Exploring Itasca State Park

•July 18, 2011 • 2 Comments

One of the last days of June (luckily before July 1st when it was closed as part of the state shut-down), my friend and I spent a lovely day exploring the sights of Itasca State Park. In the morning we hiked the Dr. Robert’s Trail. This is  a 2 mile trail that wouldn’t have taken most people all morning, but we lollygagged-taking photos of flowers, bugs, leaves, mushrooms, dragon flies, a toad, etc. After a delicious lunch at the park’s Douglas Lodge, we checked out preacher’s grove, an impressive stand of old pines that puts one in a meditative state by just being there. Then it was on to the Mississippi Headwaters to watch a steady line of people trying to walk across the Mississippi on the rocks (didn’t see anybody fall in this time.) We ended the day by taking the Wilderness Drive, which winds past a 2000 acre wilderness sanctuary. Check out my favorite nature discoveries of the day below. Also check out my friend’s video of our adventures together this summer, including the day at Itasca State Park. Find the link under LynnColorado Videos in the side column. I have also added links to a few other select blogs  as well as a new feature area, My Favorite Gardens.

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Damselflies:What’s Happening Here?!?

•June 27, 2011 • Leave a Comment

These guys showed up in my camera lens when I was out kayaking early one morning on Long Lake (one of the many) in an area I call the Back Bay. They were perched on a limb emerging from an underwater log. So what’s happening here? Are they trying to resuscitate their buddy? Are they eating one of their own? What’s the deal with the green wing on the one?  My field guide (Damselflies of the North Woods-see reference list) indicates that damselflies start out as larvae and burst forth from their larval exoskeleton “in one grand moment of emancipation”. Could the “body” stretched out on the log be an exoskeleton? I really have no idea. If there’s someone out there with some knowledge on this, please share. I am really curious.

Two damselflies appear to be eating a third damselfly.

Are these damselflies eating one of their own?

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Fish Hawk Trail at Lake Bemidji State Park

•June 22, 2011 • 3 Comments

It’s Saturday (June 18th) afternoon, the rain has stopped, and it’s time to get out of the house. While I’ve done the bog walk a number of times already this year at Lake Bemidji State Park, today I decided to check out the Fish Hawk Trail. The Fish Hawk Trail ends in a short boardwalk leading to an overlook of the Sundew Pond. A new area, a couple weeks later in the season, and lo and behold, nature has displayed a whole new array of things to view. I feel so lucky have this park in my neighborhood.

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Carlton Peak Hike on the Northshore

•June 18, 2011 • 1 Comment

The Carlton Peak Trail is located close to Tofte and the Temperance River. We hiked the stretch from a parking area 2.6 miles up the Sawbill Trail to the peak. (You can also hike to the peak from the other direction leaving from the Temperance River State Park.) Lots of spring flowers and a beautiful view of Lake Agnes  were found on the way to the peak. From Carlton Peak you get a panoramic view of Lake Superior.

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All That Are Purple Are Not Violets or Where’s Violet Man?

•June 13, 2011 • 1 Comment

Walking to the mailbox one day, I noticed a carpet of purple along side our driveway. Assuming they were violets, I stopped to pick one, and decided to try find “Violet Man”. Violet man is a vague memory from my childhood. To find violet man, you pull off all the petals except one. When you do so, violet man  is revealed. Well, I pulled off the petals, and no violet man. Below is the flower I had picked and later determined was a ground ivy.

purple wildflower

The next photo shows the violet flower and leaves, actually quite different when you view them separately.

violet flowers and leaves

Now, look at the following photo. See how it gets a bit more confusing when both ground ivy and violets are present among a lot of other assorted greenery.

violet and ground ivy wildflowers

violet with petals removed revealing man reading a bookI did eventually find violet man. He is having a wild hair day, but calmly reading a book.

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“Walkin’ the Bog” at Lake Bemidji State Park

•June 9, 2011 • 2 Comments

Even though the weather was cool (upper 50’s) and misty yesterday morning (compared to the previous day’s high of 87 here and 103 in the Twin Cities), it was a fine day for a bog walk. This time of year the bog is wild flower heaven ( and mosquito haven.) Only two or three weeks have passed since my last walk there, but it was enough time for many new spring flowers to make their appearance, including the moccasin flower (also known as the stemless lady’s slipper). Check out the slide show to see what is in bloom as of June  7, 2011. I identified what I could, but there are a few that are puzzling me. If you know what they are, please leave a comment with the plant # in the slide show and its name. If you are in the Bemidji area, check out the bog walk at the park this weekend. Wherever you are, it’s a great time for a nature discovery walk in the woods.

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