Changing Colors

We had to get out yesterday afternoon despite the rain. The colors are changing and the rain was not going to stop us, unfortunately it really started raining while we were out. The maples will be at peak in a few days. Currently County Road O has good color along it. Prairie grasses look great with the muted color of asters mixed with the big blue stem. With today's wind the ducks should blow in soon. Cranes are here, my guess is a thousand or so.

This was the best way to take in the fall colors yesterday.
Dale

September Blues

The pinks of early summer have transitioned to the yellows of mid summer and now the blues of September signal the coming burst of fall color. The gentian family, like this closed (bottle) gentian, has three members on Crex or Fish Lake. This one can only be opened by a strong insect like a bumble bee. On the other hand, the prairie gentian opens and closes depending on the cloud cover during the day. Like all prairie plants they have medicinal uses in the past. It is amazing what people have tried for various ailments. The roots of this were thought to aid digestion.
Dale

Wolf Howl

About 25 people showed up to go on the "Wolf Howl" last night.  As you can see, the Wheeler family was dressed appropriately for the occasion. After a presentation at the visitor center by Steve Hoffman with a slide show of the different wolves captured by Dale Bohlke's trail cam, we all carpooled out to the Meadows. Although we had experienced howlers, the wolves were not co-operating. We stopped at several spots around the refuge and listened intently but no wolves answered back.  The evening was not a disappointment though as it was a beautiful, mosquito free night. Especially memorable was the cloudless view of the sky from Riegel Overlook.  We stood silently and took in the beauty of the evening stars and watched in awe as several meteors streaked across the sky.

Afterwards we went to the rest area where a bonfire was going.  We roasted marshmallows and made S'mores. The end to another great evening at Crex. Many thanks to the Crex staff for organizing another enjoyable event at Crex.