Impression Evergreen

Wallace F Holladay Nature Preserve Occupying a rural greenbelt on the outskirts of Indianapolis, Holladay Nature Preserve features a diverse variety of trees and birdlife. Surrounded by a deciduous forest, a small pond is the sparkling centerpiece. Continuous rainfall has cleansed the dense woodland, saturating the Spring landscape with a glossy sheen. During such a downpour, the brown creek rushes steadily through a rolling meadow. In the field below a weathered, red barn and a broken-down silo, yellow flowers form a nice border. Nearby, the abundant foliage becomes a tangled mass that's tremendous in both height and width. Despite being drenched during the remarkable deluge, resilient songbirds keep chirping with an infectious optimism. After a few, dreary days spent in the heartland of Indiana, it's nice to finally see the sun. A diverse variety of trees A small pond is the centerpiece A cleansed woodland A Spring landscape A rolling meadow...

The old homesite is overgrown by weeds and sunflowers The summer heat was oppressive as we pulled into the old homesite. It had been 25 years since anyone set foot in the place. Overgrown by weeds and giant sunflowers, the decrepit structure stood defiantly. Several turkey vultures were flushed from their roost and managed to catch an updraft in the still air. It was a bad omen. When these birds are circling, death is imminent. Rural Nebraska is dying. Last weekend we departed from Colorado to attend a family reunion in Southwestern Nebraska. The early pioneers of my family homesteaded on the rolling prairie near McCook and worked the fertile land in the Republican River Valley. My childhood summers were spent at "The Farm" exploring the hills and tree rows in a quest for adventure. We hadn't been back in a long time so I was excited to see the many relatives who still live in the area. I also wanted to revisit the old stomping grounds and get some photographs. E...