Kentucky - Jefferson County

The Winter Woods Spectacular

The Winter Woods Spectacular is a community walk event with a presentation of lights in a wooded area in Iroquois Park.  Funds gathered from the event benefit the Parks Alliance of  Louisville. 

Jefferson Memorial Forest

Fall scenery in the Jefferson Memorial Forest

The Jefferson Veterans Memorial Forest was founded after the ending
of World War II.  The site is in Jefferson and Bullit counties in Kentucky. The site has some high places that make good overlooks.  Paul Yost
worked to acquire the initial parcels of the site.  Paul Yost was the first forester of the forest. He had worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Army Air Forces.  The Paul Yost  section of the forest is named to honor his work.

The Tom Wallace Lake in the forest is named  for the conservationist Tom Wallace.

He led opposition to the installation of a power plant near the Cumberland Falls. He collaborated with Stephen Mather.
 Stephen Mather headed up the staff of the National Parks. 

What I saw - Animal tracks

Two sets of animal tracks Iroquois Park - Louisville, KY

The covering of snow brings a new beauty. 

It may be hard to get a sense of scale in the picture.  The larger set of tracks is not from a human; the tracks are still smaller than human tracks.

Some authors speak of the ten thousand year old forest at Iroquois park.  No matter the age its beauty transcends the descriptions.

A little music

Historic Church - Saint James Court Area - Louisville, KY

You won't find many media links at Watersideplaces.  Opening the link takes you to a brief  view of these amazing young musicians. 
Louisville Leopard Percussionists Promotional Video

The Louisville Leopard Percussionists are  wonderful musicians.  One may find an audio of 'Sing Sing Sing' on the homepage at louisvilleleopardpercussionists dot com.

There is only one Louisville Leopard Percussionists; and they play in Kentucky.

Appreciation of Mr. Olmsted

Mr. Olmsted said that Cherokee Park was meant to present the "bluegrass country of Kentucky" to the people of Louisville.

In a report from the F. L. Olmsted firm provided to the city in 1891, the site for Cherokee Park was described as a place of "refreshment that is to be had in the contemplation of superb umbrageous trees..."

 The Park has broad spaces that are kept mowed but also wide corridors of woods.   Beargrass Creek winds its way through the landscape lending the scene an inviting look.   There is a famous photograph of Big Rock in Beargrass Creek with park visitors in clothing of  a bygone era.  It may be 1890s clothing.  At the top of a bluff there is a statue of the Greek god Pan. The statue dates back to 1905.

Louisville Metro Parks - Cherokee Park - Pan

Cherokee Park - Limestone Cliffs

Cherokee Park - Cliffs

Cherokee Park - Informational

Cherokee Park - Beargrass Creek

Cherokee Park - Stonework on roadside wall

The limestone cliffs along the creek corridor are home to walking ferns and amphibians that need special conditions to live. The outstanding tree in the woods of Cherokee Park is the American beech.  The bark of the American beech unlike most Kentucky native trees grows with the internal structure of the tree.  Most trees shed portions of bark over time but the Americon Beech does not.

Mr. Olmsted's Design

Louisville's first park was created in 1880 after exhuming bodies buried at a site at Jefferson and Eleventh Street.  The land became Baxter Square Park.   Andrew Cowan was one of Louisville's prominent businessmen.  Mr. Cowan communicated with Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr. in 1891 about planning parks in general and with the thought of building parks for the city of Louisville.  Mr. Olmsted had designed the park in the interior of the Quartermaster Depot in Jeffersonville, Indiana in 1873.

Mr. Olmsted Sr. planned the system of eighteen parks and six tree lined parkways that connect them in the Louisville community in Kentucky.  Mr. Olmsted planned the parks system in collaboration with his partners before his retirement in 1895. 

In a report from the firm provided to the city in 1891, the site for Iroquois Park was described as a place "of sequestered character-a treasure of sylvan scenery." Though built before automobiles were in use for transportation much of the layout can be seen today. The park system has been a place for recreation and appreciation for people for over a hundred years. 

Iroquois Park has  a high knob in the central portion of its area.  At several locations stone steps are set in the hillside.  These steps are said to be a part of the Olmsted design for the Iroquois Park landscape.

Steps - Iroquois Park

Iroquois Park - Louisville Metro

Wildflower with Fall Foliage - Iroquois Park - Louisville Metro

The steep slopes of the knob are populated with American Beech, Fagus Grandifolia. The beech's bark is smooth. In contrast to many trees the outside of the tree continues to grow as the inside of the tree increases in size. Most trees shed portions of bark over time but the beech does not.

Some parts of the slope have Virginia Pine, Pinus Virginiana. These trees are a Kentucky native tree and are commonly seen where land that was once farm land is slowly becoming a habitat for trees. The Virginia Pines of Iroquois have adapted to the dry, rocky areas where many trees would have difficulty getting established.

Some of the trees at the edge of the slope near the golf course are yellow poplars, Liriodendron tuliphera. These trees produce large orange flowers that usually bloom in May. Yellow poplars are said to be more abundant in Kentucky than any other state.



City by the River

 

Iroquois Park, Louisville, Kentucky

 

This block of stone was taken from the project area during the renovation of the McAlpine dam at the Ohio River.  Today it may be appreciated at the Iroquois Olmsted park. Louisville has ties to the Ohio River in many places. The Big Four Bridge connects the Louisville waterfront with a historic neighborhood in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Walkers are rewarded with the views of the moving river and  the skyline.   At one time local Jeffersonville citizens could take the train over the Big Four Bridge to visit in Louisville. Now people can walk or bike and enjoy a similar journey.

