A bit of a photo splurge, from Quarry Wildlife Refuge

I've decided I'd really like to share some photos I got yesterday when David and I took the dogs out to Quarry Wildlife Refuge early yesterday morning. I'm leaving them a bit larger than I usually do because it just seems to diminish the effects on scenic pictures when they are shrunk down. So I don't blame those with dial-up connections if they skip this thread. I just would really like to share this batch as they are.

Saturday it rained most of the day, and Sunday morning, there was the most beautiful thick fog. When we got to Quarry, it was like entering an enchanted land, and I enjoyed taking pictures of the various scenery. There will be a few of the pups in here as well, as I'd prefer not to make two separate threads. Hope you enjoy!

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This is a bridge that floats/rests across a swamp. You can't really tell just by looking, but there is about knee-deep water under all those grasses/reeds. The spring peepers were nearly deafening in this area. The haziness is the fog.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...k/4b7758c2.jpg

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Pics taken from the bridge
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...oomingbush.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...foggyfield.jpg

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One of the trails
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...dogsonpath.jpg

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I was trying to get a closeup of a rain drop hanging off the end of a branch, but accidentally snapped the picture too soon before it focused. Nevertheless, I actually really like the picture of the foggy sky and the sun trying to break through
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...rk/hazysky.jpg

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And here's the successful raindrop picture
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...k/80457d96.jpg

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A spiderweb on a thorny branch
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ebonthorns.jpg

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A flower (not familiar with what kind)
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ark/flower.jpg

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Cattails
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...k/cattails.jpg

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A blooming bush admist the golden long prairie grass. The granite blocks piled up in the background is from one of the old quarries
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...andgranite.jpg

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A couple shots of different kinds of moss
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...0Park/moss.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...Park/moss2.jpg

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More coming

A trek up to an observation deck
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ondecksign.jpg

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"Hurry up Mom and Dad!"
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ogsascent1.jpg

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Daddy and the pups at the top. Keep in mind he is 6'4" tall so he makes the dogs look smaller than they are! The top of my head barely reaches his shoulder.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...vidanddogs.jpg

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Pics from the top of the observation deck, it was VERY high up, surrounded by swamp and forest
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...rk/scenic3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...rk/scenic1.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...rk/scenic4.jpg

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The pups weren't too sure about the steps, they had to be coaxed a bit to come up and go down.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...k/588f0344.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...tashasteps.jpg

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Tommy waded in every body of water we passed
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ark/tommy1.jpg

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Adorable... and dirty!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1.../tashaface.jpg

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David and the pups on a path that passed between two large piles of old moss covered granite.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...idanddogs3.jpg

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The sun was starting to win through
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...iteandmoss.jpg

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more

A veritable mountain of piled granite. There is actually a tree growing at the very top.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ranitepile.jpg

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This was taken in a picnic area
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...ark/tasha1.jpg

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Surrounded by some beautiful pines
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...vidinpines.jpg

Ok, going to stop there. I hope you enjoyed and that I didn't overdo it! :D

Here is a brief history of Quarry Park for anyone interested:

Granite - formed by intense heat within the earth - was the foundation of a major Minnesota industry. The first granite quarry in Central Minnesota was opened in 1863 by two Scotsmen. In the 130 years to follow, Central Minnesota granite became an international commodity gracing buildings as far away as Singapore. About 100 years ago, a type of stone known as Saint Cloud Red Granite was quarried from land which is now part of the park. The Landmark Center and the James J. Hill House in St. Paul, Minnesota both contain Saint Cloud Red Granite in their structures.

Though private ownership of the land by local quarry companies continued until 1992, quarrying operations in the present park area ceased in the mid-1950's. Companies operating quarries on the site during this period were Holes Bros., Delano Granite, Melrose Granite Co., Empire Quarry Co., and C. L. Atwood.

Over the years, the land gradually reverted back to a more natural state. In 1992, Stearns County purchased this site from Cold Spring Granite Company and added the land to its County Park System. The park opened on January 1, 1998. (Taken from www.co.stearns.mn.us)

What gorgeous scenery!! :D

Breathtaking pictures, Jessica! It looks so peaceful and enjoyable. What a gorgeous area. And of course you know I love those pups, I love that picture of Tasha girl in the picnic area. She's so cute!

Oh, my gosh, Jess, those are fantastic. I don't know you chose a favorite photo from all those. They are beautiful, I want to go there! My favorite of the ones with the dogs is the first one on the bridge. It's haunting and peaceful all at the same time, it took my breath away. Thank you for posting them!

k9, what FABULOUS photos!! I'm from Minnesota myself so I will have to go check that out myself sometime soon.

All these pics are really breathtaking!! Wow, your dogs had so much space to run around! I am sure they had lots of fun ;) :) !
Thanks for sharing this with us :)

Cool pictures! Looks like a neat walk.

Those flowers and the flowering bush are actually pussy willows that have "popped" as I call it. They were like that up at my mom's house too. They were about the only color in their woods since it's just a bit early for the other spring flowers to bloom yet.

Thanks for sharing! :D

Thank you everyone for the compliments! When I first loaded the pics, I was actually a bit disappointed in them but I think it's just because you can't truly capture the beauty of it in a picture compared to seeing it in person. Later when I looked at them, they looked better to me.

Mommyof3cats, you will have to let me know if you ever plan to come to this area and visit the park, I'd love to meet up with you there! It's very close by, I can get there in a few minutes and have a season pass :).

Debbie, thank you! And now it seems obvious when I look at them what they are :o. I would have recognized them later in the year. I usually don't get out hiking much until everything is blooming and leafed out, but I'm glad I've gone earlier this year because even though not much has bloomed and budded out yet, it is still quite beautiful.

I just read they are going to be doing a controlled burning sometime between today and the end of April. I was a little disappointed because although I understand the necessity of it and that it will actually look better in the long run, I hate how it makes everything sooty and black for awhile. But it is only to be in certain parts of the park.

Thank you again, I truly enjoyed sharing these. :)

Great pictures, Jess. I really enjoy scenery pics and of course having Tommy and Tasha in there makes them even more enjoyable :D . Looks like such a great place to go too. I would have loved to have been there also. You are going to have to keep taking pics when you go there so that we can see the changes through the spring and summer. Never too many pics for me, Jess. I love them!

Robin :)

Wow Jessica, what a breathtaking scenery! It must have been wonderful to walk around there in the thick fog. Absolutely enchanting! I love the light early in the morning - not that I see it very often :o

Thanks for sharing these photos with us, you should frame some of them. :)

How fabulous! Those pictures are just too stunning for words!

BEAUTIFUL!!!!! What great pictures, and gorgeous scenery! Thanks for sharing your wonderful walk with us. I really enjoyed the photos. :D

The pictures show beautiful scenery. In the early morning
light, it must feel like a magical place.:) Looks very peaceful.
Thanks for sharing them.:)

wowsa!!! can i request prints? they would look great framed!

I know I've told you this before, but you live in such a beautiful place, Jess!

Loved the pictures. The ones with Tommy in them are my favorite, of course. :D

Thanks for sharing!

Very pretty pics!

those are gorgeous Jess!!
Never too many! :)

Terrific pictures in what must be a beautiful part of the world.:) (pups are at there best when they are adorably dirty;) )

What a wonderful place to take the dogs! I love that wet spider web. Very pretty. I also like the mountain of piled granite. But, of course, my favorites are your dogs. Been a while since I've seen them.

You take some really beautifule pictures.

Just wanted to thank you all again so very much for your kind comments. Every time I post pictures here, I am so amazed and touched at the compliments and kind words that are posted. I truly love taking pictures, and to have such a kind and appreciative bunch to share them with is incredibly rewarding for me. So.. though all of this is a bit mushy, I just wanted you all to know how much I truly appreciate your words. I often come back and look at the threads again for days afterwards to look back through the wonderful replies.

Joyce, I don't have them on an imagestation account but you or anyone else can always feel free to print any of my pics if you like!

Great pictures of such beautiful scenery! Your pups look adorable, as usual! Thanks for sharing! :)

Oh Jess, you outdid yourself this time!!! What stunning scenery and you took such awesome shots! LOVED the first "fog" shot especially. You've got a real talent there, friend! Of course the kids stole the show!:D Love those closeups!!! Can they look any happier? And thanks for posting the hx of the quarry...I love narration with my photo show!:) Give the kids a hug for me, Jess! Great job!