WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY

On the cusp of Spring, there were buds and birds!

Posted on April 13, 2025 by Linda Schaub

It was March 13th, the first long and leisurely walk with my camera in 2025.

The day began early as a one-mile walk at Council Point Park, then three hours of traversing the trails at Lake Erie Metropark, finally topped off with a delightful trip to Dingell Park to view and photograph the ice floes and waterfowl. Whew! No wonder I returned home “in the pink”, not just from my enjoyable day, but with a mild sunburn.

This post focuses only on my walk taken at Lake Erie Metropark. Admittedly, it was not the most-scenic trip ever taken here. The now ochre-colored marsh reeds were bending slightly in the wind, most of the trees were still bare – there was not even a hint of color to be found. At least ticks were not a concern … surely our brutal Winter weather had zapped all of them?!

I wondered if I will see a Sandhill Crane “colt” this year?

Last year I aimed to find and photograph the offspring of the pair of Sandhill Cranes here at the park. When one crane was MIA on three visits to this venue, I was positive the Missus was sitting on a nest and I’d view their little darling(s) sometime in the Spring. But that didn’t happen? Perhaps this year?

As I neared their favorite hangout spot, I didn’t see the pair ambling about, but I pulled into the parking lot adjacent to the Offshore Fishing Bridge anyway – perhaps they slept in?

I figured IF they DID show up, a thought bubble would hover over their respective heads: “well, look who’s back – that pesky photographer!”

A little marsh madness ensued as the geese were fractious.

There were waterfowl amicably paddling about while nibbling on marsh reeds. The Mallards kept to themselves, while a few Canada Geese were disturbing the peace, honking at one another for no apparent reason. Geese are such drama queens sometimes.

Tucked into a corner, a pair of Mallards seemed oblivious to the noise and snoozed peacefully.

In between last Fall’s exploding cattails, I saw a beautiful Mute Swan.

Patiently I waited for it to move along, more out in the open – ahh, that’s much better.

It began diving, snowy-white tail sticking out of the water, not the most graceful sight for such a beautiful creature. There were no underwater treats to be found, so it righted itself, then gracefully glided under the bridge, thus forcing me to dash across, then down the road to catch up with it. Perhaps it left to escape the raucous geese?

After a long, cool drink, it paused, water dripping from its bill …

… then paddled over to wrangle, then munch on a dried stalk of some type – well it wasn’t appetizing as it dropped it a minute later …

… and took off for a more appealing breakfast.

Had I not been so judgy about the swan’s breakfast, I might have been able to take a photo of a new bird for me, a beautiful Bufflehead drake, very recognizable by its profile and large head. Unfortunately I must have spooked it as it took off in a tizzy.

The shoreline stroll was a bit boring, but the sun in my face felt good.

I returned to the parking lot, but there were still no Sandhill Cranes, so, having secured dozens of photos of my feathered friends, I decided to walk the pathway parallel to Cove Point. We’d had a lot of rain in recent weeks, so traveling on this pathway might be dicey from intermittent flooding, but the alternative, the Cherry Island Trail, might be muddy, so I set out, hoping I made the right choice.

I was pleased to see that improvements had been made to this trail. In the past, flooding was a problem, often resulting in pools of water over the asphalt and dodging the water meant sinking into the spongy grass, resulting in wet feet.

Who wants wet feet, unless you’re barefoot and wading in the water and enjoy it like these guys?

Not only was the new asphalt path smooth, but it was somewhat elevated …

… so happily I plodded along, noting another morning visitor had likely strayed into the mud, but returned to the path.

The recent rains had created some massive pools in low spots.

It was much too early for bird babies but I stepped around for a quick peek and confirmed the nest boxes were still empty.

Even though the nest boxes were built and erected by volunteers to entice Bluebirds, each year Tree Swallows misappropriate the boxes all along the Cove Point shoreline.

Feathery-looking Phragmites wiggled in the wind …

… while picnic tables stacked this way made the shoreline look even more desolate.

Well, this is a good idea for water runoff … hope it works.

There would be even more birds as I continued my walk ….

A Red-winged Blackbird swiveled its head around to check me out, since I had interrupted its preening session …

… but since any suspicions about me were unfounded, he went on about his business.

