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    • Exploring Door County
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    • Gift Ideas For The Nature Lover
    • Winter in Wisconsin
  • Let's Explore
    • Nature Trails >
      • 116th Street - Oak Leaf Trail - West Allis, WI
      • Bald Bluff Nature Trail - Palmyra, WI
      • Belle Reynolds Nature Trail - Oakfield, WI
      • Black River Trails - Sheboygan, WI
      • Eagle Nature Trail - Eagle, WI
      • Emma Carlin Trail - Palmyra, WI
      • Glacial Drumlin State Trail - Lake Mills, WI
      • Ice Age Visitor Center Nature Trail - Campbellsport, WI
      • Kettle Moraine Low Prairie Natural Area - Eagle, WI
      • W. Kinnickinnic River Parkway - Milwaukee, WI
      • Kohl Park Hiking Trail - Milwaukee, WI
      • Paradise Springs Nature Trail - Eagle, WI
      • Rice Lake Nature Trail - Whitewater, WI
      • Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail - Eagle, WI
      • Seminary Woods - St. Francis, WI
      • Stony Ridge Nature Trail - Eagle, WI
      • Stute Springs Nature Trail - Eagle, WI
      • Washington Avenue Nature Trail - Sheboygan, WI
      • White River State Trail - Elkhorn to Dover, WI
      • Wisconsin Veteran's Memorial Riverwalk - Delafield, WI
    • Local Parks >
      • Akakawaa Park - Waukesha, WI
      • Alt Bauer Park - Germantown, WI
      • Anclam Park - Baileys Harbor, WI
      • Astico County Park - Columbus, WI
      • Asylum Point Park & Lighthouse - Oshkosh, WI
      • Aurelian Springs Village Park - Palmyra, WI
      • Beckman Mill County Park - Beloit, WI
      • Big Hill Park - Beloit, WI
      • Biwer Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Bluhm Farm Park - Muskego, WI
      • Brown Deer Park - Brown Deer, WI
      • Calhoun Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Carlin-Weld Park - Palmyra, WI
      • Dorothy Carnes Park - Fort Atkinson, WI
      • Carver-Roehl County Park - Clinton, WI
      • Case Eagle Park - Burlington, WI
      • Cave Point County Park - Sturgeon Bay, WI
      • Cherney Maribel Caves County Park - Maribel, WI
      • Cliffside Park - Caledonia, WI
      • Copernicus Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Creekwood Park - Greenfield, WI
      • Cudahy Woods - Cudahy, WI
      • Dave's Falls County Park - Amberg, WI
      • Denoon Park - Muskego, WI
      • Dousman Stagecoach Inn Museum - Brookfield, WI
      • Downtown Waupaca Parks - Waupaca, WI
      • Doyne Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Ellison Bay Bluff County Park - Ellison Bay, WI
      • Elm Grove Village Park - Elm Grove, WI
      • Endicott Park - Brookfield, WI
      • Estabrook Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Euclid Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Falk Park - Oak Creek, WI
      • Firefighters Memorial Bluff - West Bend, WI
      • Frame Park - Waukesha, WI
      • Franklin Woods - Franklin, WI
      • Froemming Park - Franklin, WI
      • Frontier Park - Butler, WI
      • George K. Pinney County Park - Sturgeon Bay, WI -
      • Glacier Hills County Park - Hubertus, WI
      • Goodman County Park, Strong Falls - Athelstane, WI Falls -
      • Grant Park - South Milwaukee
      • Greenfield Park - West Allis
      • Grobschmidt Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Hales Corners Park, Ben Hunt Prairie and Cabin, Seneca Hale Summer Kitchen, Cobb Park - Hales Corners, WI
      • Harnischfeger Park - Ixonia, WI
      • Hart Park - Wauwatosa, WI
      • Hartbrook Park - Hartland, WI
      • Hartung Park - Wauwatosa, WI
      • Hidden Lake Park - Brookfield, WI
      • High Grove Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Hika Bay Park - Cleveland, WI
      • Hobbs Woods Nature Area - Fond Du Lac, WI
      • Homestead Hollow County Park - Germantown, WI
      • Honey Creek Park - West Allis, WI
      • Hoyt Park - Wauwatosa, WI
      • Humboldt Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Idle Isle Park - Muskego, WI
      • Indian Mounds County Park - Lake Koshkonong Effigy Mounds and Trail - Fort Atkinson, WI
      • Indianhead Park - Mukwonago, WI
      • Jackson Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Jacobus Park - Wauwatosa, WI
      • Johnstone Park - Oak Creek, WI
      • Kelly Lake Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Kiekhaefer Park - Fond du Lac, WI
      • Kinsey Park - Brookfield, WI
      • Kocziuszko Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • H.C. Koepp Village Park - Pewaukee, WI
      • Konkel Park - Greenfield, WI
      • Korth Park - Lake Mills, WI
      • Krueger Park - Brookfield, WI
      • Kurth Park - Muskego, WI
      • Alan Kulwicki Park - Greenfield, WI
      • Ledge County Park - Horicon, WI
      • Lime Kiln Park - Grafton, WI
      • Lime Kiln Park - Menomonee Falls, WI
      • Lincoln Park - Glendale, WI
      • Lions Legend Park I & II - Franklin, WI
      • Lion's Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Lisbon Community Park - Hartland, WI
      • Lyons Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Magnolia Bluff County Park - Evansville, WI
      • Malone Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Manchester Hill Park - Muskego, WI
      • Mangan Woods - Greendale, WI
      • Mary Knoll Park - Brookfield, WI
      • McCarty Park - West Allis, WI
      • Menominee River Park - Wausaukee, WI
      • Mitchell Park - Brookfield, WI
      • Monarch Trail / County Grounds Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Moorewood Park - Waukesha, WI
      • Moorland Park - Muskego, WI
      • Mound Zion Park - Brookfield, WI
      • John Muir Memorial County Park - Town of Buffalo, WI
      • Mukwonago Park - Mukwonago, WI
      • Mush Ko Se Day Park - Fort Atkinson, WI
      • Muskego Boardwalk Nature Trail - Muskego, WI
      • Muskego Park - Muskego, WI
      • Nashotah Park - Nashotah, WI
      • Natureland County Park - Whitewater, WI
      • New Berlin Historical Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Nitschke Mounds County Park - Burnett, WI
      • Nixon Park - Hartland, WI
      • North Point Park - Sheboygan, WI
      • Oerding Park - Oconomowoc, WI
      • Petrifying Springs Park - Kenosha, WI
      • Picnic Point Park - Oshkosh, WI
      • Pleasant Valley Parks & Trails - Town of Cedarburg, WI
      • Pondview Park - Greenfield, WI
      • Prairie Springs Park - Pleasant Prairie, WI
      • ProHealth Care Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Pulaski Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Quaas Creek Park - West Bend, WI
      • Regner Park - West Bend, WI
      • Richfield Historical Park - Richfield, WI
      • Ridge Run Park - West Bend, WI
      • Rivers Edge Park - Menomonee Falls, WI
      • Riverside Park - Watertown, WI
      • Riverside Park - West Bend, WI
      • Rock River Heritage County Park - Janesville, WI
      • Rolling Meadows Park - Brookfield, WI
      • Rotary Park - Menomonee Falls, WI
      • Sandy Knoll County Park - Town of Trenton, WI
      • Saveland Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Schoen Laufen Park - Germantown, WI
      • Schoetz Park - Village of Hales Corners, WI
      • Schoolhouse Beach - Washington Island, WI
      • Scout Lake Park - Greendale, WI
      • Sheboygan Indian Mound Park - Sheboygan, WI
      • Simmons Woods Park - Pewaukee, WI
      • South Shore Park - Bayview, WI
      • Spassland Park - Germantown, WI
      • Springs Park - Delavan, WI
      • Sunset Beach County Park - Sturgeon Bay, WI
      • Swan Park - Beaver Dam, WI
      • Three Bridges Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Thunder Mountain Overlook Park - Crivitz, WI
      • Turtle Creek Parkway / Tiffany Bridge - Clinton, WI
      • Tyranena Park - Lake Mills, WI
      • Valley View Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Veterans Memorial Park - Grafton, WI
      • Viking County Park - Stoughton, WI
      • Virmond Park - Mequon, WI
      • Warnimont Park - Cudahy, WI
      • Washington Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Weatherstone Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Wequiock Falls Park - Green Bay, WI
      • Weston Antique Apple Orchard & Isabelle Weston Memorial Trail - New Berlin, WI
      • White River County Park - Walworth County
      • Whitnall Park - Franklin, WI
