Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Clark Road Pathway Overgrown

On the last day of August, I decided to take a walk down the pathway from Clark road to the levee. The pathway was completely overgrown with wetland plants that heavy rains created in June and early July, before the oppressive heat and corresponding drought moved into the area.
08312011JGW-EmiquonClarkRoad-WetlandBridge_MG_1882

Great Blue Lobelia bloomed at the edge of the prairie.
08312011JGW-EmiquonClarkRoad-GreatBlueLobeliaWidflower_MG_1940

The pond the beavers created under the bridge was dried up, and the plants had taken over.
08312011JGW-EmiquonClarkRoad-WetlandPond_MG_1915

08312011JGW-EmiquonClarkRoad-Wetland_MG_1911

08312011JGW-EmiquonClarkRoad-WetlandBridge_MG_1902

Plants blocked the pathway leading away from the bridge TNC built to cross the stream that crosses the path.
08312011JGW-EmiquonClarkRoad-WetlandBridge_MG_1926

I fought my way past the plants only to find more plants; no trace of the former pathway could be found. Foxtail grass, Sneeze Weed, Boneset, and Ironweed, sedges and other wetland plants covered the open acres of land between the stream and Thompson Lake.
08312011JGW-EmiquonClarkRoad-SneezeWeedFoxTailGrass_MG_1896

08312011JGW-EmiquonClarkRoad-SneezeWeedWildflowers_MG_1893

08312011JGW-EmiquonClarkRoad-IronweedWildflowers_MG_1931