Located on the Northeast side of Cedar Rapids, Iowa is the historical Ushers Ferry Village and neighboring Seminole Valley Park. When entering the park you will be welcomed with a vast landscape of trees and a wide open valley. Here its open for the public to roam free and do as you please. Whether is from playing pickup football to bringing your dog out to play some frisbee. The valley stretches all through the park but you will find only one single tree smack dab in the middle of it making it quite special. During the summer days you may think its storming outside with loud booms of thunder but actually its Seminole Valley hosting there yearly war reenactments. They put tents up, roast chicken over the fires and set of the cannons! The valley gives it a real feel like you're actually back in the Civil War.
The symbolic tree in the middle of the valley is special for many people. Whether is asking your significant other to marry you or hiding secret notes in the pit of a tree. This tree as many stories and secrets to tell. Its a great spot to lay down a blanket and watch the sun set over the horizon of the tree line.
The historic Seminole Valley Farm in Cedar Rapids was hit hard by floods in 2016. It borders the Cedar River which stretches through the farm land. Now 2017 and the valley is still recovering from the flood and long winter. Waters are still overflowing walk ways and trails making them inaccessible. The park owners have put logs on trails keeping people from driving through the park. But that usually doesn't stop most people from getting out and walking through. With summer at our doorstep its hard not to abide by the rules and hit the trails anyway.
Seminole Valley is flourish with beautiful vegetation and running waters. With the arrival of spring the valley is full of life. For some parts of the valley though, its not the case. This dead tree stands off to the side of the trail giving off that ominous vibe with vultures sitting in the tree scouting out dinner. But in another sense, it has its own beauty to it. It stands out from all of the other trees not afraid to be different. Its defined branches in the sunlight draw you towards the tree wondering more about its life.
Being neighbors with the Cedar River comes along with rising water levels. In many parts of the valley there are little swamp areas like this. The floods have left there mark inside park and make for great fishing spots. Occasionally you can find adventurous wildlife junkies paddling through in there canoes searching for wildlife. The park is open to the public and gives people a chance to find there inner nature side.
With spring comes green. After a long winter, the tress are starting to finally bud and show their true colors. Beach side these trees are catching some rays to grow big and healthy. The Cedar River is a popular spot for many boaters and jet ski enthusiasts. Theres nothing like flying down the river enclosed with this beautiful landscape everywhere you look. The various colors and wildlife and plain peacefulness is what attracts many to these parts.
Grass is everywhere and its beauty usually goes unnoticed. On the banks of the Cedar River new blades of grass are breaking through the fresh sand to breath and start a new life. Seminole Valley is known for its outdoor activities that they hold like soccer, cricket, war reenactments and the occasional Hard Charge mud run. The Hard Charge mud run (which now is out of business) came to the valley and would hold a series of obstacles around the park. That included monkey bar mud pit, beach run and many other obstacles. They would come and lay fresh sand for the event which now mostly washed away still lingers in parts of the park.
As this is a place for people to come and go, this is also a home for many critters. It houses everything up from raccoons and beavers to herds of deer and many different types of birds. With the amount of people traveling to the park they usually stay out of sight until night time. When walking the trails you can usually find clues all over where wildlife have been roaming. Tracks in the muddy sand along the river side of raccoons getting a refreshment. The Cedar River is a great resource for the animals to use to get what they need. Unfortunately when the floods come they can tend to drive out the animals but they see to always come back just like us humans.
Seminole Valley is full of life and nothing really ever dies. This trees life has ended but where there is death there is life. Moss and other organisms have now taken over its vessel to call home. The best part about nature is that everything relies on one another. The floods of 2016 carried much debris down the Cedar River damaging tress and sweeping them down into the rapids. Much of the remains still linger throughout the park but everything seems to already be settling in and making it their homes.
Greens are great but who can ignore the rest of radiant colors of blooming flowers? The start of spring means a blooming filed of color. Flowers are flourishing throughout the valley giving it a kind of glow. This Redbud tree is blooming for the first time this spring giving this area a sea of fuchsia. Seminole Valley is home to many other kinds of trees mixing up the color scheme.
