Pope Farm in the Fall!

"People like to say that it―significance, import―is all about the family. But lots of people do not have rich networks of hilarious uncles and adorable cousins, who all live nearby, to help them. Many people have truly awful families: insane, abusive, repressive. So we work hard, we enjoy life as we can, we endure. We try to help ourselves and one another. We try to be more present and less petty. Some days go better than others. We look for solace in nature and art and maybe, if we are lucky, the quiet satisfaction of our homes."

― Anne Lamott

Yesterday morning, I headed over to Pope Farm Conservancy to take in the fall colors. My morning commute takes me along Blackhawk Road, which runs along the conservancy's northern edge. I've been noticing some exceptional color along the woodland edge bordering the spillway's ravine. It's also a good spot for migratory birds, with plenty of cover and food to attract them.

There was at least one Lincoln's Sparrow ...

Other sparrows included Song, Field, Chipping, White-throated, White-crowned, Eastern Towhee and Dark-eyed Junco. There were also a few Yellow-rumped Warblers and a single Orange-crowned Warbler. I heard a Pileated Woodpecker call and a moment later it emerged from the woods and flew across the prairie toward the conifers at Blackhawk Ski Club.

But mostly, I was here to decompress, enjoy the sights, my steps, and breathing ...

Gaura and primrose were notable wildflowers in bloom ...

Grasshoppers and crickets were plentiful, but I didn't turn up any butterflies or beetles. The fall colors may not have developed quite the way I'd hoped, but Nature follows its own schedule. Northern Wisconsin is already past peak, while Sauk and Dane Counties are moving closer to theirs.

Today's plans may include a hike at Indian Lake Park, though I'm also tempted to make another stop along the Wisconsin River to see if any tiger beetles are still hanging on. Our unusually warm weather may have extended the season for a few stragglers, but temperature is only part of the equation. Longevity plays a role, too. The season is winding down, and even the hardiest holdouts eventually reach the end of their life cycle.

 

All images © 2026 Mike McDowell