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.
