Summer Walk in the Park

My weekend included a short walk over some of the paths and boardwalks the comprise the Pheasant Run Conservancy in Middleton.

Just a little more than two months ago was my first visit as the plants and trees were coming to life.

It's an incredible place to walk.  There's a spring fed wetland that sends a stream into nearby Lake Mendota and provides shelter for waterfowl, amphibians, and small fish.

Looping the wetland, a path took me past bright eyed flowers that stood out in the field of green.  A couple of times, I took a step off the crushed limestone path and was quickly joined by several mosquitoes working overtime before the day heated up.

Youthful runners breezed past despite the heavy humidity - given the time and that they were traveling in pairs - I'm pretty sure the kids who passed by are preparing for the fall cross country season.

It's a blessing to have parks and wild areas available to us.  They provide oxygen in a world of cement and natural beauty unbound by sidewalks or fences.

At a walk, even more than on a bike, you can hear the wings of insects beating the air.  You can see the light shades of blue blending into white on one petal and into navy on the other.

In two months time, summer will be giving way to autumn and the greens will start dressing in bright colors for its going away party.  Two to three months after that a blanket of white will envelope the land.

The land changes - the plants change - we change. 

A therapeutic trip around your park will help you discover those changes and allow you to catch your breath, soak in some beauty, think, and power walk into the upcoming week.