Special Scenic Scenes of Sandhills Settings

Unique in its landscape features as appreciated by people representing generations, the Great American Sandhills have many special spaces with scenic views and distinctive perspectives many residents want to save and preserve for now and future generations. The sand dunes domain has places such as these shown here without cellular towers, industrial powerlines that traverse so many miles of country land, and especially where there is not a single wind turbine visible anywhere while enjoying some time atop a hill, perhaps enjoying a great view of the local landscape.

Known places of these sorts are much fewer every year, because some businesses and people are completely focused on towers and changes which they convey as delusional improvements. The results are deplorable.

This land of various sorts of dune with some many sorts of grass and plants, is the last vestige of an expansive natural landscape in the western hemisphere. These pictures convey a singular perspective. Some of the shown places were images taken with one camera of another during past years, during my project to drive atop each of the known tallest sand dunes in the region, as previously reported.

Each and every one of these images are copyright (c) 2016 James E. Ducey. They may not be reused or reposted in any manner elsewhere, either via print, electronic or any other sort of media, without express written permission.

Dora Lake meadow after a seasonal storm, 1993

Wild Horse Hill, Grant county looking southeast; 6 Sep 1993

OO Reserve, Grant county, view to the south after a rainstorm; 6 Sep 1993

Irwin area meadow ranch; summer 1995

Eldred Ranch cattle and marsh as observed from Vic's sky horse; 27 Sep 1995

Baldy Hill, view to the west; 18 May 1995

Carson Lake perspective; 02 Jun 1995; just to the south of this distinctive lake - especially notable for its birdlife - the R-Project industrial powerline is planned for construction by the Nebraska Public Power District, with the desecration to be initiated in 2017

Mother Lake cloudscape, Adam Ranch place; 10 Jun 1999

Irwin area meadow ranch; summer 1995

Olson contract crew harvesting hay at Fawn Lake Ranch, Cherry county; 16 Aug 1999

Henderson Dry Box horses, Carrico Lakes, Cherry county; 10 May 2000

Longhorns in Cherry county during drive taking them from Fort Niobrara NWR to Fort Robinson State Park; 13 Nov 2000

Aerial view of the Mother Lake county, Cherry county; 3 May 2002

Old Baldy Hill view, looking westward; 30 May 2001

Wolf Lake perspective, western Cherry county; 27 Jun 2002

Merz Ranch hay meadow, Swan Lake southwest of Brownlee; 16 Jul 2002

Snowy road view, Abbott Unit of the Rex Ranch, western Grant county; 12 Apr 2008

Horses in Wamaduze Valley, view from along Brownlee to Highway 97 road; 16 Jul 2009

East Tennessee Valley, Fawn Lake Ranch; 2 Jun 2010

Farm Flat livestock, central Cherry county; 2 Jun 2010

Defair Lake WMA south of Hyannis; 8 Jun 2010

Steverson Lake WMA, Cherry county; 8 Jun 2010

Goose Creek valley, southeast Cherry county; 10 Jun 2010

Goose Creek valley hay meadow, southeast Cherry county; 25 Sep 2011

Sibbitt and Henderson meadow just north of Hyannis; 29 Sep 2011

Vinton Ranch horses with Snyder Valley in the background; 30 Sep 2011

Self-portrait taken atop Indian Hill - looking eastward - right near Old Baldy Hill in southwest Cherry county; 18 October 2001

Each of these places were visited with landowner permission. Many miles were driven and so many pleasurable hours were part of my pictographic and birdly travels. Many thanks to those property owners that were so cordial in allowing access. Otherwise any attempt to capture these unique perspectives would not have been possible. A number of these pictures are part of the Great American Sandhills photographic collection as denoted to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln many years ago.

Floral Picture Project Around Valentine

After taking a few pictures of local flora during May 2016, efforts intensified in June, with an increased focus on getting quality pictures of additional blooming plants. Whenever a species was in a fine condition with flowers, pictures were taken and eventually identified, often with the assistance of Dr. David M. Sutherland, professor emeritus at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Without his assistance, this project would not have occurred. There is simply no reference available that could provide a comprehensive means to make an proper identification of the forbs and grasses.

Specimens were mostly from the North Lake Shore Hills which included the local environs of the bluebird shack, the Valentine Mill Pond with its bit of planted warm-season grass prairie and the wild-fire setting at the water tanks tract northward of the pond. A few were observed at Government Canyon. Only a very few were recorded elsewhere, at Valentine of the fish hatchery along Minnechaduza Creek.

The focus was essentially on naturally occurring species amidst wild lands, especially north of the city. A “value-added” picture included some type of insect that added to the subject of attention.

