Lake Pictures Part 1: Approaching the Path

[ysabetwordsmith]

Today we went out to the lake. These pictures primarily show the pollinator gardens around the parking lot and the approach to the lake paths.


This is the view upslope from the parking lot, looking more or less north-ish. These upland trees are mostly a mix of white oaks, red oaks, and maples. In the foreground you can see a pollinator garden of native flowers and grasses. Purple asters are stil blooming.




A yellow butterfly, possibly a clouded sulphur, drinks from a purple aster. We saw several of these butterflies. Here are some Illinois asters.




A skipper and two spotted beetles feed on purple asters. Skippers are weird little butterflies that are hard to pin down. This one might be a tawny edged skipper. They don't usually sit still for photographing, but this late in the season, they're hungry and there isn't much food left. The beetles are spotted cucumber beetles, a notorious pest.




A bee, a skipper, and a striped cucumber beetle (another pest) feed on purple asters.




Honeybees and smaller native bees drink from frost asters. This is a weedy wildflower that puts out lots of tiny, white, daisylike flowers that attract pollinators. If you need to turn a bare field into useful habitat, this is an excellent choice.




This bee on purple aster shows off her wings.




Orange trees contrast against blue sky.




This maple sapling burns like a torch against the cool background of the lake.




Several turkey vultures were circling over the east part of the lake. Also overhead was a very loud, very annoying radio-controlled airplane. It completely blocked out whatever birdsong it didn't just scare away. >_< Not all park uses are compatible. It's better when these have their own airfield -- I've seen those.




This is the view of the trees looking over the east part of the lake. With the sun toward the west, the leaves are well lit.




The causeway leads north across the lake.




The shore path winds westward around the southern edge of the northwest part of the lake. Which way to go?

Comments

Yes ...

[ysabetwordsmith]

It's a favorite. They put in the pollinator gardens some time ago. There's a big round one in the middle of the parking lot, and quite a lot of long rambling strip that follows much of the northern edge of the parking lot. It adds up.