      • Wilson Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Wind Point Lighthouse - Racine, WI
      • Ken Windl Park - Franklin, WI
      • Wirth Park - Brookfield, WI
      • Xenobia Springs Park - Palmyra, WI
    • Nature Preserves >
      • Adam Birding Conservancy - Whitewater, WI
      • Badertscher Preserve - Muskego, WI
      • Joyce M. Baer & George J. Socha Conservancy - Marshall, WI
      • Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary - Green Bay, WI
      • Beulah Bluff Preserve - East Troy, WI
      • Beulah Bog - East Troy, WI
      • Blue Heron Wildlife Sanctuary - Saukville, WI
      • Bratt Woods - Grafton, WI
      • Burlington School Forest - Burlington, WI
      • Calhoun Creek Prairie - New Berlin, WI
      • Cedarburg Bog - Saukville, WI
      • Chiwaukee Prairie - Kenosha, WI
      • Conservancy For Healing And Heritage - Franklin, WI
      • Robert O Cook Arboretum - Janesville, WI
      • Crooked Creek Nature Preserve - East Troy, WI
      • Crossroads At Big Creek - Sturgeon Bay
      • Deer Creek Sanctuary - New Berlin, WI
      • Delavan Memorial Arboretum - Delavan, WI
      • Donges Bay Gorge - Mequon, WI
      • Emerald Preserve - Oak Creek, WI
      • Engel Conservation Area - Muskego, WI
      • Faville Grove Sanctuary - Lake Mills, WI
      • Fellenz Woods - West Bend, WI
      • Flowing Well - Whitewater, WI
      • Forest Beach Migratory Preserve - Port Washington, WI
      • Forest Exploration Center - Wauwatosa, WI
      • Fox River Sanctuary - Waukesha, WI
      • John S. Garman Nature Preserve - Waterloo, WI
      • Garrison's Glen - Mequon, WI
      • Genesee Oak Opening and Fen - Mukwonago, North Prairie WI
      • Gordon Tabor Memorial Woods - Caledonia, WI
      • Gottfried Prairie and Arboretum - Fond du Lac, WI
      • Grasslyn Nature Preserve - Mequon, WI
      • Greenway Arboretum - Fond du Lac, WI
      • Grootemaat Nature Preserve - Greendale, WI
      • Hartland Marsh Preserve - Village of Hartland, WI
      • Hawthorn Glen - Milwaukee, WI
      • Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum - Kenosha, WI
      • Heckrodt Wetland Reserve - Menasha, WI
      • Hermansen Woods - Lake Geneva, WI
      • Highland Woods - Mequon, WI
      • Hildebrand Nature Conservancy - Village of Fontana-On-Geneva Lake, WI
      • Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area - Horicon, WI
      • Huiras Lake Natural Area - Fredonia, WI
      • Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy - Williams Bay, WI
      • Kurtz Woods State Natural Area - Grafton, WI
      • Lac Lawrann Conservancy - West Bend, WI
      • Lakeshore Nature Preserve - Madison, WI
      • Ledge View Nature Center - Chilton, WI
      • Lion's Den Nature Preserve - Grafton, WI
      • Lois Jensen Nature Preserve - Delafield, WI
      • Lulu Lake Nature Preserve - East Troy, WI
      • John Margis Jr. Wildlife Area - Burlington, WI
      • Maywood Environmental Park - Sheboygan, WI
      • Jean McGraw Memorial Nature Preserve - Kenosha, WI
      • Mequon Nature Preserve - Mequon, WI
      • Mill House Native Plant Preserve - Village of Fontana, WI-
      • Moely Prairie - Prairie Du Sac, WI
      • Nature Hill Nature Center - Oconomowoc, WI
      • Ned Hollister Wetlands Conservancy - Delavan, WI
      • Newell and Ann Meyer Nature Preserve - Eagle, WI
      • Nicholson Wildlife Refuge - Franksville, WI
      • Oakfield Ledge State Natural Area - Oakfield, WI
      • Oconomowoc River Conservancy Park - Merton, WI
      • Parry Spring - Dousman, WI
      • Pavcek Preserve - Hartford, WI
      • Petersen Island Woods Preserve - Elkhorn, WI
      • Pheasant Branch Creek Conservancy - Middleton, WI
      • Pickerel Lake Fen Preserve - East Troy, WI
      • Pope Farm Conservancy - Verona, WI
      • Price Park Conservancy - Elkhorn, WI
      • Pukaite Woods Nature Preserve / Mequon Rotary Park - Mequon, WI
      • Retzer Nature Center - Waukesha, WI
      • The Ridges Sanctuary - Baileys Harbor, WI
      • River Bend Nature Center - Racine, WI
      • Riveredge Nature Center - Saukville, WI
      • Helen Rohner Children's Fishing Park - Williams Bay, WI-
      • Saller Woods - Rochester, WI
      • Sanctuary Woods - Wauwatosa, WI
      • Sauk Creek Nature Preserve - Port Washington, WI
      • Schlitz Audubon Nature Center - Milwaukee, WI
      • Schmeekle Reserve - Stevens Point, WI
      • Seno Woodland Center - Burlington, WI
      • Spirit Lake Nature Preserve - Mequon, WI
      • Spruce Lake Bog - Campbellsport, WI
      • Joan Stevens Woods - Greenfield, WI
      • Stigler Nature Preserve - New Berlin, WI
      • Trinity Creek Wetland Habitat - Mequon, WI
      • UW-Waukesha Field Station - Oconomowoc, WI
      • Van der Brohe Arboretum - Two Rivers, WI
      • Vernon Marsh Wildlife Area - Mukwonago, WI
      • Vernon Wildlife Area - Waterford, WI
      • Wadewitz Nature Camp - Village of Rochester, WI
      • Wehmhoff Woodland Preserve - Burlington, WI
      • Wehr Nature Center - Franklin, WI
      • Whitnall School Forest - Greenfield, WI
      • Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve - Two Rivers, WI
      • Zeloski Marsh - Cambridge, WI
    • State Parks >
      • Aztalan State Park - Aztalan, WI
      • Baxter's Hollow State Natural Area - Sauk City, WI
      • Big Foot Beach State Park - Lake Geneva, WI
      • Bong State Recreation Area - Kansasville, WI
      • C. D. Besadny Fish and Wildlife Area - Kewaunee, WI
      • Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area - New Glarus, WI
      • Copper Culture State Park - Oconto, WI
      • Devil's Lake State Park - Baraboo, WI
      • Harrington Beach State Park - Belgium, WI
      • Hartman Creek State Park - Waupaca, WI
      • Havenwoods State Forest - Milwaukee, WI
      • High Cliff State Park - Sherwood, WI
      • Kohler-Andrae State Park - Sheboygan, WI
      • La Budde State Natural Area - Ice Age Trail Segment - Plymouth, WI
      • Lake Kegonsa State Park - Stoughton, WI
      • Lakeshore State Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Lapham Peak State Park - Delafield, WI
      • Lizard Mound State Park - Farmington, WI
      • Mauthe Lake State Recreation Area - Campbellsport, WI
      • Mukwonago River Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest - Mukwonago, WI
      • Natural Bridge State Park - North Freedom, WI
      • Newport State Park - Ellison Bay, WI
      • Peninsula State Park - Fish Creek, WI
      • Pike Lake State Park - Hartford, WI
      • Point Beach State Forest - Two Rivers, WI
      • Potawatomi State Park - Sturgeon Bay, WI
    • Sculpture Gardens, Conservancies & Observatories >
      • Bobrowitz Sculpture Garden - Colgate, WI
      • Boerner Botanical Gardens - Hales Corners, WI
      • Nick Engelbert's Grandview - Hollandale, WI
      • Franconia Sculpture Park - Shafer, MN
      • The Garden Door - Sturgeon Bay, WI
      • Greendale Children's Garden - Greendale, WI
      • Harmony Arboretum & Gardens - Peshtigo, WI
      • Labyrinth Garden Earth Sculpture - West Bend, WI
      • Margie's Garden - Hales Corners, WI
      • Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservancy - Milwaukee, WI
      • Modine-Benstead Observatory - Union Grove, WI
      • New Life Lavender & Cherry Farm - Baraboo, WI
      • Olbrich Botanical Gardens - Madison, WI
      • M. Schettl Sales - Sculpture and Oddities
      • Rotary Botanical Gardens - Janesville, WI
      • Sisson's Peony Garden - Rosendale, WI
      • Stavkirke - Washington Island, WI
      • Stevens Point Sculpture Park - Stevens Point, WI
      • James Tellen Woodland Sculpture Garden - Town of Wilson, WI
      • West Of The Lake Gardens - Manitowoc, WI
      • Yerkes Observatory - Williams Bay, WI
    • Cemeteries >
      • Calvary Cemetery - Milwaukee, WI
      • Forest Home Cemetery - Milwaukee, WI
      • Highland Memorial Park Cemetery - New Berlin, WI
      • La Belle Cemetery - Oconomowoc, WI
      • Mount Olivet Cemetery - Milwaukee, WI
      • New Berlin Center Cemetery - New Berlin, WI
      • Oak Hill Cemetery - Lake Geneva, WI
      • Riverside Cemetery - Oshkosh, WI
      • St. Adalbert Cemetery - Milwaukee, WI
  • Gardening for Wildlife
    • The Eco-Friendly Lawn
    • Welcome to the Firefly Show
    • Birdbaths in the Habitat
  • Detours, Links & More
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THE BLOG @ THE PARK NEXT DOOR

