365-day photography challenge

Late last week, I decided to try to do a 365-day photography challenge. The challenge basically means my camera and me becoming inseparable. I've got to take at least one photograph every day for 365 days. I started the photography challenge on Saturday in grand style. I went to Buckhorn Island State Park, located in the northern tip of Grand Island, where I took 81 photographs!

The other side of these bridges is Niagara Falls, New York. There is yet another bridge that will take you to Niagara Falls, Ontario, where there are really cool things, which include a floral clock and a butterfly conservatory.

This is an interesting view of the marsh.

Bee-autiful bee on leaves.

On my way home from Buckhorn Island State Park, I spotted these lovely flowers. 

On Sunday (August 3rd), I co-hosted coffee hour at Saint Martin-in-the-Fields church. The other co-host was Dawn. We brought in a variety of foods, and I had fun arranging the fruits on a platter. I had purchased these fruits at a farm stand in Grand Island.

On Monday, I headed south. This is the bridge that will take you to Tonawanda, New York. If you keep heading south, you will arrive in the City of Buffalo.

On this day, however, I stayed in Grand Island. When I arrived at Beaver Island State Park, I walked down the Spaulding Trail. While on the trail, I saw a few rabbits hopping around. They are camera shy so, as soon as I got the camera ready, they were long gone.

At the end of the Spaulding Trail, you are here.

This mural is one of the creations of professional artist Terry Klaaren.  He went to high school in Grand Island and then moved to Florida. Sometimes, he comes back to Grand Island, where he paints murals or teaches art classes. Above is a mural that he painted near the Beaver Island State Park golf course.

One of the mainstays of the Ferry Village neighborhood at the southern tip of Grand Island is the Village Inn. It is well known for fish fries and for homemade soups.

On my walk, I discovered this beauty.

A busy bee explores a coneflower.

The Niagara River on a cloudless day.

The sun sets on the Niagara River, just outside of the fishing station near Beaver Island State Park.

This is another mural that Terry Klaaren designed, as part of the Grand Island mural project at the Grand Island Plaza. There are a series of paintings that depict scenes from Grand Island's history. The above painting shows the ships burning in the creek, now known as "Burnt Ship Creek."

Winter scene in Beaver Island State Park.

On Tuesday, I went with a group of ladies from Saint Martin in the Fields Church to see Twelfth Night at Delaware Park in Buffalo.

This is the rose garden at Delaware Park in Buffalo.

Hoyt Lake.

It was a fun evening of wild comedy, drunken revelry, mistaken identity, music, and more. Did I mention all of the food that was brought to make the event more fun? 

On Wednesday, I was busily weeding a garden when I spotted this slow moving insect on the side of the house.

A different day, a different house, a different garden.

On Thursday, I went out to collect wildflowers and to make this bouquet.

Friday morning treat. A smoothie made with strawberries, raspberries, a peach, Greek yogurt, and apple cider.

These tiles were given to me. They extol the virtue of the magnificent species called Cat. So I placed them in a (gasp!) bare spot in the garden as decoration, with a few rocks, painted and nonpainted.

Today, at Saint Martin-in-the-Fields Church, there were some beautiful flower arrangements that were brought for Friday's Wine and Beer tasting. I was, alas, unable to attend the Wine and Beer tasting this year. Apparently, it was a huge success. People enjoyed the beverages, the food, and the music.

Shakespeare in Delaware Park

On Tuesday (August 3rd), I went to see William Shakespeare's comedy, Twelfth Night, with a group of ladies from the Saint Martin in the Fields church's women's group. We were there to eat food, drink wine (or sparkling grape juice), have quality time together, and to get entertained and amused.

Delaware Park is considered the jewel in the crown of Buffalo's system of parks. It was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and his partner Calvert Vaux in the 1870s. It was a grand design. At one point, there was a boathouse on the lake, which is now called Hoyt Lake. There were a series of connecting parkways, as well.

The boathouse was removed in 1901, when the Pan American Exposition was held in Buffalo. Two structures were built during the exposition that still stand. They now house the Buffalo History Museum and the Albright-Knox Art Gallery.

The Buffalo Zoo began with a small collection of animals in the 1890s. The golf course came into existence in the early 1900s, with the 18-hole golf course being built in 1930.

In 1960, the park was split apart by the construction of the Scajaquada Expressway. Why anyone would want to build a highway through a park is beyond me. In my opinion, a park is a refuge from noise and chaos. The expressway destroys the peaceful oasis aspect of the park. For more information about the history of the park, take a look at the Olmsted Conservancy's website at: click me

There are a variety of rose bushes in Delaware Park, with roses of different colors and sizes. 

The rose garden is a favorite place for wedding ceremonies.

Another of the many roses in the rose garden.

Here is an interesting collection of native plant species in the park.

A view of Hoyt Lake.

Many people come to the plays with their own food but, just in case you did not carry in food and beverage, you could get a meal at this hotdog stand.

This is the Delaware Park Casino.

Here is another view of Hoyt Lake.

After exploring the park and indulging in food with friends, it is time for the show to start. Lisa Ludwig announces the play and thanks the audience for coming to see the entertainment, despite the gray skies and the rainfall, which occurred about an hour and a half before the start of the play. Fortunately, the storm blew over.

All of the performers in Twelfth Night are male. That is how it would have been in Shakespeare's time. There would have been no ladies appearing on stage. Back then, it was considered to be scandalous. No, having all men on stage is humorous. One character, for example, played a young woman, who was, for most of the play, disguised as a man. A man playing a woman disguised as a man. One of the "women" fell in love with the "fake man," but "he" would have nothing to do with "her."

The characters in Twelfth Night had been shipwrecked. Apparently, they had brought along a large supply of alcoholic beverages because some of them acted as if they were completely inebriated. They were falling down drunk. In fact, one of the performers actually did fall down. It was not an act. To the audience, it looked like an excellent pratfall.

The actors sang, fell over, acted drunk, and had sword fights. There's nothing like a drunken sword fight.

As it grew later, the air became chillier. I brought a fleece and a blanket. Many others did the same. Fortunately, the show provided much amusement and entertainment.

Twelfth Night plays until August 16th. Show time is 7:30 p.m., at Shakespeare Hill in Delaware Park.

Beautiful Buckhorn

Buckhorn Island State Park is a restored wetland/wildlife sanctuary located in the northern part of Grand Island, New York. There are parking lots at the edges of the park. Within the park, there are hiking trails and a bike path. 

Yesterday, I took a long walk through Buckhorn Island State Park. Here are some of the pictures that I took during my excursion.

There's nothing as busy as a bee. The bee has rounds to make and it can't stop, just because it is Saturday. This one is busy on the flower of a thistle.

Another view of the bee on the thistle.

Here is the entrance to the walking trail at Buckhorn Island State Park. People walk here, with or without dogs. Some people ride bicycles although the pathway can be a bit bumpy. There is also a bike path available, near the expressway (I-190).

This is teasel. Its scientific name is dipsacus. It is found along roadsides and in parks and can be considered invasive. When I went to the park yesterday, I saw that the teasel was blooming.

Here is one of many views of the Niagara River along the path.

Nobody was out fishing but this bridge is where fisherfolk can often be found. Common fish that have been found in the Niagara River include perch, small and large mouth bass, walleye, muskellunge, and northern pike.

This marsh is a nesting ground for a variety of birds, including least bittern, northern harrier, and sedge wren. Migratory species, too, visit this marsh. They include ducks, herons, coots, rails, gulls, and more.

Here is another view of the marsh. I took this picture and the above picture from the shore.

I took this picture of the marsh from the bridge.

Many native plant species grow wild in Buckhorn Island State Park. The plant pictured above is wild bergamont.  It can be found in various shades of pink and lavender. It attracts birds, hummingbirds, and butterflies.

This is the bridge between Grand Island and Niagara Falls.

Another view of the bridges.

I found this tree that had been cut by humans. I'm not sure why that happened.

I walked under the bridges and away, down a narrow peninsula that stops in the middle of the river.

Another view of the bridge.

I reached the end of the peninsula and watched the boats, as they traversed the area.

I am still on land, yet I am in the middle of the mighty Niagara River.

A wild shoreline.

Bridge reconstruction time.

Conferring over how to proceed with the project at hand.

Here is a view of the worksite.

I found this gem amidst the cattails. I believe that it is a wild geranium. It attracts birds and adds color to the large field of cattails.

Stone bridges over the marsh.

There are various types of wetlands in Buckhorn Island State Park. The two main types are marshes and swamps.

Small boardwalk over the wetlands.

This is what you see when you are standing on the boardwalk.

As I head out of the park, I see this bee, busy on a leaf. I believe that it is a bumblebee (bee genus bombus, family apidae). Bumblebees are described as large, hairy bees that move about slowly and a bit clumsily. They are well-liked because they are cute. They are good pollinators, as well as being adorable.

This is Woods Creek, one of a number of creeks in Grand Island.

Kayak and canoe launching point in Woods Creek.

This is another place where people can go fishing. Below are a few flowers that I saw on my way home.

Tomorrow, I will walk to Beaver Island State Park, and will post later about that adventure. I hope that you enjoyed coming along with me on my trip to Buckhorn Island State Park, an important bird area and a restored wetland.