After lingering with the seagulls at Bishop Park, it was time to move on to the next leg of my journey, so I continued, on foot, along Biddle Avenue, enroute to BASF Waterfront Park, one mile away.
Along this main street in the heart of the City of Wyandotte, there were still lots of beautiful flowers, just eleven days before calendar Fall would begin. Every Summer, most of the shops add curb appeal to their respective businesses with barrels, planters or hanging baskets brimming with blooms.
But these proprietors cannot compete with the gorgeous hanging baskets and cement planters maintained by the City of Wyandotte, like the above “pretty in pink” baskets and planters dripping in blossoms, still looking good, even after our wicked-hot Summer. I’ve often seen water tank trucks, with City workers keeping the plants hydrated, but I wonder who is in charge of deadheading those plants?
Here’s a couple of close-ups, a riot of color from these perky Petunias.
I smiled at this sign at Joe’s Hamburgers, an eatery featuring sliders – certainly a Summertime vibe. 🙂
BASF Waterfront Park.
There was really not much to see here in this picturesque park along the Detroit River, once a heavy industrial site. Just like at Bishop Park, I was the only person meandering about.
It’s a great place to catch a glimpse of the new Gordie Howe International Bridge (along with a nice puff of pollution nearby). The bridge cables are silver and it was still a bit misty in the distance.
If Canada geese are your “thing” this is a fun spot to visit in Spring to watch the geese and their goslings. There are always geese grazing or strutting around this park.
In the Summer you can watch the Wyandotte Boat Club rowers practicing for, or participating in, the annual Summertime regattas. There was no practice today as the rowers were either back in school or working.
I noticed this new sign (since my last visit). It was near the Boat Club and Memorial Garden, honoring a Wyandotte Police Department (“WPD”) officer, family man and dog lover. I looked up his obituary notice and he was a police officer for 25 years, a member of the Wyandotte Boat Club and active in raising funds for Special Olympics.
I walked over to the shoreline. To the right, a Ring-billed Gull perched on the boulders …
… and to the left, this gull was gazing out to sea … er, the Detroit River.
This was a sight I’d never seen before, seagulls on the Boat Club’s rowing launch area. They were taking advantage of the off-season’s lack of activity and gathered there, along with a Double-crested Cormorant.
But what was everyone looking at? I couldn’t figure out what held their interest.
Then, the Cormorant, undaunted by the fact that it was the only one of its species at that launch area, proceeded to flap/dry its wings. The gulls were unfazed.
From my vantage point, the Cormorant might have been the band leader for band participants who were not paying attention.
Photo op pickin’s were slim at this venue, so I pondered whether I should go to Elizabeth Park, just five miles down the road, when, on a whim I decided to cross busy Biddle Avenue to visit the City’s collection of “carved critters”. I’d often driven past them, but never taken a closer look, so now seemed like the perfect time.
Pelicans and eagles and bears – oh my!
The way I see it, if you don’t cross paths with the “real deal” White Pelicans, Bald Eagles and Brown Bears, you should improvise, right?
These carved wooden animal and bird statues are situated in the heart of Downtown. Some were purchased by the Downtown Development Authority and some were created by a chainsaw artist named Lonnie Glines (Timber Art) who is featured at Wyandotte’s Fire and Flannel Fest every September. He comes to work his magic on tree trunks, transforming them into identifiable creatures. He also performs at various festivals throughout the Summer. Below are a Canada Goose, a Red Fox, a Bald Eagle, a Great Blue Heron, a Turtle and some Fish (which Google tells me are Northern Pike).
And nearby, I found the Three Bears (but no Goldilocks).
One of the bears unfortunately had a crack or two, which I wondered about – was this weather related? I had to do some artful photography as I found a few gnaw marks, likely some squirrels up to their usual mischief.
It was here at City Hall square where the planter filled with purple Verbena had a bee buzzing about where I got my first photo of a bee in flight, the photos which were on a recent Wordless Wednesday post.