A Cathedral Of Trees

7/4/2025

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A peaceful trail awaits at the Conservancy For Healing & Heritage in Franklin.

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.
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A cool walking path at Sanctuary Woods, Wauwatosa.

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Summer is adorned in green at the Forest Exploration Center, Wauwatosa.
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.
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Whitnall School Forest in Greenfield is perfect for a summer stroll.
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Spend an afternoon walking the hills and trails of J.S. Garman Nature Preserve - Waterloo

A few minutes in nature is a worthy prescription for enduring what ails you.​
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Close Encounters

5/30/2025

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An American red squirrel spotted on the Root River Parkway in West Allis.

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. 
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It's plenty green on the parkway these days.

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A hummingbird sighting never fails to thrill.
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. 

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A pair of northern flickers competing for nesting space at Forest Exploration Center.
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A selection of spring migrants that have visited my city backyard over the past few years.
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Nesting great horned owls and owlets at a local forest.

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!
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A turtle busy laying eggs near the pond at Greenfield Park last summer.
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.
Turtles sunbathing in the pond at Greenfield Park

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.
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A pair of turkeys visited our city backyard last spring.

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A selection of everyday urban wildlife.
The placement of native plants, shrubs, and trees, along with a simple birdbath, has brought many visitors to our little habitat.
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A juvenile cooper's hawk visits our simple backyard birdbath.

Whether you run, walk, bike, or drive along the Root River or Honeycreek Parkway, there's a good chance you will spot deer. Sometimes even a few at a time. They are often seen coming from the wooded areas  of the parks, too.  A week ago I watched as five of them, one after the other, crossed the road on the parkway in West Allis. I didn't have my camera at the time (of course!).  But I did have it with me another day when I caught a glimpse of a deer near the banks of the river near the same spot.
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Wherever your favorite local nature spot is, whether your backyard, your neighborhood park,  or one of our local nature preserves or state parks, encounters with our wild residents can bring a sense of wonder to your world. They've certainly brought plenty of it to mine.
Shown Below:  A selection of some of the wildlife I've been lucky to encounter.
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Tethered

4/23/2025

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Native wildflowers like this bloodroot have begun blooming along woodland trails.

I've been feeling a bit off this year. Struggling to find inspiration, to find cheer. Some personal losses and struggles have made it trickier to look forward with a positive attitude. And, although the winter wasn't exactly harsh this year, the limbo between winter and spring seems prolonged to me. But that's probably just my narrow point of view. 

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Tree buds leafing out at Forest Exploration Center.
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.
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Native bloodroot flowers rise up from the forest floor.

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!
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Northern flickers return to the forest for nesting season.
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A yellow-bellied sapsucker searches tree bark for sap.
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Northern flickers compete for nesting space in the forest.

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.
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A bird nest in a parking lot.
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STILL HERE

3/12/2025

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There is a sparkling jewel
Adorning a winter barren tree
Behind a bench in Kinsey Park
Ensconced with the names
Of best friends engraved on a plaque

I imagine they used to meet here
Talk about life
Good days, bad days
Watching red squirrels scurrying over branches
Robins and woodpeckers calling nearby

Someone hung this hummingbird jewel
In the tree behind the bench
A memorial of sorts
I look for it often when I come here

Today I came to walk
Serenaded by spring sounds
As bluejays, cardinals and chickadees
Sang from the woods

I'm thinking of those I have lost
Just this week, my sister
And I listen for the birdsong
And look for the hummingbird jewel

For signs there is still life being lived
To assure myself she is out there
In the great beyond, having a brilliant day
Free of pain and suffering

Yes, the hummingbird is still here
Thankfully, sparkling in the sunlight
Through the branches
A tribute to the best of friends

3-12-25 Kimberly Mackowski


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COPING WITH CABIN FEVER

1/19/2025

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When winter gets you down, consider visiting one of Wisconsin's State Parks for a seasonal lift.

