WALKIN', WRITIN', WIT & WHIMSY

Boppin’ by the big red barn.

Posted on July 13, 2025 by Linda Schaub

Every season I stop at the Trenton Cultural Center to see what is happening at Emily Frank Gardens, but I’m a more frequent visitor this time of year. The Gardens encompass just a small area of this venue, which is located on a street corner and tucked into a residential district.

For some visitors, like me, the Gardens are guaranteed to stir their senses.

I like hearing the faint buzz of a bee as it nestles into the Bee Balm.

And, I like seeing a beautiful butterfly flitting about, or even an Eight-Spotted Moth taking a breather on a leaf.

There is the peaceful serenity of the Koi fishpond to take in and, if you’re lucky and you hit peak time for the lavender, you’ll have a few appreciative sniffs of the lavender plants (in the background) …

…. which are as sweet smelling as this dew-spattered rose, their respective scents permeating the moist morning air.

The above photos were taken on my recent Independence Day visit.

Of course it is tempting to only write about the beauty of the Gardens, but there is a big red barn on the property that deserves to be mentioned too.

All about a big ol’ red barn.

I’ve been visiting this venue, originally known as the Emily Frank Farm, for three years now, after learning about and meeting the local plein air painting group and then spinning out a post or two about them. I hope someday to join this group as they gather every Saturday, from Spring through Fall, to paint at all my favorite venues. It is through this group that I first learned about Emily Frank Gardens, the site of one of their annual excursions. The group members set up their easels, paints and palettes to capture the essence of the venue; usually the red wooden barn is the focal point of their paintings.

The barn, which hosts seasonal events throughout the year, has a vintage flair outside the front.

Behind the barn are rows and rows of veggies which, since 2009, the Garden Angels, (a moniker the volunteers have dubbed for themselves), have planted, tended, harvested, then distributed to local food pantries and senior citizen organizations.

The barn’s sides are a mixed bag, i.e. one side has various flower beds and the other is known as the Hide & Seek Children’s Garden, a whimsical way for youngsters to pass the time while their folks eyeball the fleurs.

My initial impression in 2022 was it was a bit kitschy.

On that first foray to the Cultural Center campus, my impression of the Hide & Seek Children’s Garden and the whimsical wall behind the Garden was one of puzzlement. Was it supposed to look kitschy? Does it serve a purpose? Am I over-thinking the Hide & Seek Children’s Garden because I’ve never had children? And yes, perhaps the word “kitschy” is a little harsh, so how about “creative” as in Detroit artist Tyree Guyton’s Heidelberg Project. Once I showcased some of that Children’s Garden play area in this Wordless Wednesday post.

Well, my initial impression was not even close to what this whimsical wall and play area was really about and, it would be another year before I learned the reason the Hide & Seek Children’s Garden was created in 2012 and that was due to the death of Jean Pendell, its creator.

Who was Jean Pendell?

I follow many of the parks and places I frequent on Facebook and Emily Frank Gardens is no exception. In August 2023, a year after my first visit, I learned the dozen or so “Garden Angels” were mourning the sudden passing of Jean. She was a volunteer, just like they were, only she had created this magical garden for children after discovering one on Mackinac Island. Jean was a former art teacher in the Trenton school system and thought she could bring those skills to life beyond the classroom in this little area next to the barn.

Here is a photo of Jean in the Children’s Garden that the Trenton Michigan Gardeners Facebook Page posted on August 3rd, a few days after her death.

Jean’s fellow gardeners maintained the Hide & Seek Children’s Garden just as she left it when she was on site earlier in the day that she passed away, so when I took these photos in the Summer of 2024, this slideshow below shows the whimsical nature was still intact.

Sadly, sometimes good things must come to an end.

When I visited a few weeks ago on July 4th, I noticed that the Hide & Seek Children’s Garden seemed a little subdued, relegated to mostly flowers, with a few child-sized tables and chairs and a bench; some of the whimsical wall items appear to have been taken down.

