The Perfect Weekend

As I watch a gentle rain shower out the window, I'm reflecting on a great weekend spent outside. Not one, not two but three opportunities to witness autumn in all it's splendor.  

We tried out a new trail today.  It ran alongside Astotin Lake at Elk Island National Park; passing through wetland areas and mixed forest.

The morning started off with some rain showers that intensified the colors and the smells.  The yellows were especially vibrant.  Photographs do not do justice to the scenes along the way.

We parked in the main lot, hiking a paved path along the lake until it ended at the actual trailhead for the Lakeview Trail.

There were still a good number of waterfowl on the lake and in the small ponds.  We could hear geese honking overhead.  Muskrats created v-shaped ripples in the water as they swam.  When the ripples disappeared, the water was as smooth as glass.  The beautiful fall colors reflected off the surface.

As we hiked, the smell of ripe cranberries filled the air.  Every now and again, we glimpsed clumps of red amidst the yellow.  If it was not a cranberry bush, it was a colorful rose bush with its bright red rosehips.





 



One section of the forest had numerous decaying logs.  Each was covered with a soft blanket of moss that varied in texture and color.  Brightly colored orange lichen added contrast to the bright green. 

We could hear bluejays calling in the trees and smaller birds in the underbrush.  I heard something skitter through the dead leaves.  When I glanced over, a little brown mouse stared back at me.  It's partner was not as daring; taking off down the bank on the left side of the trail.

As we came back to the paved part of the trail that bordered the lake, we found a number of benches on a viewpoint.  It was a great spot to sit a spell, have some snacks and take in the beauty.  Ducks were swimming and dunking for food in the water just in front of us.  In the distance a red canoe was spotted along the shore of the island.  To the south of us, some hardy picnickers were set up close to the dock. 

 
On the way out of the park we stopped at the Bison Loop.  A herd of Wood Bison were gathered in the field.  They put on quite a show for the onlookers.  Young calves were feeding on their mothers.  Bulls were creating dust clouds as they rolled in the dry dirt.  Yearlings made their way onto the road, creating a traffic jam until they decided to move into the field on the other side.

Today's outing was a great way to end the weekend.  The weather was superb and the sights spectacular.  This quote says it all.  I could not have said it better.

"I cannot endure to waste anything as precious as autumn sunshine by staying in the house. So I spend almost all the daylight hours in the open air."

Nathaniel Hawthorne

A Walk in the Wild

The weather was perfect for a walk in the park.  We began at Elk Island National Park on the Beaver Pond Trail.  Colored leaves showered down from the treetops as the wind rustled the branches.  It is getting easier to see through the trees as the underbrush is almost bare. 

Now that the leaves are dropping, you can notice what has been growing underneath them.  Decaying logs are covered in brightly colored lichens.  Some of them have a variety of fungi growing out of the wood. 


 


I found a log that was covered in fungi that had grown around  a blade of grass.  I wonder how long that took.

Another log had fungi growing from the end of it.  Moss was beginning to cover it.

Every now and again I came across some bright red cranberries and rose hips.  The birds will probably take care of them over the next few days.

There was time to visit Elk Island Park and the Strathcona Wilderness Center today.  The geese have left the pond at the SWC, leaving the beaver and muskrats in peace.

We saw a young bull moose that was photo shy and an owl that got spooked as we walked over the crunchy leaf carpet.

The amber light from the setting sun made the leaf colors appear more brilliant.  The bugs are gone and the temperature was perfect for a hike in the woods.

Time flies when the cameras are in tow.  The trail that should have taken 45 minutes to hike, took more than 2 hours.  There is just so much to take in before the colors of fall are covered in Old Man Winter's white blanket.

Make some time to explore.  Bundle up and get some fresh air.  If you don't have trails close to where you live, visit a local park or walk in your neighborhood.  Take in the autumn colors.  The leaves and berries are beautiful.  Listen for the autumn sounds.  You may hear the geese flying overhead or the blue jays squawking as they hide their winter stores.  There's nothing like a walk on the wild side in the crisp autumn air!  It has that magical ability to clear the mind and rejuvenate the soul.

 

Simple Pleasures

I was awake at 3:30am this morning.  As I waited for the smell of the fresh brewed coffee to awaken my sense of smell, I glanced out the kitchen window.  The sky was cloudless and filled with twinkling stars.  The sight was breathtaking.

I live in a dark sky preserve area.  There are no streetlamps and residents within the area are encouraged to make wise choices in the types of lighting used on the exterior of their homes.  With the lack of artificial light, the sky is darker and the stars are brighter; as are the lunar eclipses!

