Mike Houge

Coming and going;

It's been busy this week in Northwest Iowa. My friend Dan and I have been busily getting ourselves prepared for the Artisans Road Trip which is October 4th and 5th. For those of you not familiar with the A.R.T. it is a free self-guided tour of artists in eight NW Iowa counties. It offers you the opportunity to not only travel at your own pace but to meet the talented artists in this area.

Dan and I will have new images from 2008 for you to enjoy along with snacks and beverages for you to sample while you browse. We will be located in the C.R. Gallery at 912 Okoboji Ave, Milford and open from 9-5 on Sat and 12-5 on Sunday. I hope you will be able to find time to stop by and visit with us and of course we will be happy to give you the nickel tour. For more details be sure to go to the A.R.T. web site at www.artisanroadtrip.com.

 

As you will see by this weeks image, fall colors are progressing slowly. The biggest change I've seen are in the soy beans, I swear they change over night. Flower colors are really dwindling. This morning I did spot a lot of what I think are New England Aster(pretty blue flowers) along the ditches and the ever abundant sunflowers but the blazing star seem to be gone now.

 

Several members of our photo group will be heading to northern Minnesota next week to hopefully catch some fall colors, although by the maps I've seen we may be a little early for prime color, Color or not I'm sure a good time will be had by all.

 

Fall is in the air;

Well here it is again - Clay County Fair time. For those of you not familiar with the fair, it is considered one of the largest county fairs in America. According to the information I've read, it is only exceeded in physical size by the Minnesota State Fair.

Fair time means different tings to different people. To myself I can't help but think it means fall is just around the corner. Right now the beans are turning yellow, the leaves on our oldest maple are turning colors and falling off, the swallows are gathering for their fall migration and the monarchs are stocking up for their trip south.

 

This week we've had below normal temperatures so it really does make you think fall is close, but the weather person says not to worry- by mid weed we'll be back to summer temps just in time for our own fall migration to northern Minnesota. For almost 20 years now my family and I have traveled up north  in late September. We usually came at Gooseberry Falls State Park and some years it's nice and warm, other years it's rainy or bitter cold. Some friends of ours just got back from there and said the leaves are just starting to turn, so maybe our timing will be just right this year.

 

I hope this finds all well and I hope you enjoy this weeks images. The fence post and bean field images are HDR images, which helps enhance the colors and the monarch image was captured near Greene Slough west of Lake Center, Ia.

Silver Lake;

 

I've spent additional time around the Silver Lake area this week. This is such a nice area just 3 1/2 miles west of Ayrshire. Iowa. Lason Prairie which is 34 acres of beautiful rolling hills has held my attention very well. The blazing star right now are really gorgeous as are the flax-leaved asters, blue lobelia, goldenrod, compass plants and the ever blooming blue vervain.

 

Also as I mentioned last week I found the small and delicate touch-me-nots which I'm including an image of. Due to weather delays I captured them a little past their prime but I think you'll get the idea. These flowers are no more than 1 1/2 " and at maturity explode, sending their seeds a flying. The sap in their stems and leaves were used to relieve itching from poison ivy and nettles.

 

Silver Lake also offers a great opportunity to anyone wishing to canoe or kayak. This small lake offers plenty of nooks and crannies to explore and as it's long and narrow, there's plenty of shoreline. I've only found one spot to put in so far on the NE corner but I believe there's another on the NW corner.

I feel really lucky to live in this part of Iowa. There are so many opportunities for those of us that want to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Have a great week and I hope you find time to get out and enjoy this beautiful weather

Season of change;

 

I'm sure most of you-at least in the northern states- have noticed some of the maple and sumac leaves have started to change color. Also our willow tree is losing leaves like crazy.

The end of August in Northwest Iowa almost always brings wind, warm days and cool nights. I don't know about you but I can tolerate the warm days when it cools off at night. The last couple of mornings as we sat out on the porch we needed a light sweater and a warm cup of coffee tasted right good.

 

I call this the "inbetweener" season. Not yet fall but summer has certainly lost its punch. I've been watching the flowers change in the prairies. Most of the cone flowers are now gone to be replaced by blazing star, burr marigold and varieties of sun flowers.

While Pam and I were out scouting new photo ops Pam noticed a small yellow flower in one of the ditches. So we stopped and found a pale touch-me-not. What an unusual wild flower. As soon as we get a calm day I need to go get a photograph of this little guy. It goes to show it's always helpful to have an extra set of eyes.

 

I also found for the first time a rattlesnake master. It is quite unusual in that it's a flower that looks more like a clump of burrs. Getting my eyes opened to the world of prairies this year has certainly been fun and rewarding.

I hope everyone that reads this blog will try to take a few moments each day and open your eyes to the beautiful and changing world around you. It really is a season of change and for many of us our favorite season is just around the corner.