Wednesday Naturalists: Summer Hike

Naturalist, Dave Spier, led today’s nature walk.

Arrived at Montezuma Audubon Center at 10:00 AM. Dave was out by the road sign photographing the flora and fauna. Went inside and registered with Carol, the Center's Education Manager, and met Becky, an AmeriCorps volunteer, who was busy restructuring the Center's terrariums.

Other hikers began to assemble. At precisely 10:30 AM our group of six (Ed from Geneva, Barb from Butler, Dave & Dottie from Auburn, Anita from Port Byron and I) stepped outside. After introductions in the parking lot followed Dave on a path toward the Crusoe Lake outlet.

As we were walking down the path three Great Blue Herons flew overhead. Dave mimicked the their wing movement, showing how one can recognize this bird in flight from afar.

The abundance of wildflowers produced many questions from the group. Using his vast knowledge Dave identified all but I believe one, which was so similar to another of its species he could not positively name it.


Hedge Bindweed (Convolvulus sepium)


Snail on Milkweed


Ouch! - Dave's advice - Do Not Touch!
Tall Nettle (Urtica procera)


Skipper & Flower??? Did not take notes


cinquefoil (Potentilla)


Flower??? Did not take notes.


Bladder Campion (Silene cucubalus)

On our way to the pools we passed the maintenance worker cutting the grass paths. After turning south Barb noticed a leopard frog which had not hopped as the mower blade passed. Dave would eventually gather up the creature and place it in a terrarium back at the lodge.


South Pool


South Pool

The highlight for me was viewing a snipe in a drained pool. Dave identified several other birds that were using the pool today.


Dave naming the birds.

Taking a short cut back to the lodge we put up another Great Blue Heron.

What started out as a another dreary overcasted day became a bright warm walk through nature. Everyone should take the opportunity to experience these informative tours of one of central New York’s jewels. The next Wednesday naturalist summer hike is scheduled for August 12th.

A bonus to my trek. On my way back home discovered two New York State Historical markers.


McDonald Road - Throop NY


Sherman Road - Throop NY

Plus passing by the Historic Mentz Church a flower caught my eye. So pulled over and photographed it.


Mentz Church - Adam's Needle


Mentz Church - Yucca gloriosa

What a great day!

Letterboxing Adventure - William Seward

William H.Seward

William Seward was Abraham Lincoln's Secretary of State. Seward was responsible for the purchase of Alaska, which some called "Seward's Folly". Seward also championed for the abolition of slavery. Seward supported many freed blacks in the Auburn area, including Harriet Tubman. Seward sold land to Tubman, which at the time was illegal.

Seward's former home, now a museum, is situated on a triangular lot between South Street, the Inner Loop Road, and William Street.



The letterbox was accessible from Seward Park, which is south of Seward House. Today pedestrian traffic was non-existent, but vehicle traffic was heavy.



A park bench provided a comfortable seat for stamping the log and viewing Seward's monument.



View from the letterbox



"The United States are a political state, or organized society,
whose end is government, for the security, welfare, and happiness
of all who live under its protection."
~ William H. Seward

Letterboxing Adventure

What began as an overcast day turned into a bright, sunny afternoon. Michael and I decided to go Letterboxing , an activity that we have not pursued for awhile.

Our first letterboxing adventure was A Haunted Houseful. This clever romp was created by Red Barn Photos.

This treasure hunt contained five letterboxes. These boxes were dedicated to a ghoulish group of friends, Count Dracula, Mummy, Jack-o-lantern, Frankenstein, and their residence. Their fabulous resting place, along with some other very quiet folks, is Cold Spring Cemetery, just north of the intersection of York and State St (also known as Route 38) in Auburn.



Cold Spring Cemetery is a historical landmark, the final resting place of immigrants who escaped the Irish potato famine and veterans of the Civil War.



The yellow gate was our starting point. Our first find was the Count. Then after passing Fitzpatrick and a fallen O'Horo found Mumm E's niche. We kept going past Finn and Patrick and Ellen Clancy and lying next to Thomas Clancy was Jack in a good shelter.

Frank was among the missing. But after paying our respects to Sarah Nolan and Margaret Kennedy, we uprooted the group home.


View from Home Letterbox

Our second letterboxing adventure was Mayura. This pleasant stroll was also created by Red Barn Photos.


Hoopes Park Club House

This letterbox was hidden in Hoopes Park. This park is one of our favorite walking paths. The flowers were especially attractive today. Also the number of people using the park this afternoon was impressive. We had to use stealth is acquiring the stamp.

Flower Bed

The stamp was carved in the image one of Red Barn Photos’ favorite animals, Mayura. The box name is the Sanskrit name for this beautiful bird. In the Hindu belief, Mayura is a symbol of benevolence, patience, kindness and compassion. The carved image was based on "Pride" by Micah Guenther.
Gazebo & Pond Fountain

It was good to get back into letterboxing. Surely Michael and I will be out and about again soon.

Michael

Yours Truly

Copper John Visited

Copper John

Since I had a letter that needed to be mailed, decided to make the Post Office a destination for my morning walk. Usually the downtown motels host the spillover hot rod enthusiasts from the Syracuse Nationals, however, there were no customized cars in the lots as I walked by.

Coming out of the Holiday Inn parking lot noticed that the morning sky accented Copper John in a good light. Took several photos. As I was making my way down State Street, a white-shirted sergeant passed through the construction gate and walked across the street towards me. Before he could speak I told him that I was photographing Cooper John. The officer identified himself as Tony, his last name escaped me. He said the prison administration was concerned about pictures taken outside the prison gates being given to inmates who might use the snapshot to plan an escape.



I assured him that I lived in the neighborhood and simply wanted to take advantage of the lighting to capture Copper John.



Note the guy with the two Great Danes

Before we parted ways I told Tony a couple of Cooper John stories. Tony admitted that aside from viewing Cooper John when he was recently on the ground for repairs that he knew little about this iconic figurine.



We shook hands and as Tony prepared to reenter the facility he stated that he once had a math teacher who was named Cameron. I let his comment leave with the wind.

2009 St. Hyacinth's Parish Picnic

On Sunday, June 28th, St. Hyacinth's Church held their annual summer parish picnic. The raffles, child-centered activities, and polkas kept those in attendance busy. But the main reason people were packed into the church parking lot was the food. The Polish plate which included kielbasa, two pierogi, a generous helping of kapusta and a slice of rye bread was the crowd's favorite.



The line for the pony rides seemed to never diminish. All the kids left the ring with a smile.



Several parishioners drove their classic cars to the picnic.



Live entertainment was provided by the Fritz's Polka Band featuring special guest, Rocko Dorsey.

Milli's Graduation Pancake Breakfast

To celebrate Milli's graduation from high school, her family opened their backyard to friends and family. From 9am til Noon they served a good old-fashioned pancake breakfast.



Food Tent

The menu which included New Hope Mills pancakes, farm fresh eggs, link sausage and fresh watermelon featured Milli's family's homemade maple syrup.



Breakfast Entertainment

Between 10am and Noon entertainment was provided by Sara Horner and her bandmates.



Table Setting

Linen covered tables adorned with fresh cut garden flowers splashed by a warm sunny breeze made for a pleasant seating arrangement.



Clothesline Timeline

Attendees followed a clothesline timeline of Milli's childhood portraits to the sign the guest book.



The Graduate

Happiness is a Class of '09 Pancake!

2009 Syracuse Jazz Fest

After coming through a thunder and lightning storm, Tom, Michael and I drove into the Onondaga Community College parking lot under sunny skies. The weather would hold for the entire concert.



Michael and I purchased two lamb gyros. The real reason we come here. Returning to our seats we passed this huge banner of guitarist Hiram Bullock hanging between the two stages. Impressive.



Guy in the straw hat stage right was born in Glasgow, Scotland.



"Joanie" Mahoney, the County Executive of Onondaga County and the first woman to hold this position, here with her family.



Spyro Gyra



Spyro Gyra

Check out this jam session:

Jazz Fest Jam Tribute to Hiram Bullock and Michael Jackson

We had a great time. The music especially Bobby B.'s tribute to Michael Jackson was outstanding. Gyros were scrumptious. The crowd was appreciative. The traffic home was sparse.

Gov. Sarah Palin

Auburn New York's First Annual Founders Day - June 6, 2009. With a special tribute to the 50th anniversary of the statehood of Alaska. Honored Guest - Gov. Sarah Palin.

Sunflower

Sunflower

Haughtiness

Helianthus

No, the heart that has truly lov'd never forgets,
But as truly loves on the close,
As the sun-flower turns on her god, when he sets,
The same look which she turn'd when he rose.
Thomas Moore, 1779-1852

The Sunflower is native to America, its home the vast space between northern Mexico and southern Canada. Even 3000 years BC, the wild species was already being cultivated by native American Indians. It was an important source of food and medicine as well as a pigment for body paint.

The Sunflower surely has a rgiht to feel haughty for it is by far the tallest plant in the garden. Its size is not its only asset, however, for every part of the plant is used in some way: the seeds for eating and making oil and soap; the leaves and stalks for fodder and making cloth and even as a substitute for tobacco.



The genus name of Helianthus comes from two Greek words, "helios" meaning sun and "anthos" meaning flower. It was worshipped as the symbol of the sun by the Incas of Peru and later by North American Indians. There is a classical legend that Clytie, a water nymph, was changed into a sunflower having died of a broken heart at the betrayal of Apollo, the sun god.



The sunflower's Italian name is "Girasole" because the flowers really do turn their heads to follow the sun's daily course from east to west.



Vincent van Gogh re-established the sunflower's popularity in the 19th century by using it as motif in its own right. Like no other flower, the sunflower typifies natural vitality and an affinity with primitive nature.

CCC Trail Revisited

A Fitting Tribute

Ruth Sara Goldman, a fixture at the Cayuga Community College Nature Trail until her death in 2007, was honored by her friends and family members who placed new exercise equipment in her memory on the trail.



Marty Goldman and his wife, Wendy, look at the sign commemorating Marty's mother, Ruth Sara Goldman, as the as “the unofficial caretaker of the Cayuga Community College Nature Trail” before the start of the dedication ceremony of new exercise equipment in her name on Sunday.

Photo Credit - Jill Connor / The Citizen