South Loop Trail

         On Tuesday June 2, I walked the South Loop Trail which part of which is along the Middle Fork River. It starts where the white star is on this map.  

           Walking to the beginning of the trail from my camper, I had to pass by part of the pond.  Growing along the edge of the pond were these beautiful yellow irises, and

                     swimming in the pond was this great big frog!

                    most of the trails in the park look like this: an avenue of cut grass.

        Before coming to Middle Fork, I thought there was only 1 specie of Spiderwort, but I was wrong. The Spiderwort at Meadowbrook Prairie in Urbana is Virginia Spiderwort and the Spiderwort at Middle Fork is Ohio Spiderwort, though they look the same to me.

  Poison Ivy grows here in profusion. You can recognize it by its 3 leaves: the two outer leaves have a 'thumb."

 The brown seed heads from last year continue to feed the birds until the green growth of this year produces seeds.

 These metal containers with an opening can be found along the trails throughout the park. I asked my boss what they were for and he said "bats." I don't think this one is being used by bats because it had a bunch of grass hanging out of the opening. I think maybe a bird made a nest in it.

Bats might live in this one.

                              The Middle Fork River 

                                                      The Middle Fork River

   That tree has fallen over into the river. You can see its root ball yet its branches above the water have leafed out!

                  The river rippling over some fallen logs.

That nest you see in the high branches of the tree is an eagle's nest! I saw lots of bird poop on the plants surrounding the tree, so I know the eagles are using it! I didn't see them, but I hope I will!

             The sunset looking west over the pond.

           The same sunset looking east over the trees.

                      A warm campfire to end the night!