I felt the first hint of Spring Sunshine on my face.  It’s coming!

That splash of life and color arrived, just in time, in my in-box last week from Matthew J. George, a kindred soul, and so much more.

“Fine Art Photographer, Creative Consultant,Tree Hugger, Sculptor, Storyteller, Witness, Explorer, Trailbreaker, Wanderer, Bohemian, Celt, Granola type”

Are you the “Blind Traveler” Matthew?

The title you gave to the picture above is a beautiful metaphor to contemplate the difference between “an exoteric, literal meaning and an esoteric, inner teaching”.

Matthew, it was a pleasure to meet you on the Sand Prairie and I Thank You for sharing these beautiful pictures with us.

The picture above, along with the first in the post, were taken at the Eagle Oak Opening State Natural Area.  Below, Matthew explores Bluff Creek East: “… It’s always a little different where I go and how I get there, but I bet you have an idea of how and why I do it.  I am looking for the “real” Kettle Moraine — the one that is hidden beneath the invasive brush — the Kettles you and I envision how they should look and feel. Thanks to your, and your team-mates efforts, the  Southern Kettle Moraine has become one of the most exemplary examples of what Wisconsin must have looked like a few hundred years back.”  The Bluff Creek Springs.

Below, Matthew takes advantage of a new perspective revealed sans buckthorn at The Springs. “I am an avid hunter of the Spring Ephemeral flowers that bloom in the areas  before the canopy fills with leaves, but there needs to be little or no invasive growth in order to find them. Now I can find them much easier. I am talking about Hepatica, Spring beauties, Jack in the Pulpit, etc. These Spring Ephemerals are inherently descriptive of the “real” Kettles.”

Check out Matthew’s fine photography at: Matthew J George, Rain To River Photography!

Photographers treat the old marl factory wall at The Springs like a canvas (#3 on the Trail Brochure), and I think it’s going to become even more popular when all of the buckthorn is cleared away from it.

I have been looking forward to clearing both sides of the trail between signpost #2, commemorating The Tibby Line, and the marl factory for a couple years now and I’m pleased to report that I finally got after it.  Andy Buchta, just back from his adventures Down Under, joined me to stoke the fires.

Tuesday morning was cold and windy.

I lit the brush piles shown above and then started a few new piles amongst the buckthorn.  Thanks for all your hard, volunteer, labor Andy!

Tuesday Afternoon.

We returned on Thursday and had another fantastic day.

We finally broke clear through to the marl factory wall!

I’ve been working so long into the short Winter days that it’s been a while since I took a walk around the loop as the sun set.

Back at The Wall.

See you at The Springs!