The wind picked up and the water was a wee bit choppy. A Ring-billed Gull positioned itself on a boulder for a nice profile shot, before it stared me down.

I saw a large bird’s shadow crossing overhead and, as I looked up, that bird settled down into a tree. I picked up the pace so I could get a look, albeit not a great look, at this rather disheveled-looking raptor, which I later learned was a one-year old Bald Eagle.

That got me thinking if the Osprey pair had returned to their nesting platform by the marina, so I decided to make that my final destination to check them out as I continued my journey along the asphalt path.

I spotted this ugly mess – someone needs to get some dirt, then mulch onto these exposed tree roots pronto, not to mention they are a trip-and-fall hazard!

Not a soul was fishing off the lookout platform – I didn’t need the scope as there were no boats nor sea birds to be seen with the naked eye.

The marina was devoid of boats – way too early to be boating anyway.

I just kept on walking, my eyes on the prize, i.e. the nesting platform which is just past the marina and yes, the Osprey couple had returned and were busy touching up their twiggy abode from last year.

I left them to their handiwork to begin my long walk back to the car.

I will be participating in Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge: “Any Shade of Purple” on Wednesday with some photos of my Nelly Moser Clematis from my garden’s glory days, then I’ll put the long-ago garden photos to bed for good.

Posted in birds, nature, walk, walking | Tagged Almost Spring!, birds, nature, walk, walking | 75 Comments

After the rain …. #Wordless Wednesday #April is National Garden Month #Roses from my garden

Posted on April 9, 2025 by Linda Schaub

Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

Posted in #Sunday Stills Challenge, #Wordless Wednesday, Flowers | Tagged #Sunday Stills Challenge, #Wordless Wednesday, Flowers, nature | 88 Comments

Meandering along this path we call Life ….

Posted on April 6, 2025 by Linda Schaub

Well, it’s already been a year since I retired. There was no fanfare on that final day, certainly no gold watch … no handshake either, just a “thanks for everything” e-mail from my boss of almost 25 years (2000 – 2024). We had actually worked together at the Firm since 1993, but left the Firm to go out on our own in 2003. I was laid off briefly, then hired back part-time and had worked remotely since 2011, long before it was fashionable after COVID became a “thing” and, unbelievably, I never saw my boss since he dropped off a work project in the Fall of 2012. That relationship worked for us, maybe not for everyone though.

On March 29th, so ended the half-century working grind, which began way back at age 17, in the Summer of 1973, just after graduating from high school. I was slinging hash at the diner on weekends, school holiday breaks and Summer, before embarking on a hope-to-climb-the-ladder-to-junior-copywriter stint in the Creative Department at an ad agency and eventually as a legal secretary from 1980 until retirement.

“Tempus Fugit” – that’s Latin for time flies and it did. I retired just before my 68th birthday and I haven’t worn a wristwatch since.

I can’t say I found my passion during my work life and I guess I’d use the wellworn phrase “it’s complicated” to describe whether I have found it since. 🙂

The weather exhausted me in 2024 and ditto for 2025.

Spring 2024 was rainy and gray. When it was finally warm enough to go on extended walks with my camera to larger parks , it was buggy with mosquitoes and ticks. Those little buggers did not perish as our 2023-2024 Winter was so mild, so it was imperative while hiking to be mindful of these critters. Once I returned home with a tick in my ear, but luckily it didn’t “attach” – whew!

With all this newfound free time, I WAS able to enjoy longer walks more frequently, not just weekends when I was at the mercy of Mother Nature to play nice. After a wet Spring, we went days, even weeks, without rain and in moderate drought. I got out for many walks, traipsing about in stinkin’ heat and humidity, even when venturing out early in the day. I gleaned a lot of steps on the pedometer and tons of images on the camera card, so all was good and those memories sustained me through this over-long Winter that continues to spar with Spring. I won’t proclaim we’ve turned a corner yet – hardly. We still may have a touch of snow this week and last week, two predicted severe weather events in three days left me a bit fizzed.

Still hopin’ to find my groove ….

I feel like this last year has been full of fits and starts and, while I don’t intend to write a post geared to each retirement anniversary, I do wish I had been more accountable for my free time this last year.

I’ve dabbled in watercolor painting, one in-person class and one online class, yet I’ve not begun to paint on my own, just moved the supplies for this hobby from one place to another.

