Photographic Adventures of a Tree-Hugger: Summer School

I'm taking summer classes this semester in order to finish up my degree. I don't have much nice to say about my online classes, but my on-campus class is great. Even better is the fact that I actually have to go out to campus.

At UWGB we complain a lot that our campus is so 'removed from civilization'. It's nothing like Madison where you're right in the heart of the action - it's really quite isolated. This can be a bad thing, but it also can be really great. We have a large arboretum laced with hiking/biking trails and full of wildlife. It truly is a beautiful place. Sadly, many people don't take the time to enjoy it - especially not during Spring and Fall semesters.

Last week I saw a doe in the field I walk through to go to class, but I didn't have my camera. I asked her nicely to come back and see me this week when I have my camera back from my parents. She kindly obliged.

You can't see it in this picture, but she actually had a friend with her off to the right. I didn't see the second one until I started walking away to go to class.

Last week she was within 20 yards of me eating under a big tree and actually craned her neck around the tree to watch me walk away down the trail.

During break time from my class I headed over to the courtyard of MAC Hall to take some pics. I LOVE the grapevine growing up the pergola over the benches in the courtyard. Someday, I simply must have a pergola!

Some Morning Glories are fighting their way through the grapevine, too. I love Morning Glories!

There was also some coreopsis in the courtyard garden in full bloom. I personally like the ones with the burnt orange centers, but these were pretty.

Purple Coneflower, too!

There are lots of gorgeous Cat Tails in the marshy areas.

Then, I decided I would crash through the woods a little to see what I could find. Considering I was wearing crocks, I'm not sure this was the brightest idea I had all day.

I've been very jealous of the 'bumble bee pictures' I see other people taking. I'd never tried taking one before. I also didn't have a clue how to get my darn camera to take one. I messed with some of the settings for a bit and miraculously figured it out.