There were more carved creatures near the City’s iconic totem pole, like this Pelican … yes, I hope one day to find White Pelicans which do migrate through Southeast Michigan. It’s just a matter of pinning down those Pelicans.
But I needed to look no further for now, as here was a White Pelican.
Chances of seeing a Bull Moose up close and personal may never happen, so here was the next best thing.
The Gray Wolf let out a silent howl.
And there was even an Osprey, looking mean and apparently sans a fish dinner.
After perusing and photographing all the carved critters, along with the totem pole (those photos to be shared in a future post), I decided to call it a day.
Terri’s Monthly Color Challenge is Jade Green, Peridot. I may just have 50 shades of green in this post, but, if not, I will link this post to The Flower Hour on Tuesday. Since Terri is on vacation, blogger Susanne at Cats and Trails and Garden Tales is hosting this week.
Linda Schaub
WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY 
There was no Goldi loks because they ate her…..that’s why there are cracks!
That Moose is defending Canada!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Yes Wayne, there was a collective burp after they finished off Goldilocks. 🙂 I just heard on the news today that the moose population in Michigan is dwindling and they don’t know why. I’ve heard moose calling when we rented a cottage in Northern Michigan back in the late 60s, but never saw one.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Apart from the birds and the sculptures, I love the masses of petunias.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anne, as a person who enjoys gardening and flowers, that does not surprise me. 🙂 I really like the vibrant pink color and they were still gorgeous considering we had such a brutally hot Summer here.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those carvings are amazing. Those cracks in the bears are interesting. Too bad they aren’t in a carved owl – then they would be wise cracks. 😁
LikeLiked by 2 people
I thought they were amazing carvings too JP. In fact, I Googled around to see if the same carving artist did the huge tree trunk at Point Mouillee DNR Headquarters that I wrote about last year but they still aren’t giving info on the artist. I love that … wise cracks. 🙂 Be sure to have your thinking cap on for Wednesday morning for my “caption this photo” as I’m sure you’ll have a good quip!
LikeLiked by 1 person
HA!
LikeLiked by 2 people
The cormorant and ring-bills commentary was fun, Linda! I very much loved the wood carvings, I’d love to have many of them in my yard. 😁 I have a 7′ tall wood carving of an eagle in my living room, we bought it in Montana when traveling the mid-west few years ago. I need to share that one day soon, it is gorgeous and a definite conversation piece in my home! Of course, we all know why it’s a bird carving. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad to give you a smile Donna! I found it amusing that the cormorant and gulls were all looking the same way – what did they find so interesting? I saw nothing at all. Then the gulls kind of just flopped down every which way while the cormorant was drying his wings (something that always reminds me of a Dracula character opening his cape). 🙂 It does not surprise me about the wood eagle carving in your living room – you are the ultimate appreciator and photographer of birds! Yes, share it a post, next to a real eagle maybe. It would be fun. I remember Terri writing about a carved eagle and I think she was painting it – maybe it was a totem pole? I was going to include the totem pole, but decide not to stray from birds, blooms and carvings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Carvings are beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I thought so too – how do they do such intricate details with a chain saw? A pen knife maybe, but a chainsaw?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely to see all the beautiful flowers and the summery sign! I’m so tired of the bleak winter landscapes here and can’t wait for spring. The cormorant as bandleader was a fun narrative! 😃 Big John died much too young, but that’s a wonderful memorial to him. May he R.I.P. 🌹 Love the wooden animals, especially the tortoise. 🐢
LikeLiked by 1 person
Debbie, I agree with you – yes, the bleak landscape has gone on way too long and although we had a few warmish days lately, today we are 40 degrees colder than yesterday and there are zero signs of Spring yet. The cormorant really reminded me of a bandleader waving his arms to lead the band. 🙂 After everyone looking the same way, the gulls all flopped down after the cormorant raised its wings. The obituary for Big John was very nice and I was reading the comments, all heartfelt and some people mentioned him being a dog walker. This memorial stood out because it wasn’t with the other memorials in the memorial garden, but near the Boat Club and they are usually all black, with nothing on them. I did think you would like that remembrance of him. I enjoyed the wooden animals too – all very realistic!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those carvings are wonderful! What a great idea. We had the same enormous hanging baskets of pinks at our waterfront park last year too, and I’ve always wondered who deadheaded them – I know my petunias never look that gorgeous. That black bird does look like the band leader!