Springfield Conservation Nature Center
/A few days after the first hard frosts of the year in Springfield MO, we took a short hike on the Springfield Conservation Nature Center trails. The morning was cool and sunny – a near perfect fall day to be outdoors. The forest was full of color. One surprise: there seemed to be more green leaves on the ground than usual; perhaps the trees were caught by the frost before they could change color.
We spotted a young turtle sunning on a log…warming up.
A larger turtle climbed up on the same log. It went back in the water rather than joining the smaller one.
There were ducks preening/snoozing on a log in the water. Their legs and webbed feet looked very bright in the morning sun.
I couldn’t resist some macro images of late flowers…a few insects…even at caterpillar!
Our last ‘find’ of the morning was in the parking lot as we were getting ready to leave: a praying mantis making its way across the asphalt!
A morning well spent….
