On Arbor Day Friday April 28 it was cold and overcast, but that didn't stop us from spending it walking through the woods at Rice Lake State Park.  It had rained lots recently but we didn't think this park would be overly wet, but boy were we wrong. There were areas of standing water that we had to either work our way around or through. Parts of the trail were great, but other parts were such that you didn't want to stop moving or risk losing a shoe.

But that didn't mean there wasn't lots to see. In fact there were so many wildflowers covering the ground it was stunning. There was White Trout Lily, Cut-leaf Toothwort, False Rue Anemone, Wild Blue Phlox, Bellwort, Yellow Violet, Blue Violet, Hepatica (not blooming yet), Jack in the Pulpit, Rue Anemone, Little-leaf Buttercup, May Apple, and Pussy Willows. There were lots of birds to see too. They included Yellow Rumped Warblers, Canada Geese, American Coots, Northern Shoveler, Blue-winged Teal, Hooded Merganser, Bufflehead, Blue Jays, Wood Ducks, Horned Grebes, Ruby Crowned Kinglets, Mallards, Belted Kingfishers, Palm Warblers, Brown Headed Cowbirds, Northern Flickers, White-throated Sparrows, Wrens, and Chickadees. Once again we heard a Sora, but still not sightings of them. We also heard Sandhill Cranes. There were lots of Whitetail deer running around as well.

All in all a fun time was had wandering through the woods. Can't wait til our next outing.

Take care

Karla and Aaron