It looks as if the winter thaw is happening and spring will be here before we know. The front lawn at the Casa du Borghese is littered with lawn winter crocus. My visiting cousin Sam was in town this week for a few days visiting his grandfather, my uncle Jack.. He being in from Washington State, he loves nature and hiking. While yesterday may not have been the best day for a hike, the day got nice by evening. I took him to Gifford Pinchot State Park where we walked the lake and some of the trails in the woods. A bit mucky, but it felt good to get out in nature, even if a bit damp and chill. After a four hour hike it was back home. Got some nice pictures too. I will be glad now when spring arrives. I am getting over looking at soggy and soft ground, almost mud like...I'm ready for some color. But some nice nature captures still to be had.
The state park itself is named after an American forester and politician, Gifford Pinchot. He was born from the wealthy Pinchot family and embarked on a career in forestry after graduating from Yale in 1889. President McKinley appointed Pinchot as the head of the Division of Forestry, and Pinchot became the first chief of the US Forest Service after it was established, and he enjoyed a very close relationship with President Theodore Roosevelt who both shared views regarding the importance of conservation. Pinchot went on to become the 28th Governor of Pennsylvania, and after being in the republican party he joined the Progressive Party for some years. He remained and supported any and all forest and land conservation projects all the way up to his death.
Cousin Sam under some huge rocks!
Some Buffetheads
Loved this capture near sunset.
And we didn't go on an empty stomach either. I made homemade sausage gray and biscuits with bacon before leaving for the afternoon. DELISH! We also took hot coffee for the hike. So good to get back out in nature. I guess my hibernation is coming to an end.
It feels like Winter is moving away from us down here, too!
ReplyDeleteLove the photos! And the food porn!
What a beautiful spot in which to commune with nature!
ReplyDeleteI love you photos! And right now, I'm trying to soak in the cool magic...it's muggy here and we went to vote early...yuk! So your pics are a treat.
ReplyDeleteThanks Dinah! I'm just hoping for spring to arrive now. I'm in those doldrums of where winter just seems to linger on.....
DeleteAmazing to have all that nearby.
ReplyDeleteThis lake is not as close as Peace Valley Lake was, where I used to live in Bucks from my pied de terre. This is probably a good 25-minute drive from home...still not bad though.
DeleteGood Pics! And I don't doubt this winter thaw will continue to warm up into Spring..
ReplyDeleteI hate rushing seasons, but I'm ready for spring to come now. Tired of this mucky landscape.
DeleteTundra Bunny here...
ReplyDeleteYou have a definite knack for bird photography, Maddie... your pictures of the owl, herons and Canada geese are great, but the Mallard pair is calendar worthy! I envy you your spring thaw -- we're buried under 18 inches of fresh snow again thanks to an Alberta clipper this weekend and the blizzard isn't expected to ease off until Monday afternoon. It's been a mild winter here, all things considered, and Jeebus knows we need the moisture to head off another bad forest fire season, but I AM SO READY FOR SPRING, LOL!
I never thought I'd would be one to complain about 18" on a weekend!!!!! We are definitely out of the danger zone for any more snow now...much to mild and warm And thanks for the compliments.... I'm still getting used to how to use my new camera I got for my birthday, with it's different lens.
DeleteBeautiful pictures for the Sunday! I too enjoyed your capture with the pine trees on that little inlet. I also know that Gifford Pinchot must have been a republican some time ago. To have a love and take pride in forestry and conservation and do anything good to protect the environment now by a republican is like finding a snow cone in hell.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that that the truth. I will give kudo to the republicans in Upper and Central Bucks where I lived in Doylestown and New Hope. They all supported green projects, and all were all heavy into land preservation. In all the 25 years I lived there it has relatively not changed at all and just about all the free land and farms were declared Open Space. They were also good at repurposing old building and strip plazas and office complexes, well the one there anyhow. The republicans in the South East generally drive the rest of them nuts in PA.
DeleteI love you and your love of nature. Looks like a great place to explore. Don't ever let it diminish. A shame many don't share it within our governments now. Except to only take away more land. Heaven forbid we preserve any land.
ReplyDeleteI agree. Even here in Harrisburg...the smallest wee bit of land can't be left untouched. Everything needs to be developed. Heaven forbid there be open space, or a nice park, or gardens. A farm down the road just sold in the fall, there is already about 80 crap-built homes on it. Sad.
DeleteWe are due to have a giant Amazon warehouse built near here; the road system won't be able to cope with huge lorries. God knows the roads can't cope now with the infamous Bicester Village traffic (the #1 European tourist attraction for some godforsaken reason). The powers that be want to build another 500 houses just down the road and another 100+ up the road and this in a small village of under 1,000 people. There have been so many warehouses built in the area when what we need are small 2 or 3 bedroom houses. A ghastly Great Wolf water park is due to be built on the edge of the village. When full it will have twice as many guests as there are people living in the village and that's without the staff. Wildlife concerns are ignored as sewage spills increase. There are otters in the stream that runs behind the village; more sewage spills will mean the loss of the otters.
DeleteHelen....that sounds completely horrid and ghastly!!!!!!! The will ruin the charm of the village and countryside. I dont get the allure of water parks either. And Amazon ruins everything. Wait till it starts pitting locally owned businesses and shops out of business. Once people see the gaunt facility more will shop Amazon. Heavens forbid anyone get out to actually shop and see people....
DeleteGreat owl shot, it looks like a great day out.
ReplyDeleteIt was! A bit chill and wet, but the hot coffee helped. Many bird this day could be seen. It was also pretty quiet too, not many people out.
DeleteConservation :: Conservative ... You'd think there would be a logical match there, wouldn't you?
ReplyDeleteThat lake looked too cold... Can't wait for warmer weather..
I will say Republicans in Southeast PA are very good about the environment, open space and conservation. They drive the rest of the repukes in the state nuts. But Gifford was pretty good from what I read. They should take notes.
DeleteI like the turtle basking platform.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to go back in warmer weather and see the turtles.
DeleteIl semble que le printemps a surgit. :)
ReplyDeleteMême en France les développeurs consument tous les terrains et beaucoup font faillite. :(
-Beau Mec à Deauville
Merci pour votre contribution, je me demandais si cela se passait en France et dans d’autres pays européens. C’est dommage n’est-ce pas ?
DeleteLove the lake pictures. I can't wait to get back outside and leave the gym for some time. Love the pecker picture too.
ReplyDeletelove everything here. And I bet you're an ideal uncle
ReplyDeleteWell cousin...He is very fun and has lots of interests. But Im a uncle too. Or is it aunt???
Delete