I took my coffee out to the deck.  Good thing it was dark.  The neighbors couldn't see the crazy lady outside in her jammies and housecoat, staring at the heavens; wondering if there was life out there.  Added to the beauty was the crisp, fresh morning air.  What a way to start the day!

While I was out there, a couple of foxes were calling to each other.  The cows on the farm behind my house were mooing and a dog barked in the distance.  There was no human noise at that hour.

I've heard the foxes a few times now and have hoped that they would make their way into my yard.  A few years ago, I had one visit regularly.  It provided some great entertainment as did a number of skunks that took up residence under my cottage.

I enjoyed watching the skunk antics when the cats would torment them but I could have done without the final, very smelly result.  At one point in time, I had to contact the local agriculture department for a trap.  Seven skunks later, my yard was perfume free.  

I've had an animal menagerie in my yard over the years.  Foxes, skunks, porcupines, moose, deer, garter snakes, tiger salamanders and frogs.  In addition to the animals, there have been a variety of birds that have frequented my feeders.  Blue jays, pileated, downy and hoary woodpeckers, magpies, starlings, nuthatches, chickadees, finches, grosbeaks, and hummingbirds to name a few.

Who needs a television when there is so much natural entertainment to take in.  I lead a simple life; taking in the beauty around me.  I observe the simplicity of a mature dandelion flower; each little seed waiting to catch a breeze to be transported to a perfect spot to sprout.  I pay attention to the sound of the rustling grasses in the wind and the pattern of flight that the butterflies create as they visit each flower.  I marvel at the way the raindrops cling to the strawberry leaves and reflect the bright morning sunshine on a summer day.  Nothing compares to the feeling one has when a hummingbird hovers right in front of your face or when a chickadee lands on your hand to feed on some sunflower seeds.

There is so much to see, to hear, to feel, to explore.  Take a moment to notice and truly experience the little things.  Simplify.  You might like it.



 

'Real' Camping

My tenting outings over the last few years have been limited to the backyard. This summer I had opportunity to get out the tent and head to Fish Lake; not once but twice! 

Blue sky and sunshine prevailed on both trips.  The lake was like glass; so calm that you could see the fish swimming.

I hiked the trail alongside the lake.  It loops up into the trees through a moss covered forest floor.  The hike is different each time you go as there are a variety of wildflowers that bloom at different times throughout the season.  Indian paintbrush, prairie lilies, wild roses, wild asters and liatris are only a few of the many flowers that grow in that area.  I stopped numerous times to take in the beauty of the flowers.  This caused me to lose my glasses somewhere in the forest undergrowth.  Good thing the second pair was in the glove compartment.

Each time I visit the Nordegg area, I make a return visit to Landslide Lake.  A controlled burn took place there years ago and the area is in the process of rejuvenation.  The burnt bark is now peeling to reveal pure white trunks.  The contrast is breathtaking.  

Young aspens are growing, creating an underbrush for the birds to hide in and the moose to forage in.

The area is sacred ground for the nearby aboriginals.  They fasten prayer flags to the trees during their spiritual ceremonies.  I was fascinated by the neatness of the knots on one particular tree.

I took my fishing rod along on both occasions.  The fish did not bite but the time spent at the water's edge was relaxing.  I have visited Fish Lake since the late 1980s and during my visit in August, it was the first time that I was asked for my fishing license by a conservation officer!  I guess there is a first time for everything.

I was part of the minority in the campground; a tenter.  Most sites had large trailers or motorhomes parked on them.  Satellite dishes, televisions, showers, dishwashers and all the other comforts of home could be found in those recreation vehicles.  What kind of camping is that?  

I did have to laugh as one poor fellow tried backing his big unit into the site across from me.  He must have been new at the process.  Forward.  Backward.  Forward.  Backward.  He had a really hard time trying to get that trailer parked.  As he shut the motor of the truck off, I heard his teenaged daughters, "Dad, this site has no power.  We can't park here."  Good old dad had just spent thirty minutes trying to park as darkness fell and his daughters couldn't stay in that spot because there was no power.

I love 'real' camping.  There's nothing like the smell of a campfire and cooking over it.  There's nothing like hearing the coyotes howl and the loons call as you lay awake in the tent.  There's nothing like breathing in the crisp mountain air as you stick your head outside the tent in the morning.

When I put the gear away for the year, I packed it so I can grab and go next year when camping season rolls around again.  I can't wait.


 



 

Colors of Fall

The blooms of summer have matured and gone to seed.  They now provide a variety of textures amidst the brilliant pallet of color that the leaves are providing. 

The first frosts of the season have turned the green leaves to reds, yellows, oranges and browns that decorate the forest trails.  It is a sight to behold.  The sunshine streams through the treetops, illuminating Mother Nature's colorful display.  

The first flakes of snow fell this morning, signalling the onset of even cooler temperatures.  The trees will soon be releasing those colorful leaves.  They will create a carpet on the trails; a place for the birds to hide their winter food stores and an insulating layer for the insects that have buried into the soil.

Now is the time to get outside to enjoy the colors of fall. There is a feeling of peace to be found on the trails at this time of year.  The temperature is crisp and refreshing.  An autumn walk is in order to clear the mind before that colorful carpet is covered with a carpet of white.

"The time of the falling leaves has come again. Once more in our morning walk we tread upon carpets of gold and crimson, of brown and bronze, woven by the winds or the rains out of these delicate textures while we slept.  How beautifully the leaves grow old! How full of light and color are their last days! There are exceptions, of course. The leaves of most of the fruit-trees fade and wither and fall ingloriously. They bequeath their heritage of color to their fruit. Upon it they lavish the hues which other trees lavish upon their leaves...But in October what a feast to the eye our woods and groves present! The whole body of the air seems enriched by their calm, slow radiance. They are giving back the light they have been absorbing from the sun all summer."
      ~John Burroughs, "The Falling Leaves," Under the Maples

 

 

 

Hurray for Fall!

Summer is over and I'm back; on the trails and on the web.  The heat of summer and I don't get along.  I love fall and winter.  I tend to hibernate through July, August and September until the temperature cools and the mosquitoes disappear.  Don't get me wrong, I don't spend 100% of my time inside but I do spend the hottest part of the day in the house.

I managed to go camping a couple of times.  It's been a few years ago that I actually got to pull out the tent and do some 'real' camping.  The weather was great and the time away was peaceful and relaxing.

I got my front yard landscaping completed.  The nature-scaping  encouraged a number of creatures to come and live in the yard.  The largest garter snake that I have ever seen took up residence in a crack that developed in the soil bank alongside my house.  It brought friends.  I've lived in this location for 11 years and have never seen garter snakes in my yard.  This year I saw at least 6 of them, varying in size.

In addition to the snakes, the tiger salamanders and frogs checked out the front yard.  They liked hiding under the large grasses that I planted.  With all the rain that fell this summer, the growing conditions were perfect for the newly planted shrubs and grasses.  Most tripled in size providing some shady, moist locations for these creatures.

 I did go out to the trails a few times.  During fall/winter I aim for 3 to 4 times a week.  I think that was the total for the whole summer this year.  The mosquitoes were abundant and didn't care if I had repellant on.  If I missed a spot the size of a pin head, they found it.  It does not make for a pleasant hike when I'm fighting off the bugs so they don't go up my nose when I breathe in.

My goal was to hit the trails on a regular basis again on October 1st; rain or shine.  I started at the Strathcona Wilderness Center and ended at Elk Island National Park.  What a fantastic morning.  The wind rustled through the tree tops creating a shower of colorful leaves that danced across the hiking trails.  

At the SWC, the blue jays were busy hiding stores of food in the cracks of the tree bark or underneath the carpet of fallen leaves.  An owl swooped overhead from a colorful old poplar.  The squirrels nattered and the grouse were putting on a regal display. 

When I left the SWC, a large bull moose crossed the road in front of me.  It's hunting season and it was headed into a safe area where hunting is not allowed.


Elk Island Park did not disappoint either.  The bison were out, grazing on the last of the green grass along the roadside.  The colors were amazing; yellows, oranges, reds.  I intended to try a new trail today.  The Shoreline Trail runs alongside Astotin Lake.  I didn't get to hike the entire trail.  There was a roadblock.  A very large male bison approached from the opposite direction.  I tried waiting it out, hoping that he would turn around but he wasn't moving so that meant it was me that had to turn around. 

I'm looking forward to my regular outings again.  My nose will be pressed against the window as I watch and wait for the first snowflakes to fall.  Until that happens, I will enjoy the sounds and smells when I head out to explore.  Autumn means that life slows down.  The air becomes crisp and the sunrises brilliant. The wood box is full for those chilly days when the stove will be lit.  It feels so good to be back outside!

 





 

Landscape Progress

All the flooding in southern Alberta has had me distracted; such devastation in such a short period of time.  I was complaining about the rain here at home.  The amount that fell cannot be compared to what fell in the mountains and foothills.

It was the number of days that it rained here that has been creating a challenge for me to get my front yard completed.  There has only been 3 days out of 24 that it has not rained during the month of June and it usually rained only enough to make the clay soil wet so it would stick to the tire on my wheelbarrow.

I did manage to work on some of the yard today after another load of dirt got delivered.  There are now 3 new flower beds complete with perennials.

The rock garden that I created and planted last fall is growing in nicely.  The butterflies have been busy visiting the Coral Bells that are blooming.

The ferns in the side yard have doubled in size.  Their lime green color shows up brightly against the cedar mulch that is layered on the bed.  I added some pink, white and blue forget-me-nots and some primulas on that side of the house as well.  

I saved the broken pieces of concrete that bordered the flowerbeds around the old house.  They are now being used for new beds in the backyard where I've planted some annuals. 

The raised garden beds that I filled and planted are growing nicely.  One contains a pea patch and another some strawberry plants.  The third one has some cucumber plants and the fourth is waiting for some lettuce seeds.




While I was working in the yard today, the birds were busy at the feeders.  The robins were busy defending a nest that a magpie was trying to get at.  The blue jays and a magpie were fighting over the peanuts in the tray feeder.  A red winged blackbird flew back and forth from the treetops to the sunflower seed feeder.  Butterflies were busy at all the blossoms that are open.

It was a great day to be working in the yard.  Things are finally coming together.  I'm hoping that by the time summer ends, the backyard will be complete so that next summer I'll be able to sit on the back deck and enjoy.                                                       
                                                                                                                                      

Celebrate Summer

The yard was still too wet to work in it so I spent some time at Elk Island National Park this morning.  On the way to Beaver Pond Trail, a coyote crossed the highway.  It found something tasty in the ditch so was distracted when I drove by.

There was not much for traffic on the parkway so I thought I would have the trail to myself but when I pulled into the parking lot, there were a couple of other vehicles.  As I was getting set to head out, a gentleman was coming in.  He gave me advance warning to put the insect repellent on or I would be one big mosquito bite by the time I was done walking.

I hadn't visited this trail for quite awhile.  It has grown in so much that there is only a narrow path to walk on down the center.  Everything is so green!  The underbrush is thick making it impossible to see beyond the edge of the trail.  

I could hear the songbirds in the treetops but even if I would have had my binoculars, I would not have been able to see them.  I could hear the waterfowl and the shorebirds in the beaver pond but again, could not see them because of the thick brush.

Even though there has been a lot of rain, the trail was not that muddy.  I managed to make it around the loop with hiking boots rather than rubber boots.  The mosquitoes were swarming around me.  I had to cinch up the bottom of my sleeves because they were finding their way up my arm.

There were many butterflies, big and small, flitting from wildflower to wildflower.  The wild  roses were in full bloom; adding some pink to the greenery.  In addition to them, the vetch, bunchberries, violets, and blue-eyed grass were showing their colors.  Bumblebees buzzed from blossom to blossom.
 
The morning started off sunny.  I was grateful when it clouded over.  When the sun was out, it was so hot and humid on the trail.  Heat and I are not friends and I couldn't take my jacket off due to the bugs.  I was roasting like a Thanksgiving turkey.

The yard dried up enough during the day so that I could spread the rest of the mulch in the front yard.  I'm ready for a cup of coffee and some relaxing time to look through my new photography magazine that came in today's mail.  

I'm at a stand still with my yard until some more black dirt gets delivered so I think I'll have to come up with a fun way to celebrate the beginning of summer.  Road trip!

 

Mother Nature's Fury

Water is standing in my yard once again and the sump pump has kicked in a couple of times but I will not complain today.  After seeing the devastating flood waters through southern Alberta, the puddles are not even a drop in the bucket compared to what is going on there.

Videos of the Canmore and Bragg Creek flooding on You Tube show homes being swept away in the water and others hanging on the edge of creek banks.  How helpless the homeowners must feel as they watch their possessions being washed away.  

The biggest problem I have is the water overflowing in my rain gutters because the willow tree fluff has clogged the downspout. 

News reports are saying that the creeks/rivers won't peak until around midnight. I'm hoping that in the meanwhile, residents are able to take shelter and stay safe while Mother Nature shows her fury.

 

My Reality Entertainment

I drove by the Strathcona Wilderness Center and noticed that the goose babies were on a walk about.  There have been six to eight goslings in years past.  This year there are only two.

They did not stray far from their parents.  When I stopped to watch, they all headed for the water but soon came back on shore to nibble
that tasty green grass.

They were very entertaining.  It appeared that they were trying to imitate their adults.  When the adult moved forward, they moved forward.  When the adult nibbled, they nibbled.  When the adult bent that long neck down, the little ones tried bending their necks down as well.

I'm hoping to see some of the deer and moose babies out and about soon.  There's nothing like watching mother in nature in action.  That's reality entertainment at its best.