The Environmental Learning Center is the universities attempt to connect people with nature by facilitating educational, inclusive and safe experiences in the natural environment and to advance the field of environmental education through sound research and practice. It’s also a great place for photographers and birders to hang out. Last week was my first visit since getting back to Colorado in over a year. Way to long! The biggest changes I saw was with plants. A group if teasels I enjoyed photographing here were gone with some sort of plant that reminded me of wild rose bush. I had no intetions of visiting the ELC so I was not prepared for it. Needles to say shorts and a short sleeve shirt was not the best attire as the skeeters were patiently waiting in ambush for me.

I have taken my grandkids on hikes through the nature area. They would get back in the car and start counting and listing all that they had seen. I also noticed the banks along the Poudre River were dense with plants. Places I would sit along the riverbank and listen to the river were now surrounded by plants. But this added vegetation provides a wonderful habitat for birds and smaller animals. Fiver years ago I do not remember seeing any signs of beavers. I did not see any beavers today but there were signs all over the place now.