Jean’s family and friends gathered and a plaque to honor her was placed in front of the Hide & Seek Children’s Garden on the anniversary of her death. A video of that event was posted on Facebook.

While the former extreme whimsical nature was lacking, the patriotic flair was not, as you see bunting and flags were everywhere, perfect for the holiday.

Even the iron fence around this venue was festooned with red, white and blue wreaths.

I’m glad I visited this magical space in its heyday.

I am joining Terri’s Monthly Color Challenge this week which is Red, White, & Blue (Single, or a combination)

Posted in #Monthly Color Challenge, #Sunday Stills Challenge, 4th of July | Tagged #Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge, 4th of July, Children's Garden at Emily Frank Gardens, Emily Frank Gardens | 74 Comments

How the heck do I get down? #Wordless Wednesday #Mama said there’ll be days like this!

Posted on July 9, 2025 by Linda Schaub

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

Posted in #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, nature, Uncategorized | Tagged #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, nature, Raccoon that is scared of heights! | 51 Comments

I was seeking sweet ducklings and …

Posted on July 6, 2025 by Linda Schaub

… the adventure went swimmingly!

This walk took place on June 16^th, the day after my “Gosling-palooza” post. I’d already been on multiple “missions” to find and photograph goslings, so I was ready to give that quest a rest. Since “baby duckling time” is usually around Father’s Day, I hustled to Heritage Park in search of some of those sweet feathered babies.

I had a few items on my “want list” on this soon-to-be Summer morning. I wanted to check on the goslings that I’d chronicled since Mama was incubating them. I knew I’d recognize the family as there was a discernible runt, a gosling much smaller than its siblings and yes, I still owe you a tale about that Mama Goose and her offspring.

I was also on the hunt for baby Barn Swallows for a future post, so I made a point to look in the rafters of the covered bridge for eyes peering at me over their nest. I hoped I could tick off each “want” on my list, then head for home by high noon as it was another blazing hot day.

Fluff and feathers.

The Cottonwood fluff was a’flyin’ due to the many Poplar trees scattered around the park. Fluff lined the asphalt pathway …

… and drifted lazily in the slight breeze, settling onto the grass and the surface of Coan Lake as you see by all the white dots in this photo.

As I neared Coan Lake, I shaded my eyes and squinted a bit to find any Mama Mallards with their ducklings. In the past I’ve seen several families of ducklings swimming behind their respective Mamas in a neat queue all on the same day. Quickly my eyes alighted on the one and only Mama Mallard with her three ducklings. They were so tiny that if you blinked you’d miss them.

These sweet babies were all over the map instead of trailing obediently behind Mama. Why you ask? The ducklings were distracted by the Cottonwood fluff as seen below.

I had to smile as I watched each duckling lift up its body and briefly go airborne, those wide webbed feet paddling furiously to keep it afloat, while trying to catch one of those prized pieces of fluff. More often than not, the duckling fell backward into the water without nabbing that fluff, sometimes ending up with it plastered to their bill.

Look at this guy (or gal) … such a little soul stirring up such a large wake.

Mama had her eye on her ducklings as well as casting a side-eye toward me. Interestingly, unlike the Canada Goose gander which watches over his mate and his brood, I have never seen the Mallard drake take such an active interest to guard his ducklings – this was the case here. I guess Mama’s got it all handled, huh? Here’s that proud Mama.

This duckling was eager to swim by Mama’s side, tired of messing with the Cottonwood fluff, but …

… its siblings strayed over to the seawall because the fluff, once it landed on the surface of Coan Lake, drifted toward the edges of this manmade pond and glommed together.

That was a bummer for me as the ducklings were so tiny, that even as I cautiously peered over the edge, the babies were often clustered against the seawall and, although it was hot, I didn’t care to join them for a swim.

Mama was uneasy about me as I hovered nearby, despite me speaking in a calm voice while assuring her I meant no harm to her or her babies. Eventually she sounded an “alarm quack” intended to summon her offspring to her side, but kids will be kids, even if they are the feathered variety and the two ducklings at the seawall didn’t heed the call.