About the bluebird shack, pictures — mostly of weedy species — were taken whenever conditions were especially suitable, i.e., early morning light and no breeze, or even when dew or snow occurred. Elsewhere they were recorded while birding. Autumn leaf color provided the impetus to get views of some trees. The intent was not to get a picture of every species species that occurs in the area, but to denote a the variety.

The last species denoted — the American Elm — was in a wooded area along Lake Shore Drive.

This is a list of the species recorded, listed in the order when recorded, rather than in taxonomic sequence.

1. Yarrow — Achillea millefolium; North Lake Shore Hills; 05/05
   
2. Shell-leaf Penstemon — Penstemon grandiflorus; Water Tanks Tract; 05/29
   
3. Tall Hedge Mustard — Sisymbrium altissimun; North Lake Shore Hills; 05/31
   
4. Dames Rocket — Hesperis matronalis; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/06
   
5. Smooth Brome — Bromus inermis; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/07
   
6. Hoary Alyssum — Berteroa incana; North Lake Shore Drive; 06/08
   
7. Blue Vervain — Verbena hastata; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/18
   
8. Prickly Poppy — Argemone polyanthemos; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/18
   
9. Purple Coneflower — Echinacea angustifolia; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/18
   
10. Plains Beebalm — Monarda pectinata; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/22
    
11. Yellow Cone Flower (a.k.a Prairie Coneflower) — Ratibida columnifera; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/22
    
12. Common Nettle — Urtica dioica; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/23
    
13. Motherwort — Leonurus cardiaca; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/23
    
14. Musk Thistle — Carduus nutans; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/23
    
15. White Prairie Clover — Dalea candida var. oligophylia; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/23
    
16. White Vervain — Verbena urticifolia; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/23
    
17. Wild Four O'Clock — Mirabilis nyctaginea; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/23
    
18. Yellow Goats Beard — Tragopogam dubius; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/23
    
19. Common Mullein — Verbascum thapsus; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/24
    
20. Spiderwort — Tradescantia occidentalis; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/24
    
21. Leadplant — Amorpha canescens; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/26
    
22. Wooly Plantain — Plantago patagonica; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/26
    
23. Bush Morning Glory — Ipomoea leptophylla; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/28
    
24. Yellow Clover — Melilotus officalis; North Lake Shore Hills; 06/28
    
25. Bull Thistle — Cirsium vulgare; Valentine Mill Pond; 06/29
    
26. Giant Bur Reed — Sparganium eurycarpum; Valentine Mill Pond; 06/29
    
27. Swamp Milkweed — Asclepias incarnata; Valentine Mill Pond; 07/07
    
28. Canada Lettuce — Lactuca canadensis; North Lake Shore Hills; 07/23
    
29. Common Elderberry — Sambucus canadensis; Valentine Mill Pond; 07/23
    
30. Field Bindweed — Convolvulus arvensis; North Lake Shore Hills; 07/23
    
31. Smooth Sumac — Rhus glabra; Water Tanks Tract; 07/23
    
32. Plains Sunflower — Helianthus petiolaris; Water Tanks Tract; 07/30
    
33. Catnip — Nepata cataria; North Lake Shore Hills; 07/31
    
34. Common Yellow Primrose — Calylophus serrulatus; North Lake Shore Hills; 07/31
    
35. Golden Prairie Clover — Dalea aurea; North Lake Shore Hills; 07/31
    
36. Buffalo Bur — Solanum rostratum; North Lake Shore Hills; 08/11
    
37. Canada Goldenrod — Solidago canadensis; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/12
    
38. White Clover — Trifolium repens; North Lake Shore Hills; 08/12
    
39. Spotted Joe Pye Weed — Eupatorium maculatum; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/13
    
40. Big Bluestem — Andropogon cristatum; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/15
    
41. Common Arrowhead — Sagittaria latifolia; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/15
    
42. Common Evening Primrose — Oenothera latifolia; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/15
    
43. Gumweed — Grindelia squarrosa; Lake Shore Drive; 08/15
    
44. Indian Grass — Sorghastrum nutans; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/15
    
45. Jewelweed — Impatiens biflora; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/15
    
46. Water Hemlock — Cicuta species; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/15
    
47. Wild Bergamont — Monarda fistulosa; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/15
    
48. Annual Wild Buckwheat — Erigonum annuum; Water Tanks Tract; 08/16
    
49. Black Nightshade — Solanum interius; North Lake Shore Hills; 08/16
    
50. Purple Lovegrass — Eragrostis spectabilis; North Lake Shore Hills; 08/16
    
51. Gilia — Ipomopsis longiflora; Water Tanks Tract; 08/20
    
52. Blazing Star — Liatris glabrata; Water Tanks Tract; 08/26
    
53. Horseweed — Conyza canadansis; North Lake Shore Drive; 08/26
    
54. Prickly Pear Cactus — Opuntia humifusa; North Lake Shore Hills; 08/26
    
55. Barrel Cactus — Coryphantha vivