One of our really best hikes, so we’re going back next week to explore some of the trails we haven’t been on yet. Dubuque Forest is close to 7000 acres!Today’s trail started along a river lined with remnants of what must have been really impressive mills, in particular there were tanneries that utilized the abundant hemlocks in the tanning process. In time they put themselves out of business when they’d cut down all the hemlocks!!!! (Duh, eh?)
We had hiked here in the Fall and wanted to return in Spring as we suspected it might be rich in wild flowers. Well it certainly was …. once we crossed over that very rickety wooden bridge.
I had never seen Pad Orchid (photo 3) or GoldThread (photo 4). The Gold Thread was all over the place. It’s inconspicuous actually and SO lovely . Clintonia, one of my real favorites (photo 5), was prolific! There were deep green patches of it all along our hike. Although we’ve already seen it in bloom elsewhere, here in Hawley it was only just about to bloom. Lots lots more, but too much for the Report.
I’m skipping a lot of “trail stuff” so I can show you our lunch over at Hallockville Lake. Dragonfly nymphs were emerging from the lake and we delighted in them. (Phil and Ellie – can you help us identify it?) We also found the “casings”? that they had come out of. The dragon fly in the photo is on the box that held the blueberry pie that Tony made for Lissa’s birthday celebration. Tricky business cutting and serving pie out in the wilderness! Such a wonderful wonderful day and I truly hope that your day was the same. xo Penny 







We had hiked here in the Fall and wanted to return in Spring as we suspected it might be rich in wild flowers. Well it certainly was …. once we crossed over that very rickety wooden bridge.
I had never seen Pad Orchid (photo 3) or GoldThread (photo 4). The Gold Thread was all over the place. It’s inconspicuous actually and SO lovely . Clintonia, one of my real favorites (photo 5), was prolific! There were deep green patches of it all along our hike. Although we’ve already seen it in bloom elsewhere, here in Hawley it was only just about to bloom. Lots lots more, but too much for the Report.
I’m skipping a lot of “trail stuff” so I can show you our lunch over at Hallockville Lake. Dragonfly nymphs were emerging from the lake and we delighted in them. (Phil and Ellie – can you help us identify it?) We also found the “casings”? that they had come out of. The dragon fly in the photo is on the box that held the blueberry pie that Tony made for Lissa’s birthday celebration. Tricky business cutting and serving pie out in the wilderness! Such a wonderful wonderful day and I truly hope that your day was the same. xo Penny 








Leave a Reply