Author Archives: Griff Wigley

Deer in Hidden Valley Park: getting closer

Posted on June 28, 2010 by Griff Wigley

At about 9 am on Sunday, I saw this deer trot across Hidden Valley Dr. at Peterson Dr. and head into Hidden Valley Park, startling a couple who were walking their dogs.

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Getting rid of Bird’s foot trefoil

Posted on June 20, 2010 by Griff Wigley

Last Thursday, I noticed a crew of three workers walking around the pond spraying. I chatted with one who said they were from Prairie Restorations, under contract with the City of Northfield. They were killing Bird’s foot trefoil, described on … Continue reading →

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Another gorgeous sunset

Posted on June 19, 2010 by Griff Wigley

The big storms bypassed us on Thursday night, but they left behind another gorgeous sunset:

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Toad entertainment

Posted on June 2, 2010 by Griff Wigley

This little toad seemed convinced that the only way out of our basement window well was to climb up the face of our outdoor thermometer, to no avail. Cheap entertainment for me.  I finally took pity on it and squashed … Continue reading →

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An elusive doe appears to be making Valley Pond her home

Posted on June 1, 2010 by Griff Wigley

Robbie spotted a doe wandering among the cattails around the pond last Saturday. I tried to get close for a photo but the doe spotted me and took cover. Crappy photo, I know. A few hours later, when I was … Continue reading →

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The honeylocust tree in spring

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Griff Wigley

Our neighbor’s honeylocust tree is at it’s spectacular best right now because it’s as much yellow as it is green.

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Sunset over Hidden Valley Park

Posted on May 30, 2010 by Griff Wigley

Tonight’s thundershower cleared out just in time for the sunset.

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Daisies among the wildflowers popping up

Posted on May 29, 2010 by Griff Wigley

   The wildflowers are starting to pop up all over Hidden Valley Park after the spring burning a few weeks ago. And this year, several strands of oxeye daisies can be seen, including a bunch right at the storm water … Continue reading →

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Our pond is alive with the sound of music

Posted on May 26, 2010 by Griff Wigley

The rains have been plentiful this spring and thus making the frogs around the pond in the middle of Hidden Valley Park very happy.   I captured their music while sitting in front of our backyard fireplace last week and again … Continue reading →

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Mallard families (not geese) again making Valley Pond their home

Posted on May 14, 2010 by Griff Wigley

Again this year, Valley Pond is home to a couple of new mallard duck families. And again, thankfully, no Canada geese have done likewise. The cattails that surround the pond are evidently doing their job to keep the geese away.

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Carmen Sevcik joins the neighborhood

Posted on May 14, 2010 by Griff Wigley

I met Carmen Sevcik a few weeks ago during the controlled burn of Hidden Valley Park. She had just moved into one of the townhomes along Hidden Valley Drive. Carmen’s known to many in the area because she and her … Continue reading →

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Photo album: spring burn

Posted on April 20, 2010 by Griff Wigley

I woke up from my nap to the smell of smoke this afternoon. A crew hired by the City of Northfield was doing a controlled burn of Hidden Valley Park. See the album of 16 photos (8 fire, 8 post-fire), … Continue reading →

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Egrets pay a visit to Hidden Valley Pond

Posted on April 13, 2010 by Griff Wigley

Gene Bauer snapped this photo of two egrets in the pond yesterday morning. One was in motion and he took the photo through his window and thus, it’s a little bit blurry… but cool nonetheless! An egret is any of … Continue reading →

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Photo slideshow: Hidden Valley Park in Winter

Posted on March 3, 2010 by Griff Wigley

I took half of these photos in early January after a big snowfall and the rest in mid-February during one of our many hoar frost mornings. See the album of 49 photos, the large slideshow, or this small slideshow:

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Cross country skiing, snowshoeing, sledding around Hidden Valley Pond

Posted on January 5, 2010 by Griff Wigley

    People cross country ski around the perimeter of Hidden Valley Pond each winter. And kids go sledding on the hill on the north side. But this year, with all the snow we’ve had, there have been people snowshoeing, … Continue reading →

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