WALNEY POND - PART 2

The reflections in the pond were really beautiful that day.

Walney Pond is down the road from the visitor center.  We had parked at their lot and driven down.  You can't walk safely along the road as it is narrow, there are curves, no sidewalk and it gets very busy with traffic. However, there is a trail between the two, which we have used when we have started off from the pond.  It takes us over a small bridge and through the woods.  We didn't do that this day.

Swallows have often taken up residence in the bird box shown above.  I have watched busy parents going back and forth in years' past but it was quiet on this visit.  There is also a resident beaver.  I thought it had moved on as we haven't seen one in a very long time.  I was looking through our neighborhood page online, and someone had taken very good photos of him.  I'm glad he is still here.

Here is another photo of the Canada Goose couple.

There were several areas where the Yellow Flag Irises were blooming.

Always enjoyable to look at the wild flowers growing here.  Below is the Common vetch.

And next we have the Sawtooth Blackberry.  It is native to the United States and produces edible blackberries.  The leaves can also be used to make blackberry tea, a popular drink in some regions.  Technically part of the rose family and is thorny like other rose plants.

I am not confident enough to try eating either the blackberries or making the tea. There are more knowledgeable and braver people out there than me, but I can enjoy looking at them and take photos.  I believe that is a carpenter bee in the one below.  I have noticed this type of bee has bored a couple of holes in our mail box post, and in one of the posts on our deck.  However, they are not as bad as termites and we are keeping an eye on those holes.  They have been there a while and I haven't seen any of these bees around our home lately.  I recently learned that the female carpenter bee only lays between five and ten eggs in her lifetime.

Several of the trees around the pond had vines growing up their trunks.

This is the Virginia Creeper and is a North American vine from the grape family.  It grows vigorously, has fragrant flowers, decorative blue-colored berries and leaves that turn crimson in the Fall.  I would never advise people to touch any of these plants.  The sap of the Virginia Creeper can cause skin irritation and blisters in sensitive people if it punctures the skin.   

And talking about things you should stay away from, the next climbing plant is Poison Ivy.  We had it growing in our garden and after one visit to the doctor after pulling 'weeds', we got a specialist to remove it for us.  It still grows in the garden but we have it under control now, touch wood!  

When dealing with this awful stuff, it is advised to wear gloves and protective clothing, both of which should be washed thoroughly, and even wash and clean the tools used.  They cause the most dreadful rashes on the skin that can be extremely painful, and the symptoms can hang around for a few weeks.  A doctor's visit is also recommended, we have had experience.

It is almost time to leave now.  A photo taken at the other side of the pond...

and one last shot of the geese as they take off.  I took this with my cell phone and cropped so it's not that clear but it's a memory.

That's all from Walney Pond, until the next time we go.

Thanks for looking and enjoy your weekend.