Yes, I actually have a favorite pool of stagnant water out at the Indiana Dunes. Several as it turns out. But my absolute favorite is this one spot on the Bailly Calumet trail. A 3ft wide depression next to the trail that is always full of water in the spring. Consequently it is also full of larvae! Mostly mosquito larvae, but probably plenty of others including various flys. I have been visiting this particular puddle for 3 years now. I like to check it out several times through out the spring to watch how it evolves.
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Here is a close up of what I found in my favorite pool of stagnant water on this day in mid March. See all those tiny black lines, with the little ball at one end? They kinda look like an old fashioned thermometer. Those are mosquito larvae. Now I hate mosquitos, they make summer more unpleasant than -5 degree weather in January. But I still love watching how their larvae grow change over time. That’s one of the things I like most about nature. Even its most miserable parts are utterly fascinating when you look at them the right way.Here is a closeup of the exact same stagnant pool of water taken a year ago in mid May. As you can see, on this day it was chock full of maturing mosquito larvae and maggots. I cannot wait to revisit this years version later in the spring!
Do you have a favorite pool of stagnant water? If not, why not.
Don’t get me wrong, I am looking forward to the early spring bloom and the warmer weather that are creeping up on us. But there is just as much beauty in nature in the cold and rainy weather of late February and early March. There are so many sharp details that stand out now, which will later be lost in the lush greenery to come. And the way that a soft, cold rain coats everything is different than in other seasons.
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Yes, I was making a pun about Sharp Details. But right now all the thorny vines and stems are clearly visible, and very impressive as well.There are large tangled patches of these bad boys all over the park. In a couple months they will be much less noticeable, unless you venture off the trail in which case you will quickly find yourself shredded by them. Just one of many reasons you should always stick to the official trails.Not everything is harsh and thorny in appearance however. There are plenty of softer hints of spring to be seen. When I saw this particular scene I was drawn to how the water interacts with different parts of the plant. Beading up on the emergent fibrous parts, while smoothy coating the rest. The thin layer of water adds a richness and depth to the colors of the outer parts of the plant.I enjoy how these clumps of cottony fibers catch and hold water in small droplets in intricate, swooping lines and patterns.Viewed close up, these little puffs look very similar to the webs of ground spiders which will soon begin to emerge. I always find it fascinating how such similar patterns appear throughout nature, at different times and from different phenomena.Once the hard, non porous surfaces accumulate enough water you get beautiful single droplets of water just hanging around. On a day when the rain is light and there is little wind these droplets can grow large enough to show interesting optical effects. The hanging droplets of water redirect light in such a way that they appear to contain perfect, inverted copies of their immediate surroundings.
To me there is no one season, or type of weather which is best for enjoying being outside. All times and conditions are equally beautiful. Nature simply has an endless supply of things to see and experience for those who go out and look. So while I am looking forward to spring, I am in no way waiting around for winter to end.
