Canyon Park Cabin

This ironwood tree tipped over last fall. Several times a year there are trees down across the roads somewhere. It’s kind of a mixed blessing, it blocks access but its easy to get firewood. So I’ve finally gotten around to cutting it up. And it’s now stacked along the ”Loop” road/trail.

It’s bright green nearly everywhere now at Canyon Park. The “virginia creeper” is an awesome color and provides great cover in lots of locations on the edge of the woods. This woody stemmed plant, an ivy, also grows into giant vines and you’ll find it in the treetops as well.

The Mock Orange sits just off the northeast corner of the cabin. It’s huge, unruly and aromatic. It’s quite a specimen. You can sit on the patio and hear it. Or at least hear the bees that are there. There are hundreds of bees and they love it. As you stand by the bush at it’s peak the bees don’t even care, they are preoccupied.

The catbirds love the shrub as well. Late in the day you’d think that there was a cat in the bush but just before dark all goes silent, until morning.

The butterflys like the plant as well and I was able to get a shot of this one after it’s (orange flavored?) lunch.

 

 

When people visit and it’s in full bloom they always comment on the orangeish fragrence and it usually takes a little while for them to figure out that the odor is from the bush. It’s a great smell of summer.

 

We've had lots of rain in the area, but we're up near the Military Ridge, so the Cabin and the yard is always nice and dry. 

The canyon however, is full of rushing water, and there are many little waterfalls everywhere.  

We have way more fireflys than mosquitoes!   

Time for the re-launch of my hand-made soap business. Cabin Soap Co.

When it’s quiet for a few weeks at the cabin, I make several batches of soap and get them ready for sale.

No shopping cart yet, and a limited selection at this time, email soapdish56@yahoo.com to order. I love making products that are beautiful, healthful and useful.

It’s great to be able to share these with our guests. You’ll find a few bars at the cabin when you arrive!

Lynn 05-03-08

Canyon Park is a great place for a gathering of friends and family. The cabin and side yard works well for groups of fifty people or more.

We can easily park 40 cars.

In front of the cabin there is a patio with chairs and a table. The side yard with the giant white pine is large with a stand alone deck, several picnic tables, a fire ring with grill and andirons, and a great look at the canyon from “the point”.

There is space for outdoor games and other activities. A major form of entertainment is going for a “hike”. Groups of people can take walks “on the loop” or take the road down through the canyon and back.

The short walk “around the loop” is fairly easy with great views of the canyon from the top. The walk down the canyon road and back can take an hour or more (there is alot to see) and is a good activity for age appropriate kids.

We have hosted large events at Canyon Park including reunions, meetings and live music events. I think that we’d have to say that every one has been successful. If you have an interest in hosting your event at Canyon Park, we’d be happy to discuss it with you. And help in any way that we can.

We have some equipment and that you may want to use including a large (16′x30′) tent, a ten by ten tent, PA system, a canopy for the deck, wood for a bonfire, campfire cooking gear and serving accessories. We can also arrange for kitchen assistance, from a head chef to a campfire cook or assist your people. We can also make arrangements for some of the best local food products available. We also know lots of musicians and can help arrange entertainment for almost any situation.

If you’d like to hold your event at Canyon Park let us know and we can work out the details.

Jeff 

but we cleaned off the deck instead……… when we took a break we noticed an eagle circling overhead. The giant bird was checking out the pond.

Beautiful in any season, the canyon is most peaceful and yet very alive at this time of the year. A thick blanket of snow softens some features and accents others.

The bubbling springs remind us to give thanks for the blessings provided by the waters. Water is really what it’s all about this time of the year. It starts to whittle away the ice and snow, even as more piles up. You know it won’t last long now. Good waterproof boots are your best friend now, essential for ice, snow and mud . . . lots of mud, glorious mud. With the deep snow this year, there will be waterfalls everywhere in the canyon. When we have spring rains, there are BIG waterfalls in the canyon and the sound is spectacular!

The woodchuck pops up now and then, to check for sunshine and green shoots. The evergreens shake off the cold and snow and stretch each needle towards the sky and new light. The ferns and mosses take advantage of the moisture and cool temps to show off their first greens. Down in the canyon, near the creek, the skunk cabbage blossom will be the first “wildflower” to be seen, the dark purple & green spathe gets warm from the sun and melts the snow around it!

Fallen leaves encased in icy displays melt interesting designs with the sun’s help, too.

It’s a good time to be on the watch for an eagle from the Wisconsin River Valley to the north. The vultures soar on the updrafts over the canyon. The turkeys are sometimes seen in the front yard of the cabin or wandering up the driveway to the fields.

The woodpeckers, jays, cardinals, chickadees and many other birds are your friendly companions out in the woods this time of the year. It’s always interesting to see what trees the pileated woodpeckers have whittled away over the winter.

The real sport this time of the year is observing small things and celebrating the turn of the seasons. It’s a good chance to rest and reaffirm our dreams and priorities before the busy months ahead.

Lynn 02-07-08