Growing irritated with the ducklings’ shenanigans, she quacked a little louder and this time the pair zoomed over to Mama. I struggled to get photos as they moved so quickly. I guess they knew she meant business! 🙂

Mama guided her brood over to the turtle ramp. She went up the ramp, expecting them to follow, but they would have none of that and stayed afloat still playing with the fluff. Mama waddled back down the ramp into the water, then they all disappeared beneath the covered bridge to hang out, a move designed to show the lady with the camera a thing or two!

Patience is a virtue sometimes.

Tapping my foot, while scoping out Barn Swallow babies in the rafters, I waited 15 minutes for the four to emerge on the other side of the bridge. Mama guided her little darlings right into the greenish, goo-covered water near the old Sawmill. Evidently the turtles were happy to climb onto the rocks to escape the slimy water.

The fountain on this side of the bridge was too far away to help disperse the green goo.

The algae was so thick that I pictured the ducklings’ downy feathers stuck together from the mucky water rendering them unable to paddle. The scene looked like an Impressionist painting gone terribly wrong, with water so murky that I’m surprised I could get any reflections … but I did, albeit not the greatest.

The duck family, seemingly oblivious to the muck and mire, paddled around …

… sticking closer to Mama than they did earlier. Perhaps they were intimidated by the funky-looking mess?

I decided to call it done with the ducky crowd, but first, I stopped near the shoreline as I saw something embedded in the grass.

I bent closer and zoomed in. It appeared this Mallard nest was recently abandoned and a few pieces of the eggshells were still inside; likely it belonged to my feathered friends who are the subject of this post.

I was done as it was heating up, so I headed to the car, happy for the outing and a photo card filled with fun and babies!

P.S. – I returned 18 days later, on the 4th of July, to find the same family, but there were no other new Mallard families unfortunately. The babies now looked like mirror images of Mama – gone were the fuzzy little ducklings I had oohed and aahed over earlier.

I am sure the one duckling here is saying: “Hey Mama – the lady who pestered us when we were babies is back!”

I know it is the same family as I walked the entire campus of Heritage Park where the waterfowl hang out (mostly around Coan Lake) and these were the only Mama and ducklings. Yes, sadly it appears that one of the trio did not make it – nature is cruel sometimes.

Terri’s Sunday Stills Photo Challenge today is: In the Swim.

Posted in birds, nature, walk, walking | Tagged Mallard Ducks, nature, walk, walking | 83 Comments

Spent Allium or Sparklers? #Wordless Wednesday

Posted on July 2, 2025 by Linda Schaub

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

Posted in #Wordless Wednesday, Flowers, holiday, nature | Tagged #Wordless Wednesday, 4th of July, Flowers, nature | 61 Comments

Hittin’ the trail to help the hungry.

Posted on June 29, 2025 by Linda Schaub

Since 2018 I have participated in the annual Happy Soles 5K to raise money for Fish & Loaves, a local food pantry. In 2018 and 2019 I walked the 5K on-site, but since then, due to COVID, I have opted to participate virtually.

Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry is a non-profit, faith-based organization which provides assistance to families and individuals. In 2024 this food pantry distributed 3.4 million pounds of food helping 100,000+ individuals. This Fish & Loaves 2025 Happy Soles 5K raised over $36,000 according to the event organizers.

The 2025 event marked the 16^th annual Happy Soles 5K. The event always begins at the pavilion, a/k/a Sheridan Center. From there, participants wend their way around the nearby neighborhood, through the woods across from the playing field where the Junior World Series is held every August, along the path through the historical village and finally they return to Sheridan Center to hopefully cross the finish line.

The event was held on June 1st as you see from the swag in the featured image and race site info below. Since I’ve done the event virtually, I usually go to Heritage Park the day before or after to take photos to accompany the event post. This year I went on June 2^nd. For those of you keeping track of my many submissions for a tee-shirt tagline – there was no contest this year; they used the same “Moving Against Hunger” tagline as in 2024.

