120 PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



the gayety of butterflies, sweet scented blossoms, the aroma of the woods, 

 and the splash and sparkle of waters. Come with me lovers of nature and 

 let us take a ramble to the "Ledges." The walk will do us good; "the air 

 is balmy with the breath of the south wind and the smell of the new 

 earth," that in itself is satisfaction. The snow may still linger in places 

 along the old hedge fence and perhaps we will find the ground covered 

 here and there with ice-crusted snow on the shady sides of the ravines 

 along the river bottom, but this is the very place where the pheasant will 

 build its nest in May. Let us wander along yonder small streams, Peese 

 creek that winds its way through The Ledges valley until it reaches the 

 Des Moines river. Here is a woodland path that we can use it is na- 

 tures highway. Every summer happy bare-footed children have trusted 

 to the path's guidance through the forest, as they searched for flowers and 

 berries. If we would come here some morning at the break of day we 

 would see the woodman's little herd of cattle slowly walking along this 

 same path on their way to their feeding grounds, the tinkling of the 

 cow j bell faintly echoing through the stillness of the early morn adding 

 poetry to their leisurely movements. 



Grazing and resting during the day, they return home at sunset when 

 the thrush sings his sweet evening hymn and the whipoorwill's notes ring 

 through the darkening woods. There is a fascination in the woods on a 

 March day that increases as spring advances, each day nature appears in 

 a different mood. Characteristic of these early days of reviewing nature is 

 the sonorous drumming of the small woodpeckers on some dry and re- 

 sonant limb, a distinctly musical performance. It is usually the downy 

 woodpecker, but as Mr. Burroughs says, "He is not rapping at the door of 

 a grub; he is rapping at the door of spring." Foot-paths are the natural 

 avenues for nature study. Someone has said that "Those only know a 

 country who are acquainted with its foot-paths, by the roads, indeed the 

 outside may be seen but the foot-paths go through the heart of the land." 

 There are many foot-paths in The Ledges. Two of these paths are mostly 

 used by pleasure seekers. One leads to the top of "table rock," the high- 

 est elevation in The Ledges valley from this point of vantage a splendid 

 view may be had of the surrounding landscape. 



The other path leads to the Devil's Cave. The less frequented foot- 

 paths are to be preferred for nature study. We are most apt to meet 

 frolicsome squirrels and happy birds where people do not intude. 



October is one of the finest months of the year. The daily glories of 

 sunrise are repeated at evening in the sunset glow. 



October frosts have chilled the air, 

 And turned the leaves to gold and red. 



It is during these Indian summer days, when all about the hills are 

 crowned with woods that seem to burn and glow, that we gather the 

 golden rod along the roadsides and meet pretty red-poll linnets, goldfinch, 

 snowbirds and sparrows. Wandering bands of roaming Bohemian wax 

 wings pass through The Ledges valley. 



We listen to the warbling bluebirds in yonder group of sumac with its 

 crimson leaves, and watch the little boys as they climb over the old ivy- 

 covered rail-fence with a bulky sack of nuts on their back. What thoughts 



