a.

one step and in the seep

adrift in mud and water

inlets feeding the wet maw

b.

hooves down the mudbank

lone cardinal off and away

fittingly, we finish in a fen

c.

open autumn sky

over lakefen calm

waters running on

ottawa lake fen has two lakes joined by marsh and marl flats. the lakes are remnants of a glacial lake at the edge of end moraine deposits. a wide variety of wildlife—pitcher plants, gentians, snails, clams, shrub-carr, spike rushes, et al.—mostly quiet now though. there are green herons here, though unfortunately they’ve already departed for the year. maybe in the spring. tall and lanky thornbushes spilled down the path out to the lake, which made for exciting and delicate walking.

ridging delicate till

distant rifles echo

root-wad drops new life

clifford messinger dry prairie and savanna preserve is actually thirteen various sites that include prairie and oak opening thru-out the kettle-moraine area. a delightful walk, though a bit of trepidation as deer-hunting season has opened and we hiked to the near-constant sound of gunfire. but i am glad for the support hunters give our wild and natural spaces, don’t get me wrong! gorgeous pines leading into the prairie under autumn skies.

a.

steady whistle blast of train

over the fen, down the moraine

cold wind searches bone

b.

our oaks grow along branching lobes

november biting hands and face

genesee creek smiles under their arms

c.

my boys chirrup

over trail muck

fen-hoppers

genesee oak opening and fen is a fantastic plot of land with interlobate moraine topography and an oak savanna, woods, a fen and disturbed wetland in the eastern portion, and genesee creek lolling thru-out. a very brisk and windy day greeted us, but made the march and climb all the sweeter.

leaves aromatic in the mouth

follow the deer-path where they spread

goldenrod seed afar

renak-polak maple-beech woods is a dry mesic forest with a smaller stand of wet mesic along an intermittent stream. parts have been used and exhibit different stages of re-growth, but much of it is old growth. we followed a maze of deer-paths thru the openings filling with shrubs. we’ll be returning in the spring to see the array of ephemerals that grow here.

thanks to university of wisconsin-parkside for maintaining this patch of woods.