Sunflower, Opening

Sunflower, Opening

Sunflower © 2008

My garden looks a little bedraggled – except for the glorious sunflowers. Hoping I can watch them dance until frost comes to visit.

Stalking the Clouds

Next to a Cornfield

Next to a Cornfield © 2008

Not all of my hiking has me wandering through prairie land. Today’s hike started in prairie and ended up with me coming face to face with an endless expanse of cornfield. This Midwestern corn is tall stuff when you get up close. And surprisingly noisy. Lots of insects buzzing and crickets cricketing and birds swooshing. Critters scooting between the rows of corn. It’s rather a mini eco-system in it’s own way.

The Enlightened Man

Carving on Carousel at Ellas Deli in Madison, Wisconsin

Carving on Carousel © 2008

He looks rather like a minor god of the carousel, but I can’t find any information about this guy.

The carving, lit to full effect, graces the Parker Carousel at Ella’s Deli on the east side of Madison. It is one of fewer than 75 operational, original carousels in the country. The carousel was built in 1927 in Leavenworth, Kansas, and operated in a park in North Tonawonda, New York for 20 years. When the park closed the carousel was dismantled and stored for years, and when brought to Madison, it required intensive restoration.

The carousel became operational in 1976 and has been a favorite of kids and adults alike for more than 30 years. I’ve taken quite a few spins of the ride myself, entertainment for my three kids. Okay, I admit it. Entertainment for me too. I love the slow spin, and the up and down horses (and camel) and keeping my eyes closed, listening to the pipe organ music.

You can almost imagine a scene out of the 1930s.

Leaping Camel

Leaping Camel on Carousel at Ellas Deli

Leaping Camel on Carousel © 2008

This seemed like an appropriate photo for a Friday evening, the beginning of the week-end after a long week. We might do well to celebrate – maybe take a giant leap for joy like this great carousel camel.

What?  Carousel camel?

Tall Grass Prairie Wildflowers

New England Asters

New England Asters © 2008

The last show of wildflowers in the prairies are in bloom. The prairies are full and thick, now beginning to yellow a bit. The New England Asters are easily cultivated, and found in many gardens, but they are especially handsome in the thickets of grasses on the prairie.

Rosin Weed

Rosin Weed © 2008

What a name for one of the most perfect prairie wildflowers I’ve seen in a long time! Rosin Weed is an excellent flower for the prairie, and used extensively in prairie restorations as it is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds.  Its sap contains resin which was once used as a chewing gum. (Ick – I’d rather have peppermint myself.)

Blue Vervain

Blue Vervain © 2008

This would be an easy flower to miss, except it grows so tall the flowers tend to stick out over many of the shorter grasses. The Blue Vervain flowers themselves are tiny – less than 1/4″ wide – but the plant stands up to 6 feet tall.

Vervain was a popular plant, well-known for its many medicinal uses – made into a brew and used as a tonic, an aphrodisiac, and a sedative. Centuries ago it was hung on European peasants’ doorways to ward off the devil and other evildoers, and it was worn as an amulet to bring good luck.