The Wisconsin State Park system is 125 years old in 2025. That's reason to celebrate!  Get yourself a yearly park pass for your vehicle, and make plans to enjoy our state parks, state forests, recreation areas, and state trails all year long.

If you're feeling a bit of cabin fever this winter, there are some great events coming up in the parks and nature preserves that can combat that seasonal restlessness. Check out this list, and take some time to visit the events calendar to find even more opportunities to get out and enjoy our natural spaces.

HORICON MARSH WINTER BUS TOURS
Winter Birds Bus Tour - Horicon

​​Saturday, February 1: 3pm - 5pm
Join DNR Staff and the Horicon Marsh Bird Club for a guided bus tour, and the chance to spot some of Wisconsin's amazing winter bird visitors.  


Where: Horicon Marsh Education Center
Tickets are $15 per person. Limit 30 persons. Tickets must be purchased in advance to reserve a spot.

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.
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Winter bird watching at Horicon Marsh.
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An American Bald Eagle spotted in recent years at Mauthe Lake State Recreation Area.

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. 
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Be sure to visit the events calendar for specific dates and details. State Park Stickers are required.

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.
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A WALK IN THE PARK 2025
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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.
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Some winter scenes from Wehr Nature Center.

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Looking Back On 2024

1/8/2025

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It didn't last long, but we actually had a White Christmas in 2024.

I came down with a long-lasting cold the weekend after Thanksgiving. It hung around for a good three weeks. I had recovered, just enough, to take a walk in the snow on Christmas Day, but family festivities were out for me this year. I usually come down with something after the holidays, so I guess I got a jump on it this time around. Thems the breaks, right?

And now it's January, 2025, and I'm already struggling with the seasonal blues. January, in my experience, is always rough.  So, I'm going to try something different, and take a look back at some of the highlights of 2024, and conjure up some positive vibes.  

JANUARY FREEZE - 2024

​A big snowfall and subzero temps added up to some pretty spectacular beauty in our parks and preserves. 

I bundled up and headed out to two local parks to enjoy and photograph the frosted scene.

Here are a few favorite photos to illustrate some of that winter magic.
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The big freeze at Greenfield Park.
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Kinsey Park draped in snow.
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Snow covered evergreens at Greenfield Park.

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FEBRUARY LOVE

February is a great month to get out for some fresh air and hike a trail. The daylight lasts just a little longer, the holidays are long past, and it's prime time for new perspective.

I combined a little art mold to make snow hearts, and photographed them on shrubs along the trail.

Keep an eye out for hearts naturally occurring in nature, too.

MARCH OF THE CROWS

I picked up a copy of the book The Comfort Of Crows - A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl, and, from the start, was in love.

This heartfelt diary of a year of noticing the wild world just outside her windows inspired me to appreciate even more the beauty of the natural world through mine. So much so, that I'm journaling my own way through the year with her latest release: Leaf, Cloud, Crow - A Weekly Backyard Journal If you're looking for a good read to get through the winter, to point you toward spring, pick up The Comfort Of Crows. 
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I keep praising the works of writer Margaret Renkl.

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APRIL SUN

A solar eclipse was big news in April. I journeyed to Yerkes Observatory, in Williams Bay, to witness this monumental event with about 300 others gathered on the buildings south lawn.

​They also hosted an open house that day, with displays pertaining to the eclipse, and a tour with a view of the historic, Great Refractor telescope. They host other events and tours throughout the year. Check them out.

A-MAY-ZING!

A first for many Wisconsinites - the northern lights made an appearance in our night sky, and were viewed all the way down to Southeastern Wisconsin. I actually got photos of them with my phone, from my West Allis backyard. What a thrill!  And the possibility of more of these events will continue for the next year or so.
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Aurora borealis viewed and photographed through my smartphone from my West Allis backyard.

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17-Year Brood XIII cicadas rose to the surface in Lake Geneva in June, 2024.
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JUNE-BUG JUBILEE

​In June the cicadas came to town! The 17-year Brood XIII arrived in the Lake Geneva area and caused quite a stir. Even a festival sprung up around the event. We didn't get to the festival, but we did drive down to Lake Geneva, and to Big Foot Beach State Park, one Saturday afternoon to witness this miracle of nature.

We heard them first! The wild buzz in the air as we got towards town was everywhere. We watched them climbing over tree branches and tall grasses, calling to each other, part of the mating process.

Once they mate the female lays her eggs  and then the adults die off. In another 17 years the new generation will rise and the cycle will repeat. I'm so glad we didn't miss it.
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OBSERVING IN JULY

I was working on adding astronomy observatories to the website listings, so I took a drive to an observatory in Racine County to take a few photos of the campus.

​When I arrived at Modine-Benstead Observatory, I was surprised to see that it was open. Several of the club astronomers were on-site, and they were kind enough to treat me to a personal tour. What a pleasant turn of events.

​They hold open to the public astronomy related events throughout the year. Check out the web profile, and their website for details, and make plans to attend one of their family-friendly events.
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On the trail for the Coexisting With Wildlife guided hike at Forest Exploration Center.
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Celebrating Smokey Bear's 80th birthday at Forest Exploration Center.
AUGUST IN THE FOREST

I attended two great public events at Forest Exploration Center in summer. The first, a guided nature hike, with the theme of Coexisting With Wildlife. And the other, an 80th birthday celebration of Smokey Bear.

Both were fun, educational, and the attendees truly enjoyed them. I certainly did, too. Forest Exploration Center hosts a wide variety of nature-themed events throughout the year, a majority of them free.

Whether you enjoy hiking, wildflowers, bird watching, mushroom identification, the beauty of trees, or wildlife viewing, keep the FEC on your radar throughout the year.

Their 1-mile hiking loop is all-accessible to wheelchairs, strollers, and walkers. 

Dogs are permitted on the trail, on-leash only.

SEPTEMBER HARVEST

I worked from spring, through summer, and into early fall, on growing our backyard garden. Always a learning process, there were some successes, some misses, and some things that just didn't get done. But the beauty of the blooms was worth the effort. The birds, the bees, the butterflies, and other pollinators would agree, too, I think. I even managed to harvest some seeds to share, and to sow this coming spring.

If gardening intimidates you, try it anyway. Begin  small. A patio pot with pollinator friendly flowers is a good start. If I can do it, so can you. :)
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R-OCTOBER RULES

October has always been one of my favorite months. Colorful, cozy, spooky, crisp and cool. I had a busy October this past year. Several highlights come to mind, including a weekend trip to Marinette County, in search of fall color.  There was plenty!  

My first ever visit to Old World Wisconsin's Halloween Legends & Lore event. There was just the right amount of fun and spooky. Good eats, great storytelling, and walking the trails in the dark. 

I hosted my first-ever Forest Photo Walk Scavenger Hunt in partnership with the FEC (Forest Exploration Center). We had a great group of nature and photography enthusiasts show up, and had a great time exploring the forest, and coming up with unique ways to photograph it.  I'm looking forward to hosting another of these soon.

And, to top things off, another northern lights event showed up in early October. This time we drove out to Paradise Springs in the Kettle Moraine Forest, and it was spectacular!
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The aurora borealis lit up the sky at Paradise Springs one cold October night.
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Fall color in Marinette County.
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Old World Wisconsin hosts Halloween's Legends & Lore in October.
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A great group of nature and photo enthusiasts at Forest Exploration Center in fall.

