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Nearby Nature MKE group hiking at Havenwoods

Photo essay: Autumn Colors Hike at Havenwoods with Nearby Nature MKE

October 31, 2021  |  Topics: Places

Text by Martina Patterson

Photos by Eddee Daniel

We begin by acknowledging that we are on traditional Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee homeland near where the Milwaukee, Menomonee and Kinnickinnic rivers meet and where the people of Wisconsin’s sovereign Anishinaabe, Ho-Chunk, Menominee, Oneida and Mohican nations remain present.

We breathe deeply…. We find a space to stand or sit. We focus in on our senses; placing intent on what we wish to share, give, learn from this space. We ask permission from Nature to interact with this space….

We are thankful to all who are present for this Nearby Nature MKE Autumn Color Walk on such a beautiful day in Havenwoods State Forest! We take a moment to reacquaint ourselves with Nature; breathing deeply and delving into our senses; focusing on at least one aspect that we’d like to strengthen or deepen. Creating space to welcome Nature in. We explore the difference between conifers and deciduous trees, how leaves go through senescence, and some medicinal purposes of our state tree, the Sugar Maple. We spend some time visiting the Pine tree plantation; awakening the senses of sound, smell, and touch; learning about the medicinal uses of pine.

We close with the same breath exercise, placing intent on what we wish to share with our communities from this experience.

Photo essay

The group hiking one of the Havenwoods trails
The group hiking one of the Havenwoods trails.
Autumn maple.
Autumn maple.
Stragglers on the savanna.
Stragglers on the savanna.
In the pine plantation.
In the pine plantation.
Emmanuel leads the way.
Emmanuel leads the way.
Cyclists share the trail.
Cyclists share the trail.
Education garden
Education garden.
A hawk soars overhead.
A turkey vulture soars overhead.
A crab apple explosion!
A crab apple explosion!
Looking up into the pines.
Looking up into the pines.
Elijah walking in solitude.
Elijah walking in solitude.
A section of woodland where invasive buckthorn is being cleared.
A section of woodland where invasive buckthorn is being cleared.
Master naturalist Martina Patterson.
Master naturalist Martina Patterson.
Thirty people attended the Nearby Nature MKE tour of Havenwoods.
Thirty people attended the Nearby Nature MKE tour of Havenwoods.
A colorful trio in a colorful setting
A colorful trio in a colorful setting.
Your Havenwoods adventure awaits!

Note: Havenwoods State Forest, located on the north side of Milwaukee, includes 237 acres of grasslands, woodlands, wetlands, an urban arboretum, education gardens, and an education center. Lincoln Creek also runs through the property. More information on our Find-a-Park page.

Nearby Nature Milwaukee is an environmental justice and equity initiative begun by the Sierra Club, Great Waters Group.

Martina Patterson is a Master Naturalist and Arts and Nature Educator for Nearby Nature MKE. Eddee Daniel is a board member of Preserve Our Parks and Project Director for A Wealth of Nature.