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the carvings are wonderful too Joni and they fit right in with the big totem pole that is in the park area with the second set of animal carvings. The City of Wyandotte was settled by the Wyandott tribe of Indians, thus the interest in the totem pole and there are some murals and sculptures as well. I remember your flowers from that post about the waterfront and I think I may have remarked on them. The baskets/planters always look good all Summer – deadheading them would be a full-time job and they never look “leggy” either. The Gulls and Cormorant looked funny to me – like the black bird was the maestro and he was leading them. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your geese photo and the carved critters brought to mind some recently arrived neighbors across the river from us. Definitely city folk, but this ain’t the city! Their new landscaping is lit up 24/7, marring our dark skies. Now, they’ve put a gaggle of fake Canada geese down near the river. They are two dimensional and appear to be one-sided, facing the river. So bizarre! I can’t decide if they’re trying to attract real geese, or repel them (probably the latter—we have plenty of geese around here).
LikeLiked by 1 person
Eilene, that is a shame with the bright lights on the landscaping if you or any other folks are night sky enthusiasts, especially for how often we’ve seen the Northern Lights lately. I follow a couple of Michigan bloggers who travel quite a distance for dark skies to shoot Milky Way pics.
I hope their fake geese don’t attract more geese to your area. We have a problem with too many Canada Geese too and you may recall I did a post last year about how the Michigan DNR planned to round up the Canada geese adults and goslings and put them into a portable gas chamber, same to be done at the crack of dawn due to so many protests. The idea was tabled until this Spring because of the protests and Changedotorg petitions. That is inhumane, but they claim if they try to herd them from where they live, they’ll return.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Assuming this was in Michigan? Very nice.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, Monica – it is in SE Michigan. I thought they were very realistic looking too – how does one do this while wielding a chainsaw?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I enjoyed all those photos of carvings, as well as the real critters.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Anne! I can’t imagine how someone can use a chainsaw to make all these details into a tree trunk – it amazes me! The cormorant and gulls looked like a maestro and his ensemble to me. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, the carved critters are wonderful! I’d love to go there to see them for myself. Thanks for sharing your great pics, Linda. 👏
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Pepper – I’m glad you liked the carved critters. They are very unique and I am surprised at the detail done using a chainsaw. I will be writing about the totem pole too in a future post – it was recently restored after bugs were chomping on it, making it unsafe to stand there any longer.
Now is this post considered a hike in your opinion as regards your new Challenge? I did walk about a mile from Bishop Park to BASF Park and back, down the main street, but it was not a woodsy-type hike.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I definitely consider it a hike/walk. It does not have to be woodsy. Please feel free to share it on the challenge. I think it is perfect for that. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Okay thank you Pepper. I wasn’t sure as most of your hikes are of the woodsy variety. I will do that. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for asking, Linda. I will clarify that in the guidelines. 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds good – maybe it was me? You have woodsy hikes at Kensington is why I asked. I still have some long hikes from Lake Erie Metropark I have not rolled out yet. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looking forward to seeing the ones from Lake Erie Metropark. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very pretty pink petunias!!! I do wonder how often they deadhead them to keep them looking so nice, not leggy at all. I love that picture of the lone cormorant with all those gulls – I wonder what they were all looking at so intently. The wooden animal and bird carvings are very well done and so life-like. Nice bee in flight shot!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Barbara, this was a fun, second leg of my outing to Wyandotte that day. Originally, I was just going to include the totem pole and have all carved wooden items in the post, but the seagull and cormorant scenario struck me as funny and it needed an explanation, so I couldn’t just put it in a Wordless Wednesday post. I saw nothing that held those birds’ attention – no boat, freighter, etc., then abruptly they all kind of flopped down on the launch area while the cormorant dried its wings. I was just thinking about those petunias after you said you had hummingbirds when you had petunias, so I wonder if they go to these hanging baskets and planters when it is less congested on the sidewalks like when I went? I’ll have to look this Summer. I’m glad you like my bee – I was proud of it, my first in-flight bee. 🙂 Those carvings were amazing, so life-like and how are they so detailed when one uses a chain saw for goodness sake?!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the carvings! They are all really well done. I like the moose probably because they are my favourite animal. We had another dumping of snow last night, another 11 cms and it’s cold again !! I need spring, your flower pics are making me anxious for the weather to change lol