I’ve bought books a’plenty and there are more TBR books downstairs, however, admittedly I’ve adjusted my Goodreads Reading Challenge a few times when I lagged behind those goals. A good friend sent me a book last week which I immersed myself in and didn’t come up for air until I finished. I remembered how much I loved to read … so why haven’t I been doing so?

I’m on Day #164 of learning French, which I thought would be a bit of a breeze since I studied French for at least 10 years, the latter two in college where we spoke no English in class! I want to say “I am no quitter” but, with nicer weather and the need to finally get out and explore more, I’ve dwindled down to 30-minute lessons from 90-minute lessons. Yikes, the grammar is getting tough and time is getting scarce. I vow to remain committed, but am ever-mindful I’m not planning a trip to Le Gai Paris anytime soon. Thus, I am conflicted … do I swap French for reading or painting?

Hmm – maybe I’ll let my dreams blossom instead of my garden?

I do my best thinking while walking to and from the Park – it has been that way since I began my walking regimen in 2011. I leave the house, my mind a blank, free to think and/or absorb what is around me. So, in that vein, I’ve decided, despite my plans to plant a butterfly garden again, I will not do so. Last Fall I had the garden cleared of debris and stumps removed from the trees that were cut down after the downed wire fire; landscape fabric was laid and mulch spread. I had already tucked away countless ideas for different pollinator plants to try out instead of my tried-and-true Coneflowers and/or Daisies …

… Black-eyed Susans …

… and Butterfly Bushes, all found in my former garden.

I even dug out and perused my old butterfly garden books …

… if only to refresh my mind what beautiful butterflies might gracefully flit through the backyard like so many years before …

**Red Admiral Butterfly on Ruby Star Coneflower**

**Satyr Common Butterfly** **on Butterfly Bush**

**Eastern Tiger Swallowtail on Butterfly Bush**

**A perfect Red Admiral Butterfly on an imperfect pole with peeling paint**

Sometimes those beautiful butterflies were seeking refuge from the wind in my butterfly houses …

… or sunning on flat rocks and/or sipping from puddling dishes on hot Summer days.

And, if the butterflies were MIA that day, the birds would partake in a drink or a bath …

I WAS willing and oh so ready to expand my horizons with this new garden adventure. By Christmastime, I had the garden planned out in my head, another labor of love like my garden of 15 years ago, that is before the Polar Vortex of 2013-2014, robbed me of that passion by killing every one of the aforementioned plants and butterfly bushes.

As 2024-2025 Winter wore on, with four bouts of bitter temps and a Siberian Polar Vortex to boot, not to mention this past Wednesday’s Biblical rains, or the never-ending high winds, I’m not ready to recreate a garden, only to be anxious over Mother Nature’s whims. I’m already angst-ridden enough over each severe weather event.

Instead, realistic silk flowers will remain as my salvation. I “planted” them in pots around the yard in 2012 after I began my 2011 walking regimen and as they begin to fade, I “plant” new ones. I felt pretty smart and blogging and photography weren’t even on my Bingo card back then.

So, I won’t cringe when I see squirrels bury their treasures, then dig them up a few weeks later when food is scarce, throwing plants over the pot rim onto the mulch. Squirrels have already made holes in the mulch as they bury, then unbury their peanutty treasures provided to them from a neighbor down the street.

Nope, no need to be stressed after the neighborhood Cottontail bunnies strip the Bleeding Heart plant of its hearts, then hop away without thanking me for the snack.

Instead, this once-upon-a-time avid gardener will take herself with her camera to Emily Frank Gardens or the Taylor Conservatory and Botanical Gardens instead. Heck, I’ll wander over to Memorial Park where volunteers tend to the various garden plots there and rejoice when I see Swallowtails and Monarchs flitting about with no muss, no fuss on my part.

The lure of the wildflowers at any of the Metroparks also will leave me shutter-happy with zero deadheading, pruning, nor dealing with sore knees.

Lazy or practical???

Well you pick.

It’s National Garden Month, so if I want to see beautiful butterflies or buzzing bees, just a few mouse clicks will take me to my Shutterfly album circa 2010 and I’ll enjoy a slideshow of the fruits of my labor, when my days revolved around the garden, not walking, blogging, or photography or a myriad of hobbies I hope to partake in down the line.

