LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?

 

Is there light at the end of the tunnel?  

 

 

 

  It all depends on which way you're going.  Let's pretend we're all coming out of the dark into the sunshine. It could happen that way.  

 

 

 

The best walk of the  week was at Eugene's Delta Ponds.  This bit of nature in the middle of the City is a peaceful -- and hopeful -- place.  It's a City Park reclaimed from gravel pits.   Gravel extraction during the 1950s and 60s  provided much of the material for construction of local roadways, including Interstate 105.  

 

 

The City purchased the land from the gravel company in the late 1970s, but it remained wild and unclaimed until 2003.      

 

 

 

Work to restore the Delta Pond System and reconnect it to the River  has been ongoing since then.   It's a wonderful resource for the community and one for which I'm grateful!  

 

 

More usual suspects -- the white duck must be an escapee who decided to join his wild cousins.   The female Mallard at the top left has a feather on her beak.  I kept expecting her to sneeze.   Also seen, but not photographed (even badly) were a few darting songbirds and a Kingfisher.

The next two pictures are from last week's visit to our daughter and son-in-law's.  

 

 

 A few mid-summer flowers are still hanging in there. 

 

 

The Black Walnut tree is magnificent in all its fully leafed out glory.   It is too bad that it couldn't stay at this stage for longer!   The leaves will probably start to fall just about the time the rainy season arrives, which (according to our children) makes a big messy job.     I've taken so many spring and summer pictures of this beautiful tree this year, the least I can probably do is pick up a rake in the fall.   Or not.  (Maybe I will just take some more tree-watch pictures instead. )  

 

LINKING this week to the following sharing opportunities.  Thank you to all of the hosts:

 

MOSAIC MONDAY;  NATURE NOTES;  THROUGH MY LENS;   OUR WORLD ON TUESDAY;  MY CORNER OF THE WORLD; SIGNS SIGNS;    THANKFUL THURSDAY;  SKYWATCH FRIDAY;  FRIDAY  BLISS; and  SATURDAY CRITTERS; 

 

 

Comments

[Michelle Banks]

Let us hope so

[Arun]

Beautiful blooms.It would be my pleasure if you join my link up party related to gardening here at
http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/2020/09/garden-affair-teaching-from-gardening.html

[Debbie]

that tree is simply magnificent!! i'm not sure which way we are traveling in that gorgeous tunnel, but we continue to be extremely careful and i am always happy. except today, they closed the pool!!

beautiful images today and cute little duckies!!

[mae]

Reclaiming wasted or damaged land for natural areas is one of the good things that municipalities and park authorities can do, and your stone quarry remade into a series of wildlife places is a really neat example. Beautiful photos!

be well... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

[Adam Jones]

Let's hope there is light at the end of the tunnel for everyone. Thankfully we have our wildlife and nature to help us through the dark times. Your pictures are wonderful.

[EileeninMD]

Hello Sallie,
Wonderful variety of birds, I love the ducks, egret and the heron. It looks like a great place for bird watching. Beautiful park and a nice walk. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, enjoy your day, wishing you a happy weekend.

[Anu]

Hello. Wonderful collection of photos. The Black walnut tree is awesome. Thank you for sharing.

[Margaret Birding For Pleasure]

Love the path leading to the tunnel in the first shot and the duck as well as that wonderful tre image. A kind heart is a

fountain of gladness,

making everything in

its vicinity freshen

into smiles.

Washington Irving

[riitta k]

Believing there is light at the end of the tunnel, helps through tough projects or demanding days.

That is a perfectly shaped tree, a beauty in its environment. Have a fine weekend Sallie.

[Amy Franks]

It's really nice to know there's reclaimed land out there around the world being used for wildlife.

[Rosie Bailey]

Lovely photos. The tunnel is great, thanks for sharing your world.

[Sami]

Love that tree tunnel photo, so pretty.
And the collage of ducks too :)
Have a lovely day

[Jim, Sydney, Australia]

Great.

[betty - NZ]

How awesome to have something like that made into a park! Here in NZ, there are several abandoned quarries that are made into water and flower gardens.

I'm so excited to see you at 'My Corner of the World' this week!! Thanks for linking.

[MaryBeth Schwartz]

So neat to have city parks. thoughtful thinking. And there is light at the end of this tunnel
MB

[tomthebackroadstraveller]

...there is a great need to natural areas. Thanks Sallie for stoppin gby.

[Veronica Lee]

I love your positive spin of coming out of the tunnel, Sallie.

That Black Walnut tree is certainly magnificent!

[Tanza Erlambang]

tunnel of hope....
beautiful views as always....great shots.

[William Kendall]

Beautiful shots!

[David Gascoigne]

It is remarkable what can be done with quarries and gravel extraction sites once their economic feasibility come to an end. The best results that I have seen were in the UK where some first class nature reserves have been created. If I am not mistaken, the companies are required to set money aside for remediation so the financial burden does not fall on the taxpayer. It is a happy story that you are able to enjoy nature in this way in Oregon.

