A Walk in the Park

Most days of the week, you will find me, and maybe Courage, taking a walk at the little park near where we live. 

This park is not large, not beautifully landscaped, not any thing particularly special. But it is close and does offer a mile or so of paved walking trail which enables one to get a bit of fresh air, sunshine, and exercise

And if you take the time to look, you can find bits of beauty strewn about in small doses.  

Pic. 1:  A tiny little daisy pushes upwards from the grass and weeds, it's yellow face yearning towards the sun.

Pic 2:  There are many names for the dandelion; including priest's crown, monk's head, telltime, Irish daisy, lion's tooth and blowball. Dandelions actually have a purpose, other than irritating those who want a perfectly groomed lawn. They serve as food for ladybugs, aerates and provides nutrients to soil, and serve as a home remedy as a diuretic and liver stimulant. They are edible and are a good source of Vitamin A and C. A lot of good comes from this lowly, yet beautiful (at times) weed.

Pic # 3. Brush growing near and in the water's edge have a beautiful backdrop of the sky as the sun goes down.     Pic# 4:  The reflection of trees in the creek that feeds the pond gives a double take on the beautiful view.Pic #5:  The mushroom, or  toadstool,  is another plant that plaque lawns and gardens. It is a fungi that grows mostly on soil or on it's food source. The most common in my corner of the world appears to be these white capped ones. But I have seen pictures of beautiful red ones, oranges ones, even blue ones. Mushrooms, like the dandelion, serve as food and has medicinal uses.  

It's amazing what beautiful plants you can find at your local park. I don't know the name of this tree, but it's flowers are breathtaking. They look tropical and put in mind little ballerina tutus. Do you know the name of this tree? Or have any information on it? This is a close up of the flower and the tree grows near a creek.

More Spring Snapshots

The following photos were snapped in early April, 2010, on the trails of Callaway Gardens. 

The Azaleas at Callaway...there is such variety in colors and types. This maroon hued one is beautiful in it's pre-bloom glory! All along the trails we found Azaleas in all stages of bloom...from buds to full out flowers.                                         

 Along one trail we found this interesting spider web. As you can see, the web spreads out around an area, then funnels down into a hole where I imagine a black, hairy, spider lives. I didn't see the spider itself, but I suppose his prey walks all around the web and then decides to go exploring in the tunnel and BAM! He gets eaten!

This tree...it was sleepy. It kept yawning right in my face! What creature finds refuge in it's mouth during the day...only to come crawling out at night to find food???

No, this tree is not bullet ridden...I think this may be a virus in the tree bark, or perhaps an insect or bird has drilled holes while looking for food? Whichever, it doesn't seem to have caused fatal harm to the tree; it is very tall, has a good girth, and appears very sturdy.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

This 'pink' palm-like tree is fascinating in leaf and color. It also has berries which I am sure attract birds to it's branches. I don't know what kind of tree it is, but is seemed a bit like a tree you would see at Christmas time; something festive!!!

This butterfly is so bold and colorful! The wings have black, white, orange, red, and gold in stripes, diamond shapes, dots, waves, and bars. Do the colors camouflage the creature while it sips on flowers? Or indicate to its enemy that it tastes bad? I do not know, but his colors and patterns are so pleasing to the eye!

Inside the underside of a bridge, we found some abandoned dirt-dauber nests. Actually wasps build these little tubular apartments from mud - shaping them with their mouths. Inside the tube they lay an egg and bam!..another wasp is born! Luckily, these type wasps are not too violent and not too active in early May!