You see a lot of orange hawkweed in northern Wisconsin. I love the deep orange color, but sadly it’s an invasive species (also known as the devil’s paintbrush) that crowds out native vegetation.
Yearly Archives: 2014
Biking the Bearskin
I took advantage of the one day that was rain-free in northern Wisconsin last week, and went biking on the Bearskin State Trail.
Mosquitoes and rain
If I could sum up my camping vacation last week with two words it would be these.
I have never experienced mosquitoes as bad as I did last week in northern Wisconsin. The heavy winter snowfall, late melt, and abundant spring rains created perfect conditions for mosquitoes and biting flies. They were relentless. I even heard that 70-80% of loons in northern Wisconsin are abandoning their nests because of the heavy infestation of black flies. Thankfully I had two good things going for me: a tent with a screen room, and some interesting bug repellent my nephew’s wife gave me to try. Made with only natural essential oils, it did work pretty well. I actually came home with less bug bites than I have from past trips when the bugs weren’t so bad. However, because there were so many bugs around, it really didn’t do anything to prevent them from buzzing around your head, in your ears, and trying to bite where the repellent wasn’t applied (like the top of your head). Trying to cook was the worst, as mosquitoes are attracted to the heat and gasses from running the camp stove.
Streaks of color at dusk
Last week I was camping in northern Wisconsin. Of the six days I was there, the persistent clouds allowed me to see only one sunset. That evening on Trout Lake, about 20 minutes after the sun drifted below the horizon, gorgeous streaks of color appeared.
Foxtail lily
I love flowers that don’t have stereotypical blossom shapes. They almost look like they belong on an alien world.
Day’s end at Tenney Park
Early yesterday evening it looked like we’d be in for a nice sunset. By the time I biked over to Tenney Park to take in the view, the clouds moving in from the west had something else in mind.
Hillside farm field
There’s nothing quite like the scenery in rural Wisconsin.
Jefferson County, south of Lake Mills.
Purple explosion
Ornamental onion blossom, a slow motion explosion of purple.
Country skyscrapers
When you’re bicycling through the farm-filled countryside, these are the skyscrapers you see.
Trailing over the Crawfish River
What a beautiful day for a bike ride (Glacial Drumlin State Trail).