Stepping out sans solemates … er, soulmates.

You may not be familiar with every venue I visit and “report on” but I know you all recognize the covered bridge …

… and of course that cute Little Red Schoolhouse.

You might even say “hey, that’s the Old Log Cabin!”

I decided to stop near the Old Log Cabin to check out the perennial garden maintained by the Taylor Garden Club.

These geese and ducks didn’t even stop grazing as I approached the garden – that shows you how interesting I am to them.

I hoped to see a bounty of butterflies like last year when the Bee Balm and Coneflowers bloomed profusely and yielded some pretty photographs of Tiger Swallowtails flitting about, but, my hopes were dashed when I discovered those flowers hadn’t even bloomed yet. Here’s what it looked like last year. Up close there were bees and butterflies galore as you can see in this post.

In fact, I couldn’t even scare up a bee on these beautiful and vibrant yellow plants which would have looked perfect with some bumble bees nestled down into the pollen and complementing their bright color.

This is an Evening Primrose …

… and these tallish yellow blooms are a new plant to me; they were identified by a sign in the garden and Google Images as Yellow Loosestrife.

This colorful Tiger Lily, near a future Sunflower yielded no butterflies either…

… even when I zoomed in.

I paused at the Wild Geranium with a few tiny bugs resting on a petal…

… then I decided to head to the Botanical Gardens in search of a better flora and fauna experience.

So did I fare better photo-wise at the Botanical Gardens?

Well, kinda sorta.

Speaking of creatures, I am a creature of habit. I’ve been visiting this venue for about a decade, maybe longer. Each time I go to the Gardens, I have a routine. After meandering around the historical area, I cut across the “village” grounds, past the 125-year-old Sell/Schoenscheck House, now a photography studio which needs a new sign.

Then I walk along busy Pardee Road. It’s not a long walk, but since I’m not only here for photo ops, but to rack up some steps as well, I’ve always traveled this same route.

Follow the leader in the “forest”.

Well, before I headed toward Pardee Road, out of the corner of my eye I spied a trio of escapees from the Petting Farm: a Pekin duck and his pals, two large domestic ducks.

They were grazing near the Old Saw Mill when they saw me and turned around and headed toward a wooded area. Feeling like a member of the paparazzi (and because critter photo ops had been scarce that morning), I trailed after them. Even though I was a fair distance behind the group, they sped up, waddling very quickly while trying to dodge this pest with her camera. I guess I need to tote along a little corn as a posing enticement next time I visit this venue.

My photos were not so great as they scurried around each bend and turn on the trail and the canopy of trees gave me some shade, but made it dim in the woods as well.

They were joined by another domestic duck at the “Rock Lounge” (a group of large boulders placed in a circle in the middle of the woods … think Stonehenge, only shorter). 🙂

The four ducks evidently were having a ducky outing away from the farm.

In my peripheral vision I noticed this envelope stuck in a tree branch and even pondered removing and reading it, but decided it did not have my name on it, so I just kept walking. Hmm – honesty and too many years of watching “Candid Camera” back in the day I guess.

But of course, I had to get a photo of it, right?

After that minor distraction I realized I had lost sight of the four ducks, which, by now, were feeling mighty smug after artfully dodging me.

But wait – I saw another feathered friend who, like myself, was meandering along, only it was picking, pecking and scratching at the ground. We had a strange staredown for a moment, but in the end it was way more charitable than the ducks and posed nicely here.

Soon I realized the end of my woodsy walk was at the Botanical Gardens. So, I now have a shortcut thanks to my feathered friends, all five which by now had ditched me like a hot potato.

Like the perennial garden by the Old Log Cabin, it was still fairly early in the blooming season so the garden areas really weren’t showy and ready for primetime either, so I didn’t even stop to take photos.

Returning from the Botanical Gardens the old way I noted the Taylor Historical Museum had a smattering of patriotic decor.

The Township Hall similarly had bunting strung along the railings.

There were not enough veggies nor blooms to take photos of at the Community Gardens either – maybe next month.

