Nature
Indianapolis Southwestway Park offers mountain bike and horse trails
Southwestway Park is a 587-acre park in the southwest part of Indy, outside the I-465 loop on Mann Road. There is a long trail system that includes hiking, mountain biking, running and horseback riding. There are baseball diamonds, soccer fields and other recreational sports available here, along with the Winding River Golf Course.
Yes, horses allowed
Beautiful trails
Trail Head information board with trail maps
Discover White River Rewards Pass is a delightful program that allows you to explore 37 different parks along White River in central Indiana. Southwestway Park is one of 37 Indy parks belonging to the Rewards Pass. The Discover White River Pass offers exclusive real-world rewards like stickers, shirts, and on-water experiences by visiting dozens of parks and attractions.
Baltimore Orioles beautiful to see beautiful to hear
The brightly colored Baltimore Oriole received its name from the resemblance of the male’s colors to those on the coat-of-arms of 17th-century Lord Baltimore.
We saw this Baltimore Orioles in our backyard enjoying nectar
The Baltimore Orioles’ diet is mainly insects, berries, nectar as well as sugar water. In summer it feeds mostly on insects, especially caterpillars. It also eats beetles, grasshoppers, wasps, bugs plus spiders and snails. Orioles also eat berries and sometimes cultivated fruit.
April’s full moon is “The Pink Moon”
April’s full moon namesake in our garden
The Old Farmer’s Almanac calls the April 24th full moon “The Pink Moon”. This name has nothing to do with the color of the moon. It won’t be pink, but instead it will appear as the usual normal bright white moon. The name instead comes from the bloom of the ground phlox, a pink flower common in North America that blooms in mid to late April.
Trails closed by flood waters on central Indiana’s White River
Discover White River Rewards Pass is a delightful program that allows you to explore 37 different parks along White River in central Indiana. We went to 3 of the parks yesterday, following the directions on the sie.
Closed to hikers
Two of the parks were suffering from the current flood stage waters. Town Run Park on 96h Street had open gates to the parking, shelter and trail heads. However, all of trail head gates were closed off to hikers.
Unique playground
Shelter, river in background
Walkway is a bit damp for use
River Heritage Park on the edge of Carmel’s White River is a wonderful park complete with all the latest playground equipment. Several of the concrete walkways were under water due to the flooding of White River.
White River flooding
Similar to the Indy Craft Pass for local breweries, distilleries and wineries, the Discover White River Pass offers exclusive real-world rewards like stickers, shirts, and on-water experiences by visiting dozens of parks and attractions.
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Maple tree helicopters – whirligigs
It’s the time of year for Maple trees to put on their wonderful flying seeds: helicopters, whirligigs or other fun names!
March 28th
It is now two weeks later, April 11th
Soon there will be thousands of whirligigs on the ground, and, yes, filling the gutters and downspouts. Spring is here in Indiana.
Indiana prepares for the total solar eclipse
Central Indiana is fortunate to be directly on the route of the long awaited total solar eclipse. Small town Shelbyville is pulling out all the stops in preparation for this exciting event.
On the town square
Announcing the eclipse
Downtown store front decorations
Statewide excitement about the eclipse
Shelbyville is directly in the perfect viewing path of the eclipse. Hopefully the skies will be clear on April 8th. If not, you will have to wait until 2044 for the next eclipse viewing!
Spring growth on the way
Creeping Phlox
Roses coming
Hosta’s
Seeing new spring growth is always enjoyable…
Fun rest stop on I-5
Maple tree whirligigs
Maple seeds beginning to develop
It won’t be long until there will be hundreds (if not thousands) of those twirling, spinning maple tree seeds flying to Earth. The technical term for this winged seed is samara, but you probably refer to them as helicopters or whirligigs.
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