rockpot Park
February 15th: Magnolia Bluff County Park
February 22nd: Rock River Heritage County Park

All events are from 6pm to 8pm, and include candlelight trails, bonfires, hot chocolate, s'mores, and much more!  The events are free, however, donations are welcome, with any proceeds going toward the improvements in the parks.

A WALK IN THE PARK 2025
​FIRST FRIDAY WALKS IN MILWAUKEE COUNTY PARKS 

The Milwaukee Parks Foundation is hosting a monthly hike on the first Friday of the month, throughout the coming year.

Everyone is welcome to these free events. The purpose is to connect with nature, and get to know and appreciate the parks throughout Milwaukee County.

The next walk coming up:
Friday, February 7, 12pm - 1pm
Red Arrow Park
920 N. Water Street
Milwaukee

NATURE CENTERS & PRESERVES

These legacies of nature offer lots of opportunity to get outside, with many offering a wealth of programs indoors during winter as well. 

Check out the web feature LEGACIES OF NATURE for a gallery of nature centers and preserves worth your time and attention.

​Visit their websites for event listings and more.