A late summer photo from the Blue Spruce Park master gardens.
Colorful wood asters are beginning to bloom in early September, it means that fall is just around the corner.
Turtles are an ancient species that harken back to a primal time. The wood turtle species pictured here is especially interesting because they are known as highly intelligent species with a keen environmental awareness. In lab tests they have been shown to be able to negotiate a maze and learn pertinent parts of their environment very quickly. We were pleased to see this one on a property that we had not seen wood turtles at in well over 20 years. It's nice to know they are still here. Wood turtles are becoming so rare that they are currently being considered for endangered species status by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.