The cockeyed birdhouses look the same every Spring – too many parents and offspring packing it in on one side only. The pair of birdhouses have looked like this for years.

As I walked to the car, I passed this Mallard who had just awakened from a nap (you’ll recall another shot of him dozing off in last week’s post).

I admit to having had more exciting walks at Heritage Park and the Gardens where I’ve come home with a camera card full of photos, but this was not one of those times. I would, however, return to this venue exactly two weeks later to find a treasure trove of birdies and babies, so stay tuned.

I walked to the car, sank down in the seat and turned on the air after a very warm morning, just a preview of coming attractions for one of Michigan’s hottest Junes on record.

I am joining Terri’s Sunday Stills Photo Challenge: Patriotic – Show us your country’s flag, images of flags.

Posted in #Sunday Stills Challenge, birds, event, nature, walk, walking | Tagged #Sunday Stills Challenge, 5K events, birds, nature, virtual 5K, walk, walking | 61 Comments

OUCH!! #Wordless Wednesday #A prickly situation. Hmm – is the bug impaled on that spine?

Posted on June 25, 2025 by Linda Schaub

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

Posted in #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, nature | Tagged #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, Cacti at the Taylor Botanical Gardens, nature | 67 Comments

Sunseekers of the world unite!

Posted on June 22, 2025 by Linda Schaub

Summer is finally here following a Spring that was quite wobbly, a season that left me weary as we endured odd temps, endless windy days and rain. The skies were often gloomy and this could not always be blamed on the Canadian wildfires.

But, if you think we humans are happy to see the sun, especially those of us in a four-season state where Winter lingers well into March, the critters are equally as happy for Summer’s sunshine and warmth.

I’m gonna soak up the sun.

I know many of you enjoy the photos of turtles sunning on a log, just as much as I enjoy seeing them. I’ve commented before that I’ve seen more turtles than ever basking in the sun this year, beginning as early as April. They look so peaceful that I hate to disturb them as I walk by, as inevitably, in a domino-like effect, one by one they plop into the water.

Recently, I came upon a few turtles that exhibited a strange phenomenon. I looked closer and thought “are my eyes deceiving me here or are those turtles’ shells peeling?” I pondered as I took a few photos and remembered a thin layer of MY own skin peeling off after too many hours beneath the sun’s rays without sun protection. So, I asked my friend Google that night if a turtle sheds its shell – yes it does!

I learned that turtles shed the outer layer of their shell, a/k/a “scutes” as they grow. That process helps to ensure their shell, which is made of keratin, a substance similar to human fingernails, remains healthy, free from algae build-up and ensures the shell, just like the turtle, grow together. Fascinating – who knew?!

Below are the turtles with their shells peeling off.

We know turtles like lazing on a log, basking in the sunshine, but what about other non-human creatures?

Well, a few years ago, I did a post after watching a Mute Swan perched on an ice floe seemingly performing yoga moves called “Sun Salutations” – perhaps after a cold Winter, that lovely creature embraced the sun, warming it from its bill to its tail feathers. Here is that regal swan in case you missed it.

On a recent trip to Lake Erie Metropark, I witnessed another Mute Swan enjoying the sunny day. I had parked myself under a tree for a brief respite from the sun and also to observe this swan without it being mindful of my presence.

The swan seemed to delight in luxuriating in the cool water, just soaking up the sun in a blissful manner. It was not preening, but instead positioning itself to bask in the sun. See if you agree as you scroll down through this series of photos …

I stumbled upon these critters catchin’ some rays recently too.

This trio of goslings, fresh from a swim and a bite to eat, were shutting their eyes in bliss.

The first one resisted at first – you know how that is, eyes at half-mast …

Here’s two more shutting their eyes, letting the sun beat down to dry them off, soft and fluffy again.

This Mallard decided a brief snooze was in order as the sun beat down, making its head seem iridescent.

Even Mourning Cloak Butterflies do it … bask in the sun that is (though it might have picked a better background for sun-worshipping).