WALKING THROUGH NOVEMBER

I made it out for some fall color walks in local parks and preserves throughout November. It's always fun to feed the photography nerd in me. And such a great way to document some fall color in Southeastern Wisconsin.

These photos were taken at Greenfield Park, and Forest Exploration Center.
Autumn is always beautiful  in  Southeastern Wisconsin.

​SHARING DECEMBER

I was sick with a nasty cold most of December, but I was able to enjoy crafting some holiday ornaments, and packaging harvested flower seeds to share.

​It was a fun project, and I'm glad I was able to get it done despite being under the weather. 

Next year I hope to have even more harvested seeds to share with my friends in gardening.
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OTHER NOTABLES

TheParkNextDoor celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2024. To commemorate it, I started publishing a quarterly magazine based on blogs and features of the website, and more.  So far, first issues for Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter have been issued. As well as a special best of the blog compilation. They can all be found on the website, under The Magazine tab. These publications are all free to read online. And they can be downloaded to your tablet or computer as well.

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Through The Eyes Of A First-Grader

11/1/2024

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Autumn through the trees at Forest Exploration Center - photo by Karson Mackowski, Age 6

I'm in nature with my camera at least a few times a week. Sometimes even more. But the first time I went on a thematic photo walk was with my 4-year-old nephew, Karson, a couple summers back.

We were spending a sunny afternoon together and looking for something creative to do. So we sat down and came up with a photo idea list, then headed out for a walk with our cameras, through our neighborhood and backyard. We had a great time seeking out photos based on the list of prompts we created.

​So, I was thrilled to have  6-year-old Karson and his mom join the group for an afternoon of nature photography at Forest Exploration Center. 

​A few days after the event, I decided to interview him and get his thoughts on the photo walk.
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Karson, on our first photo walk together two years ago.

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Karson Mackowski, Age 6, First Grade, Brookfield, WI
Q: Was this your first visit to Forest Exploration Center?
A:  Yes.

Q: Did you enjoy the photo walk?
A:  Yes. I actually loved it!

Q:  Would you do it again?
A:   Yes!

Q:  Do you prefer to take photos with your camera or a phone?
​A:  With my camera.

Q:  Can you tell me a bit about what you liked? 
​
A:  I liked the spider web. I still have the leaves that we found. I liked the art we saw.  I liked making a heart with leaves.

Q:  Do you have a favorite season?

A:  I like summer and fall. I like to go outside. I like summer for going swimming.

Q:  Would you go for a photo walk in winter?

A:   I actually don't like snow. So, no.
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Acorn art spotted on the trail, and photographed by Karson Mackowski.

We talked a bit about other things he enjoyed on the walk - sharing photos with the other photographers, learning about the fungus that grows on fallen trees, sitting on a tree stump that looks kind of like a chair. He enjoyed the StoryWalk, which is an ongoing, and changing feature at the FEC along the Community Spur trail.

Partway through the walk, the batteries ran out on his camera (we've all been there). So, he switched to using his mom's phone camera.  He took it in stride, and got some amazing photos.  He also shared a couple photo tips:

1)  Set the phone on the ground, facing straight ahead, for a low to the ground style photo.
​2)  Lay your phone flat on the ground, facing up, beneath a tall tree, to get a cool photo of a tree against the sky.

​Finally, here's a gallery of some of Karson's photos from the walk.  Enjoy!


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CONNECTING THROUGH NATURE

10/30/2024

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An autumn photo walk at Forest Exploration Center. Photo by Karson Mackowski, Age 6, Brookfield

On an unseasonably warm, sunny, autumn afternoon, a group of 15 nature enthusiasts met up at the Forest Exploration Center (FEC) in Wauwatosa. Our goal was to get out our cameras and join together in a fall themed forest photo walk scavenger hunt. 

This was my first time hosting a group photo walk and I was a little nervous. As it turns out, I didn't need to be.  The group was a mix of young and old, all with a keen interest in enjoying the outdoors.  Most had been to the FEC before and were familiar with it. So, after a brief introduction, we headed out on the all-accessible trail loop.
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Getting in close to photograph a mini spider web.
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Fall forest photo walk in progress at Forest Exploration Center in Wauwatosa.

If you're not familiar with an organized photo walk, it's pretty straight forward. Based on the location, and subjects at hand, a list of photo prompts is created to inspire participants in looking for photo opportunities. You can take the prompts quite literally, or interpret them in your own way, taking a photo from your own perspective.

Some folks went down the list, checking off each one as they went. Others referred to it loosely. There are no hard-set rules (unless you want it that way). 

I thoroughly enjoyed watching as this group of strangers started sharing photo ideas. Pointing out when they spotted something from the list. Taking turns composing their own shots. No competition. Just sharing the photo opportunities, and learning more about the forest. What's that leaf? What's that tree? Do you see that spider web? Someone spotted artful acorns nestled in the bark of a tree along the path. Art and nature intersecting at nearly every turn.
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The photo prompts we used for inspiration on this walk.

One person collected a selection of leaves to make a collage. Another pointed out some mushrooms growing from an old tree stump. We walked the Story Walk trail, and enjoyed the Smokey Bear story displayed along the way. Someone took a seat on one of the tree stumps that resembled a rustic chair. Another pointed out the way the light was coming in through the trees. We collected different colored leaves and took photos of them held in our hands.  
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A handful of autumn color.

I'd call this first photo walk a success. I want to thank the FEC for partnering with me on this event, and everyone who joined us. I hope everyone enjoyed it.  I certainly did. If you've never done a photo walk, I'd encourage you to get out on the trail and enjoy a photo walk of your own, with family, or friends. It's a great mix of art and nature. And a peaceful way enjoy an afternoon in the forest. ~ Kimberly

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A great group of nature enthusiasts on a forest photo walk scavenger hunt at Forest Exploration Center.

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A Celebration IN Autumn

10/6/2024

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So much beauty to be admired at Goodman County Park/Strong Falls in Marinette County.

I can only go so long without immersing myself in nature, exploring a new park in earnest. Not just a quick trip to something tried and true (those do keep me sane), but a whirlwind of locations. So, when my husband recently asked me what I wanted to do for my birthday I told him I wanted to run away.

We haven't been able to get out on nature hikes like we used to. We used to go out together at least a couple weekends a month, and I would go on my own other days. But the past year has been full of other responsibilities, so...I requested a solo weekend trip the weekend of my birthday. And since my birthday is in autumn, I wanted to go somewhere I haven't been, and where the colors were changing. 
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Getting out to explore some new nature spots and snap some autumn photos makes me happy.

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Deep red leaves along the boardwalk trail at Heckrodt Wetland Reserve.
I did a quick bit of research and decided on Marinette County. According to the Fall Color Report there would be a fair amount of color on my birthday weekend. So, Friday I loaded up my gear and headed north. I managed to check out Heckrodt Wetland Reserve in Menasha on the way up. The reserve has a beautiful, all-accessible boardwalk, and the leaves were turning bright reds and golds. I even saw a few deer along the way.

Today I embarked on a driving tour of Marinette County that featured waterfalls, scenic overlooks, and plenty of turning leaves. It was a long day of driving and wandering, but it was worth it.