 

A place of quietude is a place of coming home.  Communities are becoming places that are blends of cultures.  Understanding is built on the line of cultures that preceded the understanding.  Home could be the place you were born or the place where you are yourself in harmony with your surroundings.

 

What do you care about deeply? 

 

In stillness is the redemption of the self.

 

 

Big Tree

Big Tree, Summit, Iroquois,  Olmsted Parks and Parkways

In 1891 Frederick Law Olmsted collaborated with the City of Louisville to establish the city park system.  Eighteen city parks and six parkways were created.  A rail transportation system brought passengers out to the Iroquois Park using one of the parkways.  This tree has a branch that exceeds many of the park's tree trunks.  The size you see is the size of the branch; it's diameter exceeds two feet.  The rope has been added to make climbing to the branch easier. 

The landscape of Iroquois Park continues although we take it's presence for granted.

In print advertisements there is a simple statement about Louisville: It's possible here.

Olmsted Park - Iroquois Park

Iroquois Park Grassland at Sunset

Old tree - Iroquois Park

Frederick Law Olmsted said Iroquois was the nature preservation park of the park system.  The park has grasslands at the summit area.  Recently the park system has been presenting the park as the home of the "ten thousand year old forest."  Perhaps these mature trees on the uplands are hundreds of years old.  Sounds like it would be a good study for some of the eastern Native Tree Society members to try to measure the age of these trees.

Ohio Shore

Ohio River, Near Cane Run Road, Kentucky

This is the Ohio River as seen from the Kentucky shore on an August afternoon.  This is an experience that can be enjoyed in the here and now.  When walking one can walk in a way that is a kiss to the earth.  There has been much damage done to nature.  Now comes the time to walk and to walk as though one is giving the earth a kiss.

Held in appreciation

Two seeds, one tree

The Jefferson Memorial Forest continues though we take its presence for granted.  When we are aware of the forest we benefit from the forest.

If you have anger and you become angry at your anger you are walking with two angers.  If you act tenderly toward your anger you will have much less harm come from your anger.   Over time your understanding will open you so that your anger is less intense.

What I saw

Jefferson Memorial Forest

When going out one finds new things.  This flower was out in the sun on a July day in the Jefferson Memorial Forest.

Continued living brings one learning.  One learns from suffering; happiness is also learned.  Without suffering there is no learning of the appreciation of happiness.

One experiences anger.  A person may carry anger along on their journey.  After practicing appeciation daily the force of anger becomes much less powerful.

On the journey one finds much to appreciate.

Growing

Shagbark Hickory

 



Trees take in their resources and add new branches. Slow and steady growth. The way of trees is growth when growth can be done.  Trees impress.  Carya ovata grows in most of the Eastern United States from southeastern Nebraska and southeastern Minnesota across to southern Maine, southward to Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and eastern Texas.  Trees live and continue to grow, growing when opportunities present. 

Mighy Ohio

Ohio River, Downstream of the McAlpine Locks

This river carries cargo for great areas of the Midwest. The K and I railroad bridge crosses to Indiana in this view.  

The dams that allow boats to travel on the river are maintained by skilled workers.  Though their efforts go mostly unnoticed the cargo that is carried would not be able to be transported were it not for the workers.

Many families live in the valley along the route of this river. The water is the source of water for the communities in this valley.Though it is taken for granted this water is vital to the people.  This is a sacred resource.

Walking

Jefferson Memorial Forest

This is the trail marker for one of the approaches for the Purple Heart trail.  The Purple Heart trail can be walked as a loop.  There is convenient parking between the hillside and Tom Wallace Lake.  Most the forest area is wooded.  There are few benches.  Consider bringing a square of nylon sized to sit on.   I have a tan colored bag that looks like an over sized pocket.  If I put a plastic bag inside the bag the water from the rock I am sitting on will not migrate to me.  My bag is a thick nylon that is unlikely to move even in a strong wind.  One learns to select gear that will not be moved easily by the wind.

Bringing gear to sit on is especially useful in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.  The trails have numerous logs that are good to sit on if one has a square to put down to make seating comfortable.  The Chimney Tops trail comes to mind.  The Chimney Tops trail is a very scenic trail with many firm spots that would make good rest stops.

The Jefferson Memorial Forest is a good place to practice walking awareness.  The forest is a good place to be aware that you are aware.

Over the river

Big Four Bridge

The former railroad bridge is built high above the Ohio River at Jeffersonville, Indiana.   The Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & St. Louis Railway operated the railroad for an interval of time. That railroad line has been called the Big Four.  Because of that the bridge is known as the Big Four Bridge. The crossing makes a Louisville, Kentucky - Jeffersonville, Indiana path.  This provides a place for walking.  This place is an appreciation of the Ohio, a large inland river in America.  Another opportunity to appreciate a miracle that is here.

Wildflowers are a miracle



Jefferson Memorial Forest, Jefferson County, Kentucky

We take for granted the miracles we have in the here and now.

This wildflower was on the way to the trail head at the Purple Heart trail in the Jefferson Memorial Forest.



We breathe in and hold in awareness our body and experience that we are alive.

We breathe out and hold in awareness that we are in the light. 

The dragonfly is one of our best flyers.  This one was flying all around near the Tom Wallace Lake in the Jefferson Memorial forest.