But what about you and me – do we likewise revel in the sun’s warmth?

As I get older, I may still embrace that glorious feeling of the sun on my upturned face, but I admit to taking more precautions than ever to avoid sunburns. Once a sun worshipper, I now resort to sun hats and sun clothing, all in UPF 50+ to give me protection from the harmful sun’s rays. While out at shoreline parks with my camera in tow, those rays are intense and rather than risk damaging the camera with oily sun protection, this is the easier and more practical method to avoid burning, though I’ll ‘fess up and say I got sunburned back on March 13th after photographing waterfowl on ice floes at Dingell Park.

Yes, I should have donned one of my sunhats … but in mid-March?

As a teenager, since everyone wanted that healthy look a tan gives you, I would lay out in the sun. I don’t remember Mom cautioning me about skin cancer so much as telling me I’d have a face like shoeleather when I got older. Did that deter me? Well, not really, but, once I got older and smarter, I became more mindful of not wanting to have a wrinkly face that looked like my shoes.

Mom did ensure when I was a toddler I didn’t get a sunburn. As I stood in my blow-up pool with my best friend Linda Crosby in the Summer of ’58, I had a sunbonnet on, as did my pal, but …

… I wasn’t wearing a top – hmm. I wonder if I ended up with a sunburn that day?

Fast forward a few years … on a family trip to Oklahoma, we stopped at this nondescript, roadside motel where I posed in the parking lot, the sign touting “Air-Conditioned” in the background. What a unique sunhat I was wearing! So, did Mom reach for a lampshade and glue on ribbons at the bottom to tie under my chin?

I would have been happier had my father removed the plastic seat covers as my tender, shorts-clad legs often stuck to the hot back seat of the VW Beetle, despite that wool blanket I sat on, but often shifted beneath me.

Yep, the weather is wacky these days.

As you know, the Summer Solstice occurred this past Friday, June 20th in the Northern Hemisphere and, even though I may whine about Summer’s extreme heat (ugh) and off-the-charts humidity (double ugh), longtime readers of this blog know I am no fan of Winter either. Yes, I am not only a weather worrier, but also a weather whiner as well.

Now, if I were in charge of the weather, I’d even things out, so we would have four distinct seasons, just as it was for most of my life. But alas, reconfiguring the four seasons is sadly not in my skillset and that administrative privilege belongs to Mother Nature.

So, as we begin a slow creep toward Fall, then Winter, I am hoping Mother Nature graces us with an Autumn filled with some Summer-like days before we hunker down for the chilly and cold seasons ahead. But please not as hot as this heat wave we are currently enduring.

Terri’s Challenge today is: “Sunrises and Sunsets, celebrating the Solstice” but since I have no sunrise or sunset pics, I chose to celebrate the sunseekers amongst us.

Posted in #Sunday Stills Challenge, nature, Seasons, walk, walking | Tagged #Sunday Stills Challenge, nature, Seasons, Summer, walk, walking | 88 Comments

One long-legged gal looked like a deer-in-the-headlights (me); one long-legged gal ambled off (not me). #Wordless Wednesday #She just appeared out of nowhere!

Posted on June 18, 2025 by Linda Schaub

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

Posted in #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, nature | Tagged #WildlifeWednesday, #Wordless Wednesday, nature, White-tailed deer | 50 Comments

Gosling-palooza!

Posted on June 14, 2025 by Linda Schaub

They were coming right at me, a passel of goslings, with their parents bringing up the rear! Yikes! I had no time to hide, or even duck into my car to escape them.

Well, truth be told, there were no worries for me; those feathered babies, of course, were not menacing in the least. In fact, I was at this park looking for goslings – um, I just didn’t expect to find so many of them at one time. 🙂

The month of May in Michigan means goslings galore!

In May, in most of the parks I frequent, if you need a “gosling fix” there are plenty of places to find these cutie pies. It’s been my experience that the first big gosling hatch happens just before Mother’s Day. So, I make my annual rounds to my favorite spots where I can see the tiniest goslings, those lemon-colored fuzzballs toddling around after their parents on over-sized feet, or laying down, those big feet stretched behind them, while demolishing dandelions and grass with great gusto.