All of it was beautiful. The weather, the changing colors, the waterfalls. So far, I've taken close to 800 photos, and I have a few spots to visit tomorrow on my way back home. My husband predicted I would take about 800 photos. Guess he knows my shutterbug habits.
So, I will be celebrating my birthday by snapping pictures of parks, autumn leaves, and whatever catches my eye.

​I'm grateful for this opportunity to get out and explore without a curfew of sorts. I wouldn't call it relaxing, but it is peaceful, colorful, and a pretty sweet birthday gift. I wonder if there will be birthday cake waiting when I get back home? 
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A view of the river from the shore at Menomonee River Park in Marinette County.
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Leaning Into Autumn

9/9/2024

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A late-summer double-click cosmos blooming in the garden.

I started out strong this spring. Revamping and adding gardens to our backyard in an effort to remove old invasive plants, and add bird and pollinator friendly annuals and native species. We've had some success, and some failures, as these things go.

​My expertise in gardening is extremely limited, but I try. We've had lots of blooming going on, so I'm going to call it a success.

​​That said, there was a lot more I would like to have accomplished, and would have loved more time to actually just relax and enjoy the growing habitat. ​
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It's a work in progress, but it's coming along.
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A sampling of some things that bloomed in the garden this summer.

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A handsome male ruby-throated hummingbird was a regular visitor over the summer months.

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Pollinator-friendly annuals in a crate.
But here we are, one week into September, and I'm ready to call it. I still have some late summer plantings about to bloom, and I'll be happy to see them pop. I'm looking forward to putting together some fall bouquets.  And to harvesting some seeds to share, and plant next year.

A mini-garden in an old crate was a fun planter project. Shown here at the height of blooming. It's since faded a bit...

Typically, come late February, I'm getting anxious to start the garden process. Scrolling through online seed catalogs, and reading articles on raised bed gardens and more.  But by September, my enthusiasm starts to wane. I'm not sure I'd have the energy and gusto to garden in a warmer zone with a longer growing season. 

​Besides, I really enjoy the autumn, and I want to get out and enjoy the changing colors, and the sounds of fallen leaves crunching beneath my feet. And the smell, aah, the smell. I love the fragrance of lilacs blooming in spring, but the scent of autumn, to me, is an earthy, ubiquitous, slightly chilled delight to the senses.

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Call me enchanted when the leaves turn to autumn hues of orange, red, and gold. I spotted these at Ridge Run Park in West Bend last fall.
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Native black-eyed susan blooms from mid-summer into fall, and the seed heads make great bird food for resident and migrating birds.

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An early bit of autumn color along the Muskego Boardwalk Nature Trail.

I can't speak for everyone, of course, but I think those of us who live in Wisconsin, and in the Midwest in general, have an affinity for changing seasons. We may have our favorites, but we are acclimated to the seasonal changes, and something internal just leans into it. Expects it.

It can be fun to visit a warmer climate in January, but it won't feel like home. I still grouse and grumble at the sub-zero temps and snow shoveling of winter, but I would miss it if it didn't at least show itself. 

​But for now, I'm looking forward to the falling leaves, autumn hues, rainy spells, and all the cozy treats that come with it. Wisconsin is a beautiful state 24/7, but fall lends it a golden, picture-perfect hue worth savoring.

​Lucky for us. 🍂
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Gold is the dominant hue on an autumn stroll through Forest Exploration Center in Wauwatosa.
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    A nature lover, bird watcher, wildlife fan,  amateur  photographer,   humane gardener,   traveler, and singer of songs. I've been keeping closer to home these days, and truly discovering the beauty that lies in TheParkNextDoor.