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought those carvings were so life-like and I can’t imagine how they carved them using a chainsaw! I thought you might like the moose, your favorite animal. 🙂 I wonder if they preserve them somehow as I can’t imagine the elements are kind to them, even the Summer heat. I should have looked when I was downtown in mid-February to see if they wrap them up/take them in? I had to convert the 11 cms … 4 more inches of snow – amazing! You must be part of this system that was in parts of Northern Michigan. Some places got two feet, some places nearly three feet last weekend and they had a blizzard. We got snow this morning, but it was light and blew away, courtesy of the ever-present wind!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some places in Northern Ontario had up to 100 cms and some major highways were shut down again. When will it end?☹️
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s awful – the first day of Spring is Saturday; of course that means nothing anymore.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Miss Linda…………………………thank you for all of the beautiful close up pictures of all the local animals that visit our area……………………….your a good story teller……………………..it’s a good aversion from our very cold day in the middle of March………………………..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Ann Marie! I thought those bright-pink petunias would perk up everyone’s sagging spirits after going from 70 degrees to a windchill below zero in one week’s time. I’m glad you like the stories. You and Steven should stop by and see those animals – they are amazing to see!
LikeLike
I love those carved critters, Linda! And all the pre-autumn greenery. That is one big group of seagulls. The cormorant must have been keeping cool with his winds spread like that. You always have such wonderful places to walk! All those pink petunias must be fun to de-head!! Glad you could double dip this week. I double-dipped into Sunday Stills too! 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those carved critters are very cool Terri and I thought of you because I think you have a mini totem pole you are working on at your house. I remember you had posted about it when I started following you. There is a totem pole here amongst the second group of critters, but I wanted to keep it critters and flowers only for this post. The Cormorant had not been in the water, so yes, keeping cool, while the rest of them flopped down all over the place. 🙂 Five minutes before they were all facing the same way – go figure. I’m wondering who dead-heads those petunias too as they still looked great. I did see you said you double-dipped yourself. Aren’t we clever?
LikeLiked by 1 person
We ARE clever, Linda! I double-dipped into my own challenge hahaha! I would love to find another large carving like the ones you featured. By the way, my eagle/bear totem pole is 6 feet tall! We Still have two more days of 90+ temps here in San Diego. Sunday we leave for Central California to visit Marsha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 You should look and see if there are any festivals featuring chainsaw carvers in your area Terri. I was looking for a website for the gentleman I mentioned, but all I could find was about his various appearances at Summer festivals all over the state. I could picture you standing next to that totem pole in your post and I believe Wayne commented on it – likely on the bears and the eagles. Hopefully it is cooler when you hook up with Marsha. I heard them mentioning the heat again on the news this morning, contrasting the West Coast and East Coast weather mayhem. The final tally for snowfall in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula was today – the “winner” got 52 inches of snow last weekend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good idea to check our local county and maybe Northern Idaho for the chainsaw carvings, Linda! And wow, that was a lot of snow reported!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, look for an event something like what ours is called “The Fire and Flannel Festival” where they have bonfires and axe-throwing contests, etc. I’ve not gone to one, but I’ve seen the pictures. Donna Wadsley, our mutual blogging friend, said she has a 7-foot tall carving of an eagle in her living room she got in Montana while traveling a few years ago. The pictures from Northern Michigan are just incredible!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fire and Flannel, how apropos 🤣