The pictures in this post are from that garden and were taken during the Summer of 2010 with my first digital camera, a Canon Power Shot A1100 IS with 4X zoom.

I am joining Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge: April is National Garden Month.

Posted in #Sunday Stills Challenge, Butterflies, Flowers, Memories, nature | Tagged #Sunday Stills Challenge, Butterflies, Flowers, nature | 71 Comments

Follow me where I go … #Wordless Wednesday #Hmm – do they do 10,000 steps a day though? #National Walking Day

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Linda Schaub

Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

Posted in #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, birds, nature, walking | Tagged #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, birds, Canada Geese, nature, walking | 53 Comments

When the expression “It’s No Walk in the Park” …

Posted on March 30, 2025 by Linda Schaub

… sadly becomes a reality.

How many times have you used the expression “it’s no walk in the park?” I know I have used it plenty of times through the years, whenever I mention something is not as easy or effortless as it appears to be.

Everyone has their “Happy Place” right? What is one person’s spot to woolgather peacefully, may not appeal to someone else. For some, it’s a place to view a perfect sunrise or sunset, an idyllic beach setting, or to amble along on a woodsy trail hoping to glimpse a little wildlife, the perfect escape from reality. I’m in that latter camp as you know.

Since April 2013, my “Happy Place” has been Council Point Park.

While I hate to bemoan the hapless state of my favorite nature nook AGAIN, this time I am not writing about the venue’s current lack of ambience, thanks to the ragged-looking shoreline.

Nor am I identifying with the plight of so many furry and feathered critters whose habitats and offspring were destroyed in a matter of minutes by huge, earth-moving machines.

Nor will I dwell on that amphibious bulldozer that scooped up turtles from their silty sleep, or rolled over them as they sweetly sunned on logs, tossing them to the wind.

No, this tale is even sadder – one that truly hurts my heart more than before.

This time, humans are not to blame; other predators were afoot.

Last week, my post alluded to the Siberian Polar Vortex and its aftermath, the two feet of ice that caused not only the Detroit River, but also every river, pond and creek around Michigan to freeze over and remain frozen for weeks. Although the City salted the roadways, the temps were too cold for the salt to be effective, so our City streets were icy for several weeks, thus, I didn’t attempt a walk to the Park. Even if I risked life and limb to get there, the Park stopped plowing/brushing the perimeter path at least a decade ago, so the icy ruts were dangerous, plus freezing rain had glazed over the snow. Trips to the Park leading up to the Polar Vortex were few and far between.

Yes, I wrestled with my conscience, but I just couldn’t go there. Riddled with guilt for my furry friends’ welfare, this time I considered my own welfare to forego walking until a warm-up occurred.

But a welcome “thaw” was not so welcome and even more problematic.

After two warm days in February, it was time to attempt a “Park run” where I was amazed to see the significant snow and ice melt and, with the still-frozen ground, there were huge pools of water everywhere, especially the places I usually leave food. No squirrels; one female Cardinal hung out around me, so I made her a pile of treats on the path. I left peanuts/seeds under park benches, but then we had more freezing rain and it was another week before I returned.

Finally, thanks to cooperative weather, I resumed my walking regimen, on the morning of March 3rd.

Upon my arrival at the Park, laden with peanuts, sunflower seeds, peanut chips and apologies, I walked along the pathway wondering where the “greeters” were.

As you know, if you’ve been following my blog for a while, at least 25 to 30, (sometimes more), squirrels descend on me, scurrying down trees and some, like Parker, boldly putting his paw or nose on my shoe to ensure I see him.

I saw three or four squirrels, none which came over to me, but instead cowered behind bushes or climbed up trees. I stood there, peanuts in my gloved palm, coaxing and cajoling to no avail.

I was mystified and left peanuts in the usual places, only to return the next day to find most of the peanuts, seeds and peanut chips still there.

I began to dwell on the worst scenarios.

Did my furry friends starve to death as they were dependent on me, their benefactor, as they couldn’t access their peanuts they had buried in the now-frozen, snowy ground? Tears stung my eyes – of course I felt guilty.

Did my furry friends freeze to death in their nests? I’ve read they curl together in the nest to preserve body heat. Surely the extra layer of fat and heavier fur Mother Nature provides them each Fall helped?