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    • A Walk On The Beach
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    • Exploring Door County
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  • Let's Explore
    • Nature Trails >
      • 116th Street - Oak Leaf Trail - West Allis, WI
      • Bald Bluff Nature Trail - Palmyra, WI
      • Belle Reynolds Nature Trail - Oakfield, WI
      • Black River Trails - Sheboygan, WI
      • Eagle Nature Trail - Eagle, WI
      • Emma Carlin Trail - Palmyra, WI
      • Glacial Drumlin State Trail - Lake Mills, WI
      • Ice Age Visitor Center Nature Trail - Campbellsport, WI
      • Kettle Moraine Low Prairie Natural Area - Eagle, WI
      • W. Kinnickinnic River Parkway - Milwaukee, WI
      • Kohl Park Hiking Trail - Milwaukee, WI
      • Paradise Springs Nature Trail - Eagle, WI
      • Rice Lake Nature Trail - Whitewater, WI
      • Scuppernong Springs Nature Trail - Eagle, WI
      • Seminary Woods - St. Francis, WI
      • Stony Ridge Nature Trail - Eagle, WI
      • Stute Springs Nature Trail - Eagle, WI
      • Washington Avenue Nature Trail - Sheboygan, WI
      • White River State Trail - Elkhorn to Dover, WI
      • Wisconsin Veteran's Memorial Riverwalk - Delafield, WI
    • Local Parks >
      • Akakawaa Park - Waukesha, WI
      • Alt Bauer Park - Germantown, WI
      • Anclam Park - Baileys Harbor, WI
      • Astico County Park - Columbus, WI
      • Asylum Point Park & Lighthouse - Oshkosh, WI
      • Aurelian Springs Village Park - Palmyra, WI
      • Beckman Mill County Park - Beloit, WI
      • Big Hill Park - Beloit, WI
      • Biwer Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Bluhm Farm Park - Muskego, WI
      • Brown Deer Park - Brown Deer, WI
      • Calhoun Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Carlin-Weld Park - Palmyra, WI
      • Dorothy Carnes Park - Fort Atkinson, WI
      • Carver-Roehl County Park - Clinton, WI
      • Case Eagle Park - Burlington, WI
      • Cave Point County Park - Sturgeon Bay, WI
      • Cherney Maribel Caves County Park - Maribel, WI
      • Cliffside Park - Caledonia, WI
      • Copernicus Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Creekwood Park - Greenfield, WI
      • Cudahy Woods - Cudahy, WI
      • Dave's Falls County Park - Amberg, WI
      • Denoon Park - Muskego, WI
      • Dousman Stagecoach Inn Museum - Brookfield, WI
      • Downtown Waupaca Parks - Waupaca, WI
      • Doyne Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Ellison Bay Bluff County Park - Ellison Bay, WI
      • Elm Grove Village Park - Elm Grove, WI
      • Endicott Park - Brookfield, WI
      • Estabrook Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Euclid Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Falk Park - Oak Creek, WI
      • Firefighters Memorial Bluff - West Bend, WI
      • Frame Park - Waukesha, WI
      • Franklin Woods - Franklin, WI
      • Froemming Park - Franklin, WI
      • Frontier Park - Butler, WI
      • George K. Pinney County Park - Sturgeon Bay, WI -
      • Glacier Hills County Park - Hubertus, WI
      • Goodman County Park, Strong Falls - Athelstane, WI Falls -
      • Grant Park - South Milwaukee
      • Greenfield Park - West Allis
      • Grobschmidt Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Hales Corners Park, Ben Hunt Prairie and Cabin, Seneca Hale Summer Kitchen, Cobb Park - Hales Corners, WI
      • Harnischfeger Park - Ixonia, WI
      • Hart Park - Wauwatosa, WI
      • Hartbrook Park - Hartland, WI
      • Hartung Park - Wauwatosa, WI
      • Hidden Lake Park - Brookfield, WI
      • High Grove Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Hika Bay Park - Cleveland, WI
      • Hobbs Woods Nature Area - Fond Du Lac, WI
      • Homestead Hollow County Park - Germantown, WI
      • Honey Creek Park - West Allis, WI
      • Hoyt Park - Wauwatosa, WI
      • Humboldt Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Idle Isle Park - Muskego, WI
      • Indian Mounds County Park - Lake Koshkonong Effigy Mounds and Trail - Fort Atkinson, WI
      • Indianhead Park - Mukwonago, WI
      • Jackson Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Jacobus Park - Wauwatosa, WI
      • Johnstone Park - Oak Creek, WI
      • Kelly Lake Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Kiekhaefer Park - Fond du Lac, WI
      • Kinsey Park - Brookfield, WI
      • Kocziuszko Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • H.C. Koepp Village Park - Pewaukee, WI
      • Konkel Park - Greenfield, WI
      • Korth Park - Lake Mills, WI
      • Krueger Park - Brookfield, WI
      • Kurth Park - Muskego, WI
      • Alan Kulwicki Park - Greenfield, WI
      • Ledge County Park - Horicon, WI
      • Lime Kiln Park - Grafton, WI
      • Lime Kiln Park - Menomonee Falls, WI
      • Lincoln Park - Glendale, WI
      • Lions Legend Park I & II - Franklin, WI
      • Lion's Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Lisbon Community Park - Hartland, WI
      • Lyons Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Magnolia Bluff County Park - Evansville, WI
      • Malone Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Manchester Hill Park - Muskego, WI
      • Mangan Woods - Greendale, WI
      • Mary Knoll Park - Brookfield, WI
      • McCarty Park - West Allis, WI
      • Menominee River Park - Wausaukee, WI
      • Mitchell Park - Brookfield, WI
      • Monarch Trail / County Grounds Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Moorewood Park - Waukesha, WI
      • Moorland Park - Muskego, WI
      • Mound Zion Park - Brookfield, WI
      • John Muir Memorial County Park - Town of Buffalo, WI
      • Mukwonago Park - Mukwonago, WI
      • Mush Ko Se Day Park - Fort Atkinson, WI
      • Muskego Boardwalk Nature Trail - Muskego, WI
      • Muskego Park - Muskego, WI
      • Nashotah Park - Nashotah, WI
      • Natureland County Park - Whitewater, WI
      • New Berlin Historical Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Nitschke Mounds County Park - Burnett, WI
      • Nixon Park - Hartland, WI
      • North Point Park - Sheboygan, WI
      • Oerding Park - Oconomowoc, WI
      • Petrifying Springs Park - Kenosha, WI
      • Picnic Point Park - Oshkosh, WI
      • Pleasant Valley Parks & Trails - Town of Cedarburg, WI
      • Pondview Park - Greenfield, WI
      • Prairie Springs Park - Pleasant Prairie, WI
      • ProHealth Care Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Pulaski Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Quaas Creek Park - West Bend, WI
      • Regner Park - West Bend, WI
      • Richfield Historical Park - Richfield, WI
      • Ridge Run Park - West Bend, WI
      • Rivers Edge Park - Menomonee Falls, WI
      • Riverside Park - Watertown, WI
      • Riverside Park - West Bend, WI
      • Rock River Heritage County Park - Janesville, WI
      • Rolling Meadows Park - Brookfield, WI
      • Rotary Park - Menomonee Falls, WI
      • Sandy Knoll County Park - Town of Trenton, WI
      • Saveland Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Schoen Laufen Park - Germantown, WI
      • Schoetz Park - Village of Hales Corners, WI
      • Schoolhouse Beach - Washington Island, WI
      • Scout Lake Park - Greendale, WI
      • Sheboygan Indian Mound Park - Sheboygan, WI
      • Simmons Woods Park - Pewaukee, WI
      • South Shore Park - Bayview, WI
      • Spassland Park - Germantown, WI
      • Springs Park - Delavan, WI
      • Sunset Beach County Park - Sturgeon Bay, WI
      • Swan Park - Beaver Dam, WI
      • Three Bridges Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Thunder Mountain Overlook Park - Crivitz, WI
      • Turtle Creek Parkway / Tiffany Bridge - Clinton, WI
      • Tyranena Park - Lake Mills, WI
      • Valley View Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Veterans Memorial Park - Grafton, WI
      • Viking County Park - Stoughton, WI
      • Virmond Park - Mequon, WI
      • Warnimont Park - Cudahy, WI
      • Washington Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Weatherstone Park - New Berlin, WI
      • Wequiock Falls Park - Green Bay, WI
      • Weston Antique Apple Orchard & Isabelle Weston Memorial Trail - New Berlin, WI
