Fragments of Amana's Past Shore Up the Lily Pond

Along the shore of Amana, Iowa's lily pond there are fragments of fill material. The former wetlands depression was made into a pond when the mill run was dug many years ago to provide water power to the society's woolen mill. Among the fill material exposed is this brick and mortar material from an unknown source. Most likely the bricks can be matched locally to buildings in Amana and therefore a date can be established. If you are looking for some detective work - here's a project for you.

Iowa Byways at Amana's Lily Pond

Directly across from Amana's lily pond is this Iowa Byways sign. In the summer the lily pond looks much like the sign with blooming yellow water lilies but not so much at the moment.

A Goose in Evening Light

Evening light can be dramatic. Golden rays of the low sun angle flooded the lily pond area of Amana, Iowa yesterday. This Canada goose was in a pack of a half dozen birds who allowed me to get fairly close for a decent zoom lens shot. With so many geese like these around (and their litter) its hard to remember a time nearly forty years ago when it was rare to see them outside of migration time. Open water and more food sources available within city limits have created a situation of year round presence for the stately bird.

Pond Art in Transition

Today a sign of Spring showed itself in the form of open water on a small pond near Amana, Iowa. Not all the surface was in a liquid state but this section did so with last season's plant stalks jetting upward. With a little post production work the scene becomes almost art-like.

Ice covers much of the pond. Canada geese warm themselves on the melting ice caps as temperatures climbed into the 30s today. Maybe next week these large birds will be floating in pond water instead of sitting and walking on ice.

Thanksgiving Greetings from Amana, Iowa

On the coldest day of the month we celebrate Thanksgiving with family in Amana, Iowa - part of 42N country (41.8N, 91.871W.) Here at the Lily Pond several canada geese, ducks and swans bob around in the still unfrozen water, thankful for not being turkeys today. Know that.