This stretch of road at the tip of Door County is frequently photographed, especially in the autumn when the leaves turn color. The design of the fifteen curves are said to have been influenced by the works of architect Jens Jenson, who early in his career design what he called the ideal highway which would slow traffic and keep nature always in view.
Curvy Road
Some of the area schools started last Wednesday and others started today, but the school the children went to this week probably didn’t look like this one. The Pioneer Schoolhouse was built in 1880 after Ephraim’s first log school in Door County became too small. In 1900, an addition doubled the size to accommodate 80 students and the tall windows allowed more natural light inside. After the school closed in 1949, the Ephraim Historical Foundation preserved the schoolhouse as a museum.
The Pioneer Schoolhouse Museum
There was a maple tree that often turned colors early, or at least certain branches of it did, and some years it started to color in August. But this year I can’t check to see if the leaves turned on it or not as that tree and several other pretty maple trees have been cut down recently.
Missing Maple Tree
The Black-eyed Susans were soaking up some sunshine today.
Susans in Sunshine
As the summer vacations will begin to wind down soon, there are some person visiting parks and the lakes on a nice Sunday summer day.
Exploring by Lake
Much needed rain is coming down but I don’t want it falling on my head although these lily pads probably don’t mind the rain.
Lily Pads
The Siskiwit River, with a series of cascades, is a nice place to spend a summer day, especially when some person take a ride down the natural water slide.
The Siskiwit River
The little red squirrels haven’t harvested all these pine cones yet. The pine cones look like claws on a monster’s paw.
Pine Cone Hanging On
The other day when I was at a small waterfall, there was “nots” around the edge of the ravine. The tiny blue Forget-me-not wildflower and the orange Spotted Touch-me-not were both blooming. The Spotted Touch-me-not is an important nectar source for the Ruby-throated Hummingbird and they can use their long slender beaks to reach to the base of the plant’s long tubular blossom.
Spotted Touch-Me-Not
This barn has seen better days but it would have provided some shelter from today’s rain and lightning.
Tired Old Barn