      • White River County Park - Walworth County
      • Whitnall Park - Franklin, WI
      • Wilson Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Wind Point Lighthouse - Racine, WI
      • Ken Windl Park - Franklin, WI
      • Wirth Park - Brookfield, WI
      • Xenobia Springs Park - Palmyra, WI
    • Nature Preserves >
      • Adam Birding Conservancy - Whitewater, WI
      • Badertscher Preserve - Muskego, WI
      • Joyce M. Baer & George J. Socha Conservancy - Marshall, WI
      • Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary - Green Bay, WI
      • Beulah Bluff Preserve - East Troy, WI
      • Beulah Bog - East Troy, WI
      • Blue Heron Wildlife Sanctuary - Saukville, WI
      • Bratt Woods - Grafton, WI
      • Burlington School Forest - Burlington, WI
      • Calhoun Creek Prairie - New Berlin, WI
      • Cedarburg Bog - Saukville, WI
      • Chiwaukee Prairie - Kenosha, WI
      • Conservancy For Healing And Heritage - Franklin, WI
      • Robert O Cook Arboretum - Janesville, WI
      • Crooked Creek Nature Preserve - East Troy, WI
      • Crossroads At Big Creek - Sturgeon Bay
      • Deer Creek Sanctuary - New Berlin, WI
      • Delavan Memorial Arboretum - Delavan, WI
      • Donges Bay Gorge - Mequon, WI
      • Emerald Preserve - Oak Creek, WI
      • Engel Conservation Area - Muskego, WI
      • Faville Grove Sanctuary - Lake Mills, WI
      • Fellenz Woods - West Bend, WI
      • Flowing Well - Whitewater, WI
      • Forest Beach Migratory Preserve - Port Washington, WI
      • Forest Exploration Center - Wauwatosa, WI
      • Fox River Sanctuary - Waukesha, WI
      • John S. Garman Nature Preserve - Waterloo, WI
      • Garrison's Glen - Mequon, WI
      • Genesee Oak Opening and Fen - Mukwonago, North Prairie WI
      • Gordon Tabor Memorial Woods - Caledonia, WI
      • Gottfried Prairie and Arboretum - Fond du Lac, WI
      • Grasslyn Nature Preserve - Mequon, WI
      • Greenway Arboretum - Fond du Lac, WI
      • Grootemaat Nature Preserve - Greendale, WI
      • Hartland Marsh Preserve - Village of Hartland, WI
      • Hawthorn Glen - Milwaukee, WI
      • Hawthorn Hollow Nature Sanctuary and Arboretum - Kenosha, WI
      • Heckrodt Wetland Reserve - Menasha, WI
      • Hermansen Woods - Lake Geneva, WI
      • Highland Woods - Mequon, WI
      • Hildebrand Nature Conservancy - Village of Fontana-On-Geneva Lake, WI
      • Horicon Marsh State Wildlife Area - Horicon, WI
      • Huiras Lake Natural Area - Fredonia, WI
      • Kishwauketoe Nature Conservancy - Williams Bay, WI
      • Kurtz Woods State Natural Area - Grafton, WI
      • Lac Lawrann Conservancy - West Bend, WI
      • Lakeshore Nature Preserve - Madison, WI
      • Ledge View Nature Center - Chilton, WI
      • Lion's Den Nature Preserve - Grafton, WI
      • Lois Jensen Nature Preserve - Delafield, WI
      • Lulu Lake Nature Preserve - East Troy, WI
      • John Margis Jr. Wildlife Area - Burlington, WI
      • Maywood Environmental Park - Sheboygan, WI
      • Jean McGraw Memorial Nature Preserve - Kenosha, WI
      • Mequon Nature Preserve - Mequon, WI
      • Mill House Native Plant Preserve - Village of Fontana, WI-
      • Moely Prairie - Prairie Du Sac, WI
      • Nature Hill Nature Center - Oconomowoc, WI
      • Ned Hollister Wetlands Conservancy - Delavan, WI
      • Newell and Ann Meyer Nature Preserve - Eagle, WI
      • Nicholson Wildlife Refuge - Franksville, WI
      • Oakfield Ledge State Natural Area - Oakfield, WI
      • Oconomowoc River Conservancy Park - Merton, WI
      • Parry Spring - Dousman, WI
      • Pavcek Preserve - Hartford, WI
      • Petersen Island Woods Preserve - Elkhorn, WI
      • Pheasant Branch Creek Conservancy - Middleton, WI
      • Pickerel Lake Fen Preserve - East Troy, WI
      • Pope Farm Conservancy - Verona, WI
      • Price Park Conservancy - Elkhorn, WI
      • Pukaite Woods Nature Preserve / Mequon Rotary Park - Mequon, WI
      • Retzer Nature Center - Waukesha, WI
      • The Ridges Sanctuary - Baileys Harbor, WI
      • River Bend Nature Center - Racine, WI
      • Riveredge Nature Center - Saukville, WI
      • Helen Rohner Children's Fishing Park - Williams Bay, WI-
      • Saller Woods - Rochester, WI
      • Sanctuary Woods - Wauwatosa, WI
      • Sauk Creek Nature Preserve - Port Washington, WI
      • Schlitz Audubon Nature Center - Milwaukee, WI
      • Schmeekle Reserve - Stevens Point, WI
      • Seno Woodland Center - Burlington, WI
      • Spirit Lake Nature Preserve - Mequon, WI
      • Spruce Lake Bog - Campbellsport, WI
      • Joan Stevens Woods - Greenfield, WI
      • Stigler Nature Preserve - New Berlin, WI
      • Trinity Creek Wetland Habitat - Mequon, WI
      • UW-Waukesha Field Station - Oconomowoc, WI
      • Van der Brohe Arboretum - Two Rivers, WI
      • Vernon Marsh Wildlife Area - Mukwonago, WI
      • Vernon Wildlife Area - Waterford, WI
      • Wadewitz Nature Camp - Village of Rochester, WI
      • Wehmhoff Woodland Preserve - Burlington, WI
      • Wehr Nature Center - Franklin, WI
      • Whitnall School Forest - Greenfield, WI
      • Woodland Dunes Nature Center & Preserve - Two Rivers, WI
      • Zeloski Marsh - Cambridge, WI
    • State Parks >
      • Aztalan State Park - Aztalan, WI
      • Baxter's Hollow State Natural Area - Sauk City, WI
      • Big Foot Beach State Park - Lake Geneva, WI
      • Bong State Recreation Area - Kansasville, WI
      • C. D. Besadny Fish and Wildlife Area - Kewaunee, WI
      • Cadiz Springs State Recreation Area - New Glarus, WI
      • Copper Culture State Park - Oconto, WI
      • Devil's Lake State Park - Baraboo, WI
      • Harrington Beach State Park - Belgium, WI
      • Hartman Creek State Park - Waupaca, WI
      • Havenwoods State Forest - Milwaukee, WI
      • High Cliff State Park - Sherwood, WI
      • Kohler-Andrae State Park - Sheboygan, WI
      • La Budde State Natural Area - Ice Age Trail Segment - Plymouth, WI
      • Lake Kegonsa State Park - Stoughton, WI
      • Lakeshore State Park - Milwaukee, WI
      • Lapham Peak State Park - Delafield, WI
      • Lizard Mound State Park - Farmington, WI
      • Mauthe Lake State Recreation Area - Campbellsport, WI
      • Mukwonago River Unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest - Mukwonago, WI
      • Natural Bridge State Park - North Freedom, WI
      • Newport State Park - Ellison Bay, WI
      • Peninsula State Park - Fish Creek, WI
      • Pike Lake State Park - Hartford, WI
      • Point Beach State Forest - Two Rivers, WI
      • Potawatomi State Park - Sturgeon Bay, WI
    • Sculpture Gardens, Conservancies & Observatories >
      • Bobrowitz Sculpture Garden - Colgate, WI
      • Boerner Botanical Gardens - Hales Corners, WI
      • Nick Engelbert's Grandview - Hollandale, WI
      • Franconia Sculpture Park - Shafer, MN
      • The Garden Door - Sturgeon Bay, WI
      • Greendale Children's Garden - Greendale, WI
      • Harmony Arboretum & Gardens - Peshtigo, WI
      • Labyrinth Garden Earth Sculpture - West Bend, WI
      • Margie's Garden - Hales Corners, WI
      • Mitchell Park Horticultural Conservancy - Milwaukee, WI
      • Modine-Benstead Observatory - Union Grove, WI
      • New Life Lavender & Cherry Farm - Baraboo, WI
      • Olbrich Botanical Gardens - Madison, WI
      • M. Schettl Sales - Sculpture and Oddities
      • Rotary Botanical Gardens - Janesville, WI
      • Sisson's Peony Garden - Rosendale, WI
      • Stavkirke - Washington Island, WI
      • Stevens Point Sculpture Park - Stevens Point, WI
      • James Tellen Woodland Sculpture Garden - Town of Wilson, WI
      • West Of The Lake Gardens - Manitowoc, WI
      • Yerkes Observatory - Williams Bay, WI
    • Cemeteries >
      • Calvary Cemetery - Milwaukee, WI
      • Forest Home Cemetery - Milwaukee, WI
      • Highland Memorial Park Cemetery - New Berlin, WI
      • La Belle Cemetery - Oconomowoc, WI
      • Mount Olivet Cemetery - Milwaukee, WI
      • New Berlin Center Cemetery - New Berlin, WI
      • Oak Hill Cemetery - Lake Geneva, WI
      • Riverside Cemetery - Oshkosh, WI
      • St. Adalbert Cemetery - Milwaukee, WI
  • Gardening for Wildlife
    • The Eco-Friendly Lawn
    • Welcome to the Firefly Show
    • Birdbaths in the Habitat
  • Detours, Links & More