scuppernong springs is a natural area in the south unit of the kettle moraine state forest, a rehabilitated wetland area (mostly marsh) along scuppernong creek-then-river. it was once the site of marl pits and works, a hotel, a trout hatchery, and cranberry bogs, but the wdnr and others have been doing lots of work.

a lovely site to walk thru, the boundary between land and water pretty shaky at times. kids loved it; playing in the stream in the 40s and cloudy with the waterproof boots. my 6yo fell in finally as a soft spring rain began to fall as well; he was fine. 🙂

‘scuppernong’ is reportedly from a ho-chunk word that means ‘sweet-smelling place.’

a.

cool air and crane song

spring water

cuts gravel and sand

b.

below the cattails

slate-blue sand

feeding the river

c.

before the spring-mouth

spring rain starts

scuppernong drifts by