Then, within a couple of weeks, these sweet goslings will lose their baby features, replacing round bodies with boat-shaped physiques, as well as sporting lots of attitude. I am always amused to watch these teenaged goslings mimicking Dad, hissing with their tiny tongues and flapping their mini-wings.

My favorite venue to look for goslings is Elizabeth Park where there must be hundreds of geese roaming around this 162-acre (65-hectares) venue. I visited here in mid-May, on the lookout for photo ops and found myself gobsmacked to find zero goslings. But, when I returned to this venue a mere two weeks later, on May 27th, there were goslings galore, which begged the question “where were they just a few weeks before?” These certainly weren’t newly hatched goslings!

But wait – let’s get back to “Gosling-palooza!”

I stepped out of my car, swiveling my head for a quick look to see if there were goslings near the main footbridge or in the canal – nope, not a gosling to be found. For a quick moment, I wondered what happened to them? Should I worry?

Well, I needn’t have worried, as mere moments later, I had to stifle a giggle, when a gaggle of goslings ganged up on this hapless photographer. Mom and Dad and their brood were having a wee outing just as I happened along. Woo hoo, what a photo op for me! Dad saw me and visibly bristled – his feathers ruffled a tad by my very presence and he continued to give me not only the evil eye, the side eye and even a hissing session complete with wing-flapping, all typical gander histrionics when protecting offspring from a perceived threat.

But, little ol’ me was NOT a threat and I held my ground, admittedly backing up a few paces to give them ALL some space. Sure we can mingle, but I needed to stay mindful of Dad, because that’s what Dads do, right? They are protectors when you’re young and even when you’re grown up.

So there I was, in the midst of these 28 goslings and only two adults. Hmm, what is the ratio of parents to offspring anyway? Surely they were babysitting, er … goslingsitting, as their friends had a date morning, or something similar?

But, as I happily repeatedly clicked the shutter button, I could see more geese families on the horizon, waddling along Elizabeth Drive toward me.

They whizzed past me, not even stopping to say “good morning” as they headed for their favorite grazing places. Look at the various sizes, some goslings well on the way to becoming “Mini-Me” versions of their parents.

It doesn’t take the goslings long to double, triple – even quadruple their size. After all, just like Mom and/or Dad, all they do is eat! A gosling typically reaches full size and has the ability to fly within 70 days of hatching.

Elizabeth Park isn’t huge, but there is something for everybody, with a woodsy trail if you’re so inclined, strolling the 1,300 foot (396 m) boardwalk along the Detroit River, or walking on Elizabeth Drive, the 1.5 mile (2.4 km) paved road that encircles Elizabeth Park. You won’t be alone as there are always walkers … AND vehicles. This is the ONLY way to enter and exit the park, a one-way street, which, if you need to be somewhere soon, don’t wait until the last moment to leave the park because the geese have only one speed – SLOW. On a whim, sometimes the geese stand in the middle of the road while pondering “so, do we want to graze or swim right now?” Or perhaps “is the grass really greener on that side of the road?” The speed limit is low, 15 mph, so you can watch for geese crossing, well okay – humans too.

As I gazed at them through the camera lens, it got me wondering whether their parents can even tell their own offspring from offspring belonging to other geese families? Can the proud dads even distinguish one gosling from the other? Well I’ll leave that query for the bird experts to answer.

What I’ll leave YOU with, is a selection of the morning’s favorite gosling shots, offspring that any gander would be proud of. I’m sure you would agree.

Terri’s Sunday Stills Photo Challenge today is “Paths and Trails” which celebrates June as National Great Outdoors Month. But it is also Father’s Day, so I’ve got the best of both worlds here with this gosling who says:

“Some day I’ll grow into these feet ‘cuz Dad’s got big shoes, er … webbed feet to fill, but, in the meantime, …