Cottonwood, Van Meter State Park

A friend of mine told me that native Americans used to hang weights on the lower branches of young trees in order to get them to point in a certain direction.  This cottonwood tree, growing out in the wetlands north of Van Meter State Park, is probably just old enough that it could have been taught to point.  But to what was it pointing?  A tree becomes a symbol and mystery.  The world becomes a little more interesting when viewed this way.

Van Meter State Park

Another warm season photo, to keep at bay the dispiriting influence of February's leaden skies.  This was taken during an October camping trip at Van Meter State Park, north of Marshall.  The park has done a significant amount of work putting in an elevated boardwalk around and through the Missouri River wetlands.  It is a profoundly beautiful place to find yourself on a foggy morning in late October.