My friends have told me for a long time that Maskepetoon park was an excellent area. It's an area of river bottom and escarpment. Most of it is excellent native habitat. A small portion was mined for gravel. I finally visited Maskepetoon Park today and it is all my friends say it is and more. There's old growth forest and some of it is dying. There are various types of wetlands. I'm too late to see many flowers but the golden rods were at their prime. All kinds of birds were in the massive amounts of shrubbery. Heavy shrubbery makes it hard to see birds but it makes excellent habitat for them.
So my afternoon was most enjoyable. As I walked along I also thought of the name. Maskepetoon was a wise Cree chief in the area. He was able to persuade his people to live peacefully with others and so he has been remembered with much respect.
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| A general map when you enter the area |
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| Typical river scene |
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| Choke cherries |
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| A nice touch for a stairway landing |
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| Some healthy wetland |
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| Trails wind through the area |
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| There are many interpretive signs |
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| A couple of giants bit the dust yesterday in our windstorm |
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| The remains of a giant poplar which is now providing food. |
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| You are in a fen when you read the sign |
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| The trail back home |
i like when places are left somewhat natural. nice that it is honoring the chief, too.
ReplyDeleteI go further than the somewhat natural. I want it all native.
DeleteThat is one extensive park! It seems to have a little of everything.
ReplyDeleteIt covers some variable terrain. One area is swales where the valley is made up of a low area that winds around and by higher areas right beside it. Because of this you get great variety.
DeleteThat is a nice park! My family loves to hike and explore places like this. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThis area has been there for a long time and only recently have tails been installed.
DeleteThat looks like a great place to go walking!
ReplyDeleteThere's lots of up and down so you would get your exercise.
DeleteIt looks a great place to wander, sit and just watch the world go by.
ReplyDeleteYou could set up at the side of the trail and let all the critters go by .
DeleteWhat a lovely way to spend the way. A most beautiful park with so much to offer. I like the "Natural" side. The giant popular looks like it is being well used. Great scenery and I love the trees in the middle of the landing. We spent the day on the Bay Of Fundy yesterday, with the salt water and southerly wind cooling us off. Another beautiful day indeed.
ReplyDeleteThere's lots of old growth stuff . The old poplars die and they stand for years and provide a good place for bugs. Beaches are great as they are ever changing.
DeleteThis looks like a very peaceful place to visit.
ReplyDeleteIt's peaceful but there's lots of bird life for watching.
DeleteI like the name of the park, after a gentle Indian chief. And the pictures make me want to go there! Thanks, Red, for introducing me to the area. :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's different from the habitat you spend your time in but natural never the less.
DeleteThese parks, with signage, are fabulous. Excellent to learn about an ecosystem. Great photos, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteIt's surprising how long it takes to develop a park to the point of usage.
DeleteWhat a spectacular place! And your photos are fantastic. That stairway landing is very well done. I imagine spending time here is very peaceful and meditative.
ReplyDeleteThere was a wedding party further down but I think they could have taken photos there. The light wasn't great when I went by.
DeleteHow exciting that after all this time you've discovered a new natural playground. Great pictures and looking forward to more.
ReplyDeleteI knew about this area a long time ago but didn't get my butt over so I could visit.
DeleteWhat a beautiful park! I like how they built the stairway landing around the tree.
ReplyDeleteThat type of forest has very heavy underbrush.
Delete100,000 people and you think that is small? Our nearest town has 200 and the next nearest has 2,900 for population...more in the summer. That is some great looking park:)
ReplyDeleteSo you are out in the country and have native habitat all around you.Lucky!
DeleteWhat a calming park! So beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love that they are remembering the chief this way for his peaceful heart. It looks like a lovely area.. such a nice place for a walk. I like your photo of the wetlands and of the choke cherries.
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