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kind of “Here Come the Brides-ish” … you’re a little young for that show unless you watched reruns. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh I’m old enough to remember the series with Bobby Sherman! My vibe! 😁 🤠
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! “The bluest sky you’ve ever seen, in Seattle. And the hills the greenest green, in Seattle”. Perfect – Seattle needs a Flannel and Fire Fest! I had a big crush on Bobby Sherman when that series aired. I wished I could be Candy Pruitt. 🙂 When Bobby Sherman died last year, they played a lot of clips from the TV show and it brought back memories!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Some cool memories, wow, I remember the tune too. Weird that I now live 5 hours away from Seattle!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wasn’t sure how far you lived from Seattle, but that’s why I mentioned it. 🙂 It’s too bad you can’t put a bug in someone’s ear in Seattle to have a Fire and Flannel Fest and chainsaw woodcarvers. A perfect venue!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There is probably something similar in our county or over in Idaho.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you can find one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you can find one!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The first few carved animals are great. I have no talent for that sort of thing. And those flower balls in the first few photos are ambitious! They remind me of similar creations in the Waldorf Astoria (NYC) and Broadmoor Hotel (Colorado Springs) lobbies. Looks like Wyandotte would be a nice place to visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree Dave – the first group of carved animals are placed at the entrance to City Hall, so they are showcased nicely. The rest are nearby though. It must take great precision to do the carvings with a chainsaw – maybe they refine the details another way? The flowers on the main City street are always beautiful. They have many outdoor events here, including a big art fair every July. I just saw on social media that they are ripping up all the sidewalks to make a better experience for foot traffic in Downtown Wyandotte, but I am sure they will be done before all the festivals and outdoor dining begins.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful petunias and wonderful wooden carvings. There is so much talent in each carving. It takes a special mind to make these out of a block of wood and a chain saw and create a thing of beauty. I’m glad you share these.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Rebecca! I can’t imagine how these artists get all the details here in these carvings using a chainsaw, but I like their work too. Those petunias are absolutely gorgeous. The City has a lot of Summertime festivals, plus a street art fair and some restaurants that have outdoor dining, so the beautiful landscaping is a good reason to visit Downtown Wyandotte.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a fun walk, especially with all the charming critters, beautifully crafted!
LikeLiked by 1 person
There was something for everyone on this walk Susanne and I was even able to double-dip for Terri’s Flower Hour as well. The chainsaw artists do amazing work – these charming critters were very lifelike!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just love that Cormorant! I have never seen one except when you post it. I cracked up about him being the band leader. It’s no wonder you took up walking. Your area has the most paved or wood trails I have ever seen not to mention so much wildlife! Our walking trail goes from one town to another, and so on, with the paved walkway being the side of the road. We have one marsh that everyone goes to because it has a blacktopped path. However, you walk to the end, turn around and walk back. It’s at most a mile long. The carvings must have took forever to do!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Diane, I do feel lucky to live around so many parks and boardwalk areas where you can walk along the Detroit River and enjoy the view and not have to be out on a woodsy trail if you don’t want to be. The cormorants are not only funny looking (in my opinion anyway, due to their long, hooked bill and small head, big wide feet) but then they dry their wings by sticking them out sideways and with their black plumage they remind me of a Dracula opening his cape.
I don’t know what was going on here because the seagulls and the cormorant were all looking the same way one minute and the next time I looked at them, the cormorant was drying its wings and most of them had flopped down on the landing. It was like the cormorant had his arms raised directing them, like a maestro!
I really liked the carvings too. I pass them whenever I drive through Downtown Wyandotte and decided it would be fun to check them out and photograph them. I also did the totem pole as it has some history and they just refurbished it since bugs got inside and it was not structurally safe anymore, so they fixed it inside and out and put it back up after being in a building being renovated for about a year I think it was.
LikeLike
A wonderful collection of wood carvings. So unique.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought so too Sandra … they were well done and it seems inconceivable to me that they were done using a chain saw!
LikeLike