Foresty

March 21: International Day of Forests

"Forests, pillars of global food security and nutrition, are the livelihoods of millions of families. 

They provide essential foods such as fruits, seeds, roots and wild meat, fundamental resources for indigenous and rural communities."

❤️Love to visit forests and woods!❤️

Seven Lakes Nature Center
Dryden, Michigan
March 19, 2025

Tenhave Woods
Royal Oak, Michigan
January 27, 2025

Lake Saint Clair Metropark
Harrison Township, Michigan
December 13, 2024

Cascades at Glen Helen Nature Preserve
Yellow Springs, Ohio
November 24, 2024

Anything that any of us can do to help preserve the flora and fauna of forests around the world is worth it!

Take only pictures, leave only footprints

~AND~

Thank you for the Birthday and Pommy good wishes!

Give A Hoot

4 August International Owl Awareness Day!

Owls play a vital role in their ecosystem by controlling the rodent population.

 

Have always loved owls, and attend lectures at nearby nature centers as often as I can.

A few have captive owls to gaze upon; only birds who cannot be returned to the wild.

A few images that I've snapped:

Eastern Screech Owl, Red Morph

Eastern Screech Owl, Grey Morph

Northern Saw-whet Owl

Barred Owl

Long-eared Owl

The Rare Pommy Owl
I typed 'owl' into my photo library search, and this came up, so I figured...why not?
🦉🦉🦉

At The Park

It's Caturday!

The Hubby and I ventured out to the nearby park a few times recently.

I'm a Pisces, and being around water revives my energy.

Lake St. Clair Metropark is only 15 minutes from home.

There is the lake, wonderful walks through the woods and marshes, and we often can see downtown Detroit and the Canadian shore.

Click on the map above to visit the Lake St. Clair Metropark website.

Should any of you come to visit us, we'll make sure to visit this lovely park!

The image of the lily pads, now artified with Prisma, was taken as we rambled along.

I've been to several bird lectures at the park Nature Center, for owl and migrating bird knowledge, plus the native plants that are everywhere.

In addition, there are delightful displays of local turtle, snake, frog, and fish species, and every employee is friendly, helpful, and dedicated to teaching humans about the park's ecosystem.

Artified Lily Pond
Click on the image above to enjoy a jigsaw puzzle.

Let's Hop!

Click on the badge above to visit Athena Cat Goddess!

Mother Nature Art

With my trusty Prisma app, I couldn't help but use my most recent photos:

Sweetie, comfy but with cattitude!

Artified wild flowers, from Lake Saint Clare Metropark

Artified lily pads and pond, again from Lake Saint Clare Metropark

Click on each photo to enjoy a jigsaw puzzle!

I like difficult puzzles, but know that others aren't as keen, so please change the piece count to suit yourself.

 

Let's Hop!

Click on the badge above to visit Athena Cat Goddess Blog!

Owl Be Seeing You...

Last Friday, my brother and I went on an Owl Hoot!

At Lake Saint Clair MetroPark, in Harrison Township, Michigan, we attended a brief lecture about native owl species, then wrapped ourselves in hats, scarves, thick coats and boots to traverse the trails in the dark.

Our MetroPark guides had recorded Screech and Great Horned Owl calls, which were played here and there within the forested area.

Not only did a Great Horned Owl return our calls, but we could see him 'way up in the treetop!

It was nighttime, so there wasn't much to photograph, except the stuffed owls on display:

Screech Owl

Barred Owl

Snowy Owl

See?  My wee camera wasn't a match for the darkness!

AND THEN!

Saturday, I went on a Autumn Color Walk at Tenhave Woods in Royal Oak, Michigan.

Due to lots of rain and cold (the snow didn't hit until Monday...), our seasonal color is mostly gone, but walking around with knowledgeable tree, bird, and fungus experts from The Royal Oak Nature Society was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot.

Interesting leaves

Witch Hazel blooms

Although pretty, these berries are from an invasive non-Michigan plant that will be pulled out in the spring.

I enjoy this park, which is less than two miles from my office.
I visit often on my lunch breaks.

Here's a jigsaw puzzle!

We have another owl event this Saturday, where we will visit living owls at Stage Nature Center in Troy, Michigan.

We are fortunate to have such resources nearby.