Leaving the Farm

As we began to walk back toward the barn with the upstairs door and the parking lot, we did see a few more buildings and a few more birds. Two swans glide across a pond near the former location of the family home, wonderful reflections gliding right with them. A downy woodpecker clung to the side of a tree, as if deciding whether or not to peck; he chose to fly away instead.

And our group glided down to the parking lot and flew away in our cars, all looking forward to the next event that will draw each of us to St. James Farm.

More birding at a different location in the next post.

Wildflowers

Lovers of the outdoors generally love flowers. Many plant lovers spend hours and a

considerable portion of the landscape budget on annual flowers, which by definition must be replaced yearly.

St. James Farm has the beauty of its buildings, of course, and its trees and the allees formed by several of the trees. But the flowers, while not planted in massive drifts or in any way set into a showy display, certainly add that touch of spice to the wonder of the visit. Wildflowers have a classic beauty of its own, and whether in small plants or on large bushes, they provide beauty year after year. Here are a few in bloom this spring at St. James.

An Obstacle in the Path

Leaving the animal cemetery and following the flight of the bright Scarlet Tanager, we walked along a beautifully shaded wide path further into the forest. Cool, pleasant and filled with interesting trees and wild flowers, we noticed an obstacle ahead of us. In seconds, we realized the roadblock was one of the jumps used long ago in the steeplechase events so important to the history of St. James Farm.

It is interesting to see horses jumping such objects on television and in movies, but up close it is much more challenging. These are not neatly-clipped hedges that are more visual than physical; these are giant logs, structured into a demanding jump over a fence. It made me think back to the grueling nature of steeplechase which we learned at the gravesite of The Honda.

Scarlet Tanager

The most colorful bird we saw on this birding experience was a Scarlet Tanager. He posed with his technicolor markings, sitting in the branches for quite a while, giving us all a chance to spot those bright colors. Then, posing time completed, he spread his wings to head east.

A Higher, Taller Viewpoint

Two related plaques on a wall of one of the farm buildings at St. James Farm indicate quite a different feeling than simply the steeplechase and dressage activities that filled weekends at the farm.

We learned that among the common events over the years was a series of opportunities offered to teach children with various handicaps how to ride horses. Looking at the graphic plaque and reading the poem nearby, one wonders how these children felt having this wonderful and enjoyable activity. To give a wheelchair to a child who cannot walk is a great thing, a chance to move about reasonably well in the walking world. But to put a child on a horse would be giving him legs that work, feet that glide across the ground, and a viewpoint higher, taller than others.

These plaques memorialize one of the best events at St. James Farm. When you visit there, be sure to read the plaque!

Kremlin Yellow Buildings

Seeing the first building -- the large barn with the unreachable second floor door that we showed last week -- shining in its Kremlin Yellow was eyecatching and attractive. A warm color jumping from the green of the grass and forest and highlighting the neat buildings. Then a short walk down one way and a turn up one of the alles, and a cluster of buildings, still used for the work of the landscape, came into view.

Two possibilities come to mind: the yellow will either be far too much for the eye, or it will be an attractive signature that becomes unforgettable. If the color is routine, the effect is boring. Neither of the negatives comes into play on a sunny morning at St. James Farm. Rather, the best option, that of the attractive signature, is clear in these pictures. Small building or large, the color stands out and makes every building belong, every building worth remembering, every building a portrait.

Even the vehicle storage building with the convex mirror to check oncoming traffic, reflecting a bit of yellow on adjoining buildings. The signature of St. James Farm.

Our next post will be a visit to on on-site cemetery plot, very peaceful and respectful.

100 Posts .. Already?

Oh, those milestones. I started in January, suggesting I would shoot for one post per week. Here I am before Memorial Day with post #100.

A portion of the land at St. James Farm is set up with what are called 'allees,' wide open strips flanked by mature trees which had been planted at the same time for that purpose. The allees are wide enough for horseriding traffic, shaded with the full canopy of the trees on either side arching overhead, and inviting to the eye in either direction leading off into the forest.

Next post will show more of the farm buildings as we begin the second hundred.

Bridge and Allee

The rustic finish on the footbridge in the last post is quite different from the white-and-Kremlin Yellow panel bridge seen here, leading to a small tranquil pond. The wooden boxes seen in the pond are nesting boxes and a pair of ducks were standing atop one. A bit further on we came to the pair of corral fences bracketing an "allee" leading to some of the farm buildings. The powerful shadows on the trees would be quite different a week later, as trees all across DuPage County have seen their leaves spring open, making birdwatching tougher but treewatching more fun.

More on the French-inspired allees in the next post, which will be the 100th post for RickBeatoPhoto.

Bridge and a Fence

Some of the best vistas at St. James Farm, the sights that clearly memorialize the equestrian history of the farm, can be seen in bridges and fences. The pedestrian bridge shown here was apparently a portion of the dressage area, a footbridge over an access area. In the morning sun, it looked absolutely inviting and allowed the viewer to picture the entrants walking under the bridge as the spectators crossed over. The bright white corral-style fence, stretching far into the distance, looked ready for the next van to stop by with horses ready for the steeplechase.

Another bridge in the next post, looking quite different from the weathered wood seen here.

Bird on a Wall

Ron Skleney, DuPage Forest Preserve Naturalist, got us started with background information on St. James Farm; for example, he explained where the Kremlin Yellow came from. And as he got us off to a great start, the song of a bird caught my ear and I looked to the right to see branches set against the bright color and a small songbird welcoming us.

With that, the next post will take us on the walk, looking for buildings as well as birds.

Blue Heron at St. James

Recent posts have depicted a Great Blue Heron in my backyard pond two years ago, along with another heron as well as a Snowy Egret in the retention pond down the street. It was noted then that these birds are magnificent animals in flight and while wading in a public pond, though they are not really welcome in the private koi pool.

The first bird I got a clear shot of at St. James Farm was a heron, in full flight, passing nearly overhead on a bright blue clear-sky morning. Having seen herons standing and in flight, and knowing how the still figure morphs into the flying figure, I still marvel at the sleek and stylish heron in flight. Doesn't look all that much like the wading fish hunter!

Next post will return to St. James Farm for some fences and structures.

St. James Farm

DuPage County has a wonderful collection of forest preserves, large and small, which cater to all sorts of outdoor activities. The newest is St. James Farm in Winfield, the former suburban home of Brooks McCormick, long the driving force behind International Harvester. The Farm hosted numerous steeplechases and other equestrian events, along with many other activities. When the land was bequeathed to the Forest Preserve District, the family home was razed, taking the personal portion of the farm away and leaving a wonderful, large plot of land open to the public on certain special occasions. The summer of 2008 was the first public look at the farm and its buildings, flowers, trees, fences, birds . . . just a lovely place to enjoy outdoor life.

Near the entrance to the farm, we see the barn with its interesting door to nowhere on an upper level. Our guide, Naturalist Ron Skleney from Willowbrook Wildlife Center, pointed out the beautiful color, known as Kremlin Yellow, that graces so many of the farm buildings. It was specially chosen by Brooks McCormick after he had taken several visits to Moscow, extending the nameplate of International Harvester into yet another country. He fell in love with the warm, bright color . . . and so did I.

In upcoming posts we will see a few other bright yellow buildings, several birds, and lots of scenery that is really impressive. Check back to see.

Meanwhile, this Saturday is International Migratory Bird Day at Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn. Look on the Dupage Forest Preserve District web site for more information.