I dutifully left food for them; over the course of several more days, some of it was eaten, not all though.

Then Henry enlightened me.

There are two male walkers, in their late 70s, that meet daily at 10:00 a.m. sharp all year around. They walk no matter how much ice and snow there is on the perimeter path. One of the guys, Sam, had a knee replacement on Halloween, so he didn’t plan to return until Spring.

So Henry walked solo. I saw him in my few forays to the Park. On the fifth day of seeing so few squirrels I cornered Henry and asked “What happened to all the squirrels?” Henry and Sam have seen me interacting with the squirrels for years, so he likely wasn’t surprised by the question I posed.

Henry responded “you saw the Creek; it was frozen over – did you see the snow and the footprints – the coyotes crossed over!” I responded “yes, I was here one time when someone shoveled the ice for a makeshift skating rink and yes, I took photos of the prints, none were like pawprints and besides, pawprints could have been a dog!”

Henry assumes the coyotes crossed the frozen Creek – however, he didn’t see them stalk or catch any squirrels.

He then offered another explanation, i.e. a pair of Bald Eagles he saw at the Park, (most likely from nearby Dingell Park where the eagles fish off the ice floes), were snatching squirrels in their talons for food.

He saw the eagles and assumes they were preying on the squirrels – however he didn’t witness this.

I was upset at Henry’s explanation of the fate of my furry friends, leaving me in tears as I walked home and also once in the house. Yes, I “get” the Circle of Life and yes, I know the coyotes and eagles have to eat.

So did predators descend on the Park squirrels in the dead of Winter?

I’ve discussed Henry’s scenarios with a few nature lovers – they believe the squirrels went to a nearby neighborhood, like they did when their nests were destroyed along the shoreline last May. That’s a plausible theory too. I did see an influx of black squirrels, whose nests formerly occupied the shoreline trees, scurrying around the ‘hood since last Spring. In fact, I often chat it up with Shelley, a woman who lives near the Park and feeds many of those black squirrels on her porch daily.

Regrettably, I believe Henry is correct.

As March wore on, I am now interacting with about seven squirrels, who have resumed greeting me up close, begging and noshing on peanuts.

In retrospect, I remain conflicted … I don’t know if I am glad I asked Henry where the squirrels were. What fate is worse? Starving to death, freezing to death or becoming prey for a coyote or eagle? I am still trying not to blame myself at any rate.

There was a time, not so long ago, that I only dealt with petty annoyances like the geese chomping on in-the-shell peanuts …

… and the ducks helping themselves to the sunflower seeds.

Then there was the appearance of Cooper Hawks, like this one I photographed at the Park, often seen circling overhead – “our” nemesis. It was then I stopped feeding the squirrels along the path and tucked their food near a tree or bush for an easy escape.

Thankfully I’ve never seen a hawk grab a squirrel, but I saw an attempt. One time I was feeding “Stubby” …

… (aptly named for missing part of his tail and the new fur grew in white at the tip), when a Cooper’s Hawk swooped down aiming for my furry friend, talons extended. Thankfully, this was near the pavilion area, so Stubby beat a path to the picnic table where the hapless hawk could not follow him. Whew!

I hope there are enough squirrels to reproduce and replenish the population of furry friends that have made me smile and been the subject of so many blog posts.

I’ve sprinkled a few photos from my blog of my furry friends throughout this post.

But yes, the unspoken question remains: “Where is this guy?”

Nature is cruel sometimes.

I am joining Terri’s Sunday Stills Challenge: National Take a Walk in the Park Day (March 30th)

Posted in #Sunday Stills Challenge, Squirrels, walk, walking | Tagged #Sunday Stills Challenge, nature, Squirrels, walk, walking | 84 Comments

March Madness. #Wordless Wednesday

Posted on March 26, 2025 by Linda Schaub

Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

Posted in #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, birds, nature | Tagged #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, March Madness, nature | 46 Comments

Sometimes Seasons Collide …

Posted on March 23, 2025 by Linda Schaub

… and they sound like ice cubes clinking against each other in a glass.

We were on the cusp of Spring when I had this mid-day, mini-meander at Dingell Park ten days ago.

It was gorgeous weather, sunny and bright, with a 30-degree-above-normal temperature surge. When I left the house four hours earlier, I had overdressed, anticipating a cool breeze along Lake Erie’s shoreline, but, after a long walk at Lake Erie Metropark, I had shed most of those layers, including my wool hat. What I SHOULD have donned was a sunhat, as that mid-day stroll spent at Dingell Park along the sparkling Detroit River left me sporting a sunburn.

Ice-Ice Baby!

Along with many portions of the United States, Michigan also experienced the effects of the Siberian Polar Vortex which occurred January 18th through the 22nd. Because of the extended extreme cold during and after this Polar Vortex, the Detroit River froze over, with almost two feet of solid ice. This year I did not get down to the River’s edge, due to an icy glaze on my driveway and icy ruts at the end of the driveway.

It is awesome to see the Detroit River frozen over. Here are some photos taken in January 2022, or you can click here for more photos from that post.

**Detroit River from the Dingell Park pavilion area.** **(01/2022)**

**Detroit River and Mud Island across from Dingell Park.** **(01/2022)**

This February, a local photographer I follow on Facebook spent day after day photographing Bald Eagles congregating at uninhabited Mud Island across from Dingell Park. The eagles perch in the trees while scoping out fish in the River. There are openings in the ice created by steam from the nearby Great Lakes Works, a steelmaking and finishing plant. The eagles fish from the floes. Gradually, the weather warmed enough to break up that ice, sending floes Downriver, clinking and clanking against the seawall and each other, until they eventually slam up onto the boulders in Trenton’s Elizabeth Park. The Bald Eagles, filled to the brim with fish, also departed, returning to their respective nests.

So, Dingell Park, two months post-Polar Vortex 2025 was no longer a happenin’ place for photographers, except this one who enjoyed the icy sights and hopefully you will too.

Who needs “Disney on Ice” when you’ve got waterfowl on ice?

The sun’s rays made the ice sparkle. There was still a lot of ice.

The geese seemed more sure-footed walking on ice than I am.

They walked from floe to floe, the ice creaking under the weight of their bodies. I could hear the noise from the pavilion area.

Every so often they stopped to take a sip of the icy water.

Sometimes they gazed into the water – admiring their reflections, or perhaps searching for shad, the small fish that seagulls also enjoy.

This Mallard was lookin’ ducky after an icewater preen.

I am convinced that Mallards love to pose … they aren’t shy at all, that is, if you’re far enough away from them and they are assured you pose no harm. This beautiful Mallard drake with its iridescent green head shimmering in the sunlight proves me right. After a quick preen, this coy boy was looking rather ducky! I took many photos of him, but these were my favorites.

Anyone up for a Polar Plunge?

After hitching a ride on the constantly moving ice floes, perhaps the geese had motion sickness and decided to go back into the water. Anticipating this icy-cold plunge, each hesitated before going into the water.

It was dangerous navigating those treacherous straits amidst ice floes and old wooden pylons.

The seagulls were just chillin’ and goin’ with the floe.

Away from the pavilion area, I strolled the entire length of the Dingell Park boardwalk and found these Ring-billed Seagulls enjoying a free, leisurely ride down the Detroit River while taking in the sights.

Just a few feet from these ice floes which, to me, represented the remnants of Winter, it seemed incredible that I was enjoying these icy delights on a day which felt like Spring, if not Summer.

I am joining Terri’s Sunday Stills Photo Challenge: Celebrate Spring or Autumn.

Posted in #Sunday Stills Challenge, birds, nature, Seasons, walk, walking | Tagged #Sunday Stills Challenge, birds, nature, Spring, walk, walking, Winter | 70 Comments

Pond Life Peekaboo. #Wordless Wednesday #My 5-year anniversary of doing WW

Posted on March 19, 2025 by Linda Schaub

Wordless Wednesday – allow your photo(s) to tell the story.

Posted in #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, nature | Tagged #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, Emily Frank Gardens, nature | 69 Comments

There’s no green to be seen!

Posted on March 16, 2025 by Linda Schaub

(Around here, anyway.)

Despite the fact that we’ve had above-normal temps most of the past week, even reaching the 70s Friday and Saturday, surprisingly, Mother Nature has not dipped her paintbrush into the green paint just yet.

Meanwhile, Chicagoans were dying the Chicago River green and Detroiters were painting shamrocks on the sidewalks in Corktown for today’s Saint Patrick’s Day parade, so there’s something green to cheer about. And, then there is green beer, if you’re so inclined.

So what’s a Blogger to do when Terri’s Color Challenge this week is “green” – hmm?

Well, this blogger went back to photos from a walk taken in early May 2024.

And, unlike those folks using dye and paint, I assure you there are no green tints on these photos, even if the featured image appears suspiciously bright green. It was just a sunny day when the grass was a lush emerald green, polka-dotted by dandelions … it’s the Spring-y day we Michiganders and most Midwesterners dream about in the Winter months.

I don’t have as many photos from that walk to use in this post because coincidentally, I was photographing trees in blossom at the Botanical Gardens in advance of Terri’s June Color Challenge: Pastels. That post, entitled “Pretty in Pink. #Wordless Wednesday #Springtime at the Botanical Gardens” can be found by clicking here.

Spring was all aglow around Heritage Park.

The historical area had their usual “Celebrate Spring” banners on all the lamp posts.

The leaves had unfurled – there was new growth everywhere, even soft green needles on the evergreens.

The turtles were sunbathing on their favorite ramp, the sun glinting off their green shells.

Near the Little Red Schoolhouse, a Double-crested Cormorant was perched amidst gorgeous reflections of red and green from the schoolhouse and grass respectively.

But he soon flew off that pedestal when the fountains in Coan Lake were turned on.

There was a field trip in progress at the Petting Farm and lots of oohs and aahs at the Alpacas in the barnyard.

For me, it was all about the babies that day.

I’d already been to this park multiple times checking out Mama Goose to get some photos of her nesting, then with those sweet goslings.

Of course, I wondered how the little darlings were coming along – well, you can see for yourself below. These cute pics of Mama’s offspring will tide you over until the 2025 batch of goslings comes along.

You’ve heard of herding cats? Well, I was smiling as I watched Mama chasing those babies to round ‘em up. With her head down, those goslings knew she meant business and they marched forward, in step with her. 🙂

They plop down suddenly, then are upright again seconds later to waddle around on oversized feet for their tiny bodies, so you can see why Mama needed a rest. She settled herself down for a small nap, having gathered her wee ones around her. But then Mama likely saw me, or my shadow, looming large and was on guard once again. But, isn’t the gander, er … “Papa” supposed to be guarding his family – where the heck was he?

Papa Goose, a/k/a “The Town Crier”.

Papa Goose was up on the roof of Maggie’s Sweet Shop telling the world about his goslings, much like a human father might be showing pictures on his phone or handing out cigars. Do fathers still hand out cigars for new babies?

The anticipated births were eggstra special too!

In the Springtime it’s all about the babies, right? You probably remember seeing this lamp post in past blog posts. It seems to be a popular place to raise your young if you’re a Sparrow. And, when birds, Robins especially, like to take liberties and build nests in the most inopportune places, (for homeowners anyway), obviously Heritage Park doesn’t care that Mama Sparrow builds a nest, sits on her eggs, then feeds her young inside the lamp post. A few years ago, I watched her going in/out to get food and bringing it back for her nestlings. This is not the only lamp post that is brimming with nest fixin’s for future baby birdies.

Enroute to the Botanical Gardens to check out the blooming trees, I passed the Petting Farm.

I follow a Facebook site called “Heritage Park Photo of the Day” and Dave Gorgon takes a photo almost daily of happenings at Heritage Park. A few days earlier, Dave posted a photo of a Mallard drake protecting his Missus as she was sitting on a nest. He suggested if you saw the pair to give them some distance. I went to check them out, knowing the pair would complement this topic of Spring babies.

The Petting Farm had posted this sign about giving them privacy …

… so I did, by merely zooming in on them, noting how protective the male was of his mate by positioning himself front-and-center. A Mallard hen will sit on a nest, incubating the eggs for about 28 days.

The next time I was at Heritage Park and I stopped to see if the nest was still there and unfortunately one of the eggs had not hatched.

So it was all about baby time on this trip and I hoped for one last shot of babies … baby Barn Swallows that live 18-23 days in a nest tucked in the rafters of the covered bridge and sometimes return even after fledging.