A Bloy and his Blog

read the rest of: Crab apples

I saw a lot of honeybees gathering nectar, while hiking the Arboretum yesterday.

read the rest of: Honeybees

If I had to pick a favorite scenic spot in Wisconsin, it would be this one. The Black Lagoon on the Star Lake Nature Trail.

I’ve mentioned that trail before — it’s my favorite hiking trail in the state. While hiking there, you’ll walk through a thick boreal forest, a bog, a plantation of century-old pine trees, and along the lake shore. You’ll see (and hear) loons and other birds, and if you’re lucky you might get a glimpse of a bald eagle. Beautiful views can be seen all along the trail, but there is none better than the Black Lagoon.

The Star Lake Nature trail is located off of Hwy K, about a mile west of the intersection with Hwy N in Vilas County. Map

I just returned from a vacation at my favorite place for camping, the Northern Highland-American Legion State Forest. In addition to doing a lot of biking and hiking, I was treated to unique sunsets on five nights of my stay on Trout Lake. Here are the best photos from each of those sunsets.

read the rest of: Sunsets on Trout Lake

I came upon these gorgeous tiger lilies while biking Madison’s southwest bike trail yesterday.

read the rest of: Tiger lilies

The main reason Dad and I decided to go to Tennessee a few weeks ago was to attend the 80th birthday party of his cousin Jim (Happy Birthday Jim!). While we were at the party we also visited with Dad’s cousins Ruth and Janette, and their families.

Pictured here are four Bloy cousins. From left to right: James Bloy, Wilmer Bloy, Janette McCormick (née Bloy) and Ruth Zeppelin (née Bloy).