[Photo Cache]

Magnificent is truly the right adjective for some trees. Stay safe.

[Dawn aka Spatulas On Parade]

I love the tunnel and the thought that we are coming out of the darkness, maybe a hopeful brighter end to this year.
Dawn aka Spatulas On Parade

[antonio]

so beautiful photos!

[Fun60]

A hopeful photo at the beginning of your post. I am not looking forward to the winter so enjoy the late summer flowers and trees still in full leaf. Thanks for sharing.

[Linda Walcroft]

Lovely place! That walnut tree is impressive.

[VAlerie, Australia]

I do like your positive spin on coming out of the tunnel !
That second image evokes a sense of calmness - which I guess we can all do with at this time. Thank you.

[DeniseinVA]

Such beautiful photos and I love the first one for its symbolic nature. I do so hope we are all going to be seeing the light at the end of the tunnel soon. Thank you, always enjoy your posts.

[Amy Franks]

I love it when cities restore places like this, bringing back more of the wildlife is so satisfying.

[NatureFootstep]

I love your tunnel image. Something I like to photograph as well when I see some. :)
Also love your birds. We have a few white duck too. As you mention probably escapees. But nice to see.

[bill burke]

What a wonderful restoration project that was. It benefits the community and encourages the wildlife to return. That is an incredible tree, it's huge and makes me think of broccoli. :) Have a nice week, Sallie.

[Lavender Dreams]

What a big beautiful walnut tree. My mother used to pick out black walnuts...that's not easy...and put them in brownies. Oh my they are good! Love seeing where you've walked too. I'll be glad when the weather cools and we can get out more here. Hugs!

[Alan Bates]

I love tree tunnels, especially in the summer.
I always enjoy hearing about land repurposed in a thoughtful way as a park.
I love your big tree. I have my favorite trees around town here and I have learned to not take them for granted as sometimes I show up and it is gone.

[// Heidrun]

Hello, dear Sallie, reading this Post one, two, three times... Of course, I had to translate, but more to understand. Is there light at the end of the tunnel? ... I couldn't give answere. It's a secret. It's touched me.

Stay healthy and well.
Happy MosaicMonday

[Lisa]

How lovely! Looks like a wonderful park for a visit. That tunnel is amazing.

[gillena]

We have to keep beleiving in the light at the end of the tunnel so we can find it

My linky is back. Feel free to link up if you visit

Have a safe and happy Monday

Much⚘love

[Sondra]

The Ponds is a great place to take a walk...good to have it nearby. That black Walnut tree is huge!! Do they get lots of nuts from it? There's tons of Hickory nut trees in the woods here but the nuts are always small and worm infested so I don't bother to gather any. A joke we had in NYC was "the light at the end of the tunnel is Jersey." lol...the Lincoln Tunnel of course.

[EileeninMD]

Hello,
I would love the tunnel path. All the greenery and flowers are a lovely sight. I am sure all the bird and ducks are happy with the pond being restored. Take care, enjoy your day! Have a great new week!

[Linda P]

A dream come true would be to walk through that tunnel into the light. Your photos of places of beauty in your area are uplifting. The walnut tree is magnificent.

[Julie Margaret Bryant]

It's always good to se that land has been reclaimed and that the wild life have returned. The Black Walnut tree is madnificent, look forward to seeing your autumnal captures soon.
Happy MM.

[Bob Bushell]

It is wonderful, a realist in a fairy land. Beauty Sallie.

[Lady Fi]

Such beautiful, leafy shots.

[iris Flavia]

Love the first pic + words!
Yes, the mess with fallen leaves starts soon. So sad. We had not even a real summer.
But... there must be light at the end of the tunnel, right!!!

[Beatrice P Boyd]

Enjoyed the information and learned something new, always a good thing. Also liked the comparison of coming out of the tunnel and into the light.

[Rambling woods]

I love to read of restoration.... Thank you for the good wishes. Brie is feeling better. We so enjoy the good days..

[Angie]

Sallie - I always enjoy a happy ending such as a reclaimed wild area, especially when it involves eliminating invasive species! I think we are all hoping for a light at the end of the tunnel - without it, life would be pretty gloomy! I don't miss raking leaves, I will tell you that! Thanks for linking to Mosaic Monday!

[Carol]

I'm so glad the land was reclaimed and is now a park everyone can enjoy.

[Martha]

Such interesting history and I'm in love with the first shot. All the photos are great! The photos from your daughters place are great too, that tree is very impressive. If I were you I would definitely stick to tree watching. Have a fantastic week! :)

[Penelope Notes]

What a beautiful path. “There is light at the end of the tunnel, but how long is the tunnel,” was a very good question late record producer, David Briggs, once asked. As long as they are not underground, tunnels feel enchanting and hopeful, especially those that have two sides.