Where it began at the parking area the upland trail led me through a woods still disappointingly barren. But warm sun shone through the leafless canopy and I was happy just to be out and feeling it on my face. Besides, I had it on good authority that there was a treasure of wildflowers hiding somewhere in this place. I strolled on.
When the land and the trail dipped into a small valley I discovered the promised treasure. Small white flowers--trout lillies, I later learned--spread across the valley floor like a carpet of green with white flecks. Where a thin stream of black water trickled under a plank bridge there were luxuriant bouquets of marsh marigold.
Deeper in the woods, where the soil was moist, a thick, rich stew of skunk cabbage gave the forest floor an intensely green buoyancy. A few of the trees in the under-story were just budding out, adding a complimentary reds to the otherwise somber palette of spring. I was exploring the Cudahy Nature Preserve for the first time, thanks to the recommendation of Brian Russart, Natural Areas Coordinator at the Milwaukee County Parks Department.
Here are a few shots that I took while I wandered, rapt and enchanted in the urban wilderness.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6KdBW0FxyKjdHYY8wlXDHC1XU7gmT_1W016Ddnz-j4BpSd6VtkX9c9eb91XCs43iGQb8435wmhGKPjf_xDYH7LesD-y15Zv0kYzIhHTVpm_b0lPfqfciIOV75c-jBQFmHY0VQn3BdtlM/s320/CNP+4+Trout+Lilly+Field.jpg) |
Trout lillies carpet the forest floor |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOYKNgurvZb1nXUsE1LksZuQx-e88DTzD7zHCuFhLFbYdNsLQRiosbOX1HjowxuTPzp4XDlaWrYzT1ASDOtXBpDi7rOvNurs3KO50ziGxSwSUqEpoilXBnQWmXXxUVrz6b0CcfIPZicl0/s320/EDaniel_CNP+5+Trout+Lillies.jpg) |
Vole-eye view of trout lillies |
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![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MSfXHnZnXMmnq7HBdjQgrWXDtTNAPnIQG5pxfgn43biNxyuvG2XbyBOpifAVbLXehip6HhDikBNfv6zJvj062o6uA4ou718gN_9aePOF3j9bXm_vcSnBnd60vkOLj42pkSCpnYV7scY/s320/CNP+12.jpg) |
Field of skunk cabbage |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvFyA3Qyrsfldybx6fDrkGQpcbrrb2zqXhg3NH5ma60VnCaVL8yLgSMgAM8KQF0MdGgIu2dC2rK5YecqLW5VW75D7jcaClSlKLk26v630K7DR0OCq066G2wN4y4sFl1Bk_vAEH_Wc-4Nw/s320/CNP+3+Skunk+Cabbage.jpg) |
Skunk cabbage |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaihoUgCvb3eUBMXk8-ngX-blN0FP8DHOi44dKSq3h8pONSQ3ArFM4gWAUee42KLm3Mk3clkgIg7RipMK_HrbppmiIBMQ1KhOR9Z1sv3YFErUdsZ7dc6ZzPSoD8gFacRUiyWoztmqOaz0/s320/CNP+6+Skunk+Cabbage+Field.jpg) |
Field of skunk cabbage |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6C4yOttyf6R-YtMPtEtymlmfm0leaKO-NLi4uLKUCyr7uqaRZOPI-Vk9o_ExLRpVJpR72ExKg9R7u8GbxpoSRfh3PaLwmmRY9AP1rLuFnvmCQvAP-8QiWeMOPYHu1IMez_XxtNrVNKVQ/s320/EDaniel_CNP+1.jpg) |
Marsh marigolds in wetland |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18G9qSUoZ9FHce1U70Ys3h8Op_BYiNxftIH421w0relLbL8PjFsZQbfZV8nyyIUPKAwFsyF98q1Lk4zWFkOaVq1V9s6ki53GkEcvevzgI6IkB72YPuQfdTBGWDvSAJoG3JjDitAxmVK8/s320/CNP+11.jpg) |
Upland woods |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNM9KWDX_lNojNH4RlkHu6whtZUZmizepVXJ8hWaKJQgIuOQ1D-LvYIb1AvpBlaiAdAvqWhsxvtRXzVBKUGCxOuUB-IIqoQfDj47_LR7qrwAG_Y2rhjdT-3GHcf1e5klv-h7CgSnuuv5o/s320/CNP+2.jpg) |
Budding trees |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Cv1T3yTeYqrqK6J753wmq9VStU8wmXRO7n1BtIoB_sa4b_znP7DExpOCm_eIuv9xzApuZ1tEA1QXTiAmr1_7OE8ssk5HcCfn4_czbwa8FZw2au1hpkYGrzKbARx0NzPxv1SwHG0-5lI/s320/CNP+10.jpg) |
Purple cress |
Oh, I suppose I should mention the noise. Every few minutes I was subjected to the tremendous roar of jet engines as an airliner began its acceleration towards liftoff from Mitchell Field. The end of the north-south runway is right next to the park. Between flights it was very peaceful.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFRmqyJZSE8BwAYAzMhx0QGrYBi7tAX4QNVgmKNAdxluIipaIVN5ceLiyyvk0zclciwlhGzIru-bDjY6UrRyq3xlZmJ1JDmZN_Ry0r05GebkWFNEHFhCdHYW-Fsaoh3QyQZwgaZgI3zVY/s320/CNP+8.jpg) |
Flight path, adjacent to the preserve |
To see more photos of Milwaukee's parks and natural areas, go to my Flickr album.
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