Morning Fog

Morning fog along the Katy trail.

Young Stand of Cottonwood

Fallen Branch Tree

I cam across this tree hiking on my lunch recently. The branch laying across the trial will help me find it in the future.

The bark does not look like a hackberry because of the way it curls.

I was thinking it was a maple by the curled bark but the twigs are not opposite. So I plan to return to the tree to ID it in the summer.




Circumference 98"
Canopy 53' & 58'
Height 90.6'

Total points 202.5

American Kestrel

Tall Trees Along Katy Trail

Took this hiking trail off of the Katy trail.

Red Sided Garter Snake

I was at the end of my hike and laid down on the ground to rest and meditate while in the woods. My dog usually will lay next to me, but got tired of that and started snooping around and headed toward this log with a start. She then jumped back just as fast.

This alerted me that something was there and I got this photo of a Red sided garter snake. The photo link is one of California but the pattern is close.

English Oak

Early Fall Photos
Walking up on this tree I found English Oak, (Quercus robur).







English oak is covered in Exploring the World of Trees blog.

Witness Trees

Ash pattern bark


I am not sure because of the unreachable branches but I think this tree is almost dead. Because of the bark pealing off.

Witness Trees

Large leaning to the left tree.

Hiking through some woods I am establishing some witness trees that I can reference back to when I describe something in these woods. I want to find my place again when I come here in the summer. GPS may be a modern solution but that is not why I come into the woods. I am dealing with modern tech now as I write this. I want nature to teach me and not rely on high tech.

The above tree will be returned to and ID'ed in the summer and at other times. I can use this tree as a reference to other points in the woods near by.

What in life do we use as references to see how we are doing?

The Bible. People with a strong Christian witness.



Here was my next witness tree. It sat on top of a ridge which could be seen from both sides. It is a 30" oak. I measured the circumference and it was 96".

I then went down the hill to find the next tree. I was a nice one pictured below.

Photos while hiking in snow.

The above is an interesting photo of a fallen tree that is caught by brush.



Here is a Shagbark hickory that I don't see many of where I hike. I want to come back to this tree later.

Red Tailed Hawk

What a day when you get to take these photos when you are not even looking for nature photos!

I saw this Red Tailed Hawk while working last week.

Missouri River

Here are some shots of the Missouri river as I rode the Katy trail last September.