nature photography

Duke Energy takes a huge Mulberry tree from our yard

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Over the years our local electric utility has twice in the past stopped and announced they were going to remove a very large Mulberry tree from our yard. It’s growth was a hazard to multiple powerlines. Finally third time is the charm, as Duke Energy worked the past two days to remove this massive tree.

Large trunks flaring out from the base heading in all directions

Bucket truck reached in from overhead

First day started using a bucket truck for higher branches. This tree cluster had five large trunks that grew out from a center area. The crew had two men on large chain saws supported by six or seven ground workers moving the branches and waste up the steep bank to a road that runs on top of the flood control levee.

Hauling branches to the chipper

Lots of wood for hauling off the levee road

Lots of stump left to cut up

The large trunks were carefully felled to the ground. Once downed, the saw operators cut the branches for removal to the road above for processing in the chipper machine. It took great effort for the crew to haul all the branches and trunk wood to the road on top of the levee.

Lots of space opened up!

The finished product. Seems like we just gained 1/4 acre!

 

 

The common garter snake is a friend in your backyard

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We had a surprise today as we were enjoying our backyard swing. Our son had just moved a tarp from the mat that our swing sits on. There exposed was a snake, the first one we have ever seen in our 12 years living in this property. We’re glad to see this guy in our yard.

Surprise, I was hiding under that tarp

This retile is a common garter snake. (Thamnophis sirtalis) It is fine to have around, it is perfectly harmless to humans. They are carnivorous and thrive  on small live prey like insects, earthworms, slugs, snails and small fish, among other backyard pests.

Portrait of our new found backyard resident

Garter snakes are diurnal, meaning they are primarily active during daylight hours. In the summer heat they come out early morning and late evening. Spring and fall are the seasons when they like coming out during mid day. You may see them sunbathing during the day.

Hummingbirds in our backyard

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Captured one feeding with the phone

This is one of five hummingbird feeders that we have installed in our backyard. We put these out the first week of April. No hummingbirds showed up until the first week of May and we were glad because we  were thinking we might not see any this year. On a podcast we saw a report suggested these feeders for $1.50 at Dollar Tree.

Glad to report that as we enjoy sitting in our yard swing hummingbirds come to all five of our feeders. This is backyard birding at its best.

 

Our sequence of the snow

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We made it through the snowstorm without any calamities. Central Indiana had tons of snow but avoided any freezing rain or sleet.

5 PM on Friday the 23 rd: Calm before the storm

Noon on Saturday: some flakes are starting to fall

4PM Saturday Snow beginning to really come do0wn

5 PM Saturday afternoon, Starting to accumulate.

7 PM Saturday, starting to add up quickly

1 AM Sunday the 25th, Cold snowy night!

7:30 AM Sunday Morning, still snowing fast and furious

11:30 Sunday morning.

Sunday 2 PM, Snow fall continuous, very fine small flakes


4 PM Snow rate slowing down, the end is in sight

The snow finally stopped, now we are looking forward to 7 days without any snow, but with single digit and sub-zero temperatures. The snow is over for now, but winter is still affecting Indiana.

Baker Park in New Castle Indiana

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Baker Park in New Castle, Indiana started with 10 acres. Shortly thereafter a 40 acre grove of land  was acquired.  This beautiful plot was the  last remaining natural woodlands within the city limits. Another 30 acres was given to the city by the Chrysler Corporation.

The Main Entrance to Baker Park

Park 50 Year Dedication

Mayors love their names on Plaques

 

 

 

 

 

The formal dedication of Baker Park was held on June 20, 1937 and was named in honor of Sidney E. Baker, mayor of New Castle for twelve years.  Mayor Baker is now recognized as the driving force behind the development of the park.

Large Skate Park

Lovely wooded park land

 

 

 

 

 

Current facilities at the park provide recreation opportunities for all residents and visitors to the Baker Park. Large and small shelters, restrooms and a stage is available. The swimming pool, kid’s fun park and Frisbee Golf add to the activities. There are also skate parks and horse shoe pits.

Ancient Hopewell village has remains next to New Castle Indiana High School

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This was once one of the busiest communities in what is now east central Indiana. What has been named the Chrysler Enclosure is the remains of what was once a large Native American community.

Informational plaque at the site

New Castle HS in background

 

 

 

 

 

Video below is a panoramic view of the remains of the moat.

What remains visible is a portion of a moat that circled part of a ceremonial mound. This structure was designed as an astronomic feature that yearly lined perfectly with the Winter Solstice.

Indiana Audubon Society’s Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary

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We had been out picking up some items we had bought at an online auction last Saturday. Sher had already checked for “Things to do in Connersville” and an interesting bird watching place popped up. So after we picked up the items from the auction we had a 25 minute drive through farmland. The auction was north of town, and the birding place was south. It seemed like our destination was truly out in the middle of nowhere.

Easy to spot entrance

The Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary is located south of Connersville in Fayette County, Indiana.  Alice Green Gray gave the initial 264 acre property to the Indiana Audubon Society in 1943 as a living memorial to her daughter Mary, who preceded her in death. Another Gray relative and Society members have made possible the acquisition of more property so that the Sanctuary now has 723 acres.

The road into the sanctuary grounds is a fairly long drive which immediately puts you in the middle of a semi dense woods. It truly allows you to prepare for atonement with Nature.

It was extremely hot that day. In fact an official weather service Heat Advisory was in effect. It became apparent as soon as we got out of the car that it was going to be a very unpleasant day to successfully do any birdwatching. In addition to the heat, a plethora of insects was present and quite annoying buzzing around.

Bench seating at the amphitheater

We will definitely return when the conditions are much more conducive to for a comfortable and safe bird watching adventure. There are many features within this sanctuary. There is a bird watching blind where you can observe the many stocked feeders and not be seen. Ponds and native trees provide a perfect chance to immerse yourself in communing with Earth. Click here for the MGBS website.

A portion of the Quinault National Recreation Trail System

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Part of the Olympic National Forest includes some interesting hiking trails designated the Quinault National Recreation Trail System. We turned off of Highway 101 and hit the South Shore Drive near Lake Quinault. We came across this information sign and decided to stop.

Easy walking on the gravel trail

The look of a Pacific Northwest rain forest

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New growth on top of a very old stump

Ferns and other ground cover

Delicately curled fern leaves

 

 

 

 

 

 

The forest on the portion of the trail we walked was tagged a rain forest and had some amazing vegetation. The trail itself was an easy to traverse with a firm gravel base. We spent a good hour on this section of the trail appreciating the thick dense foliage including massive trees and delicate leaves.  “Nature at its awesome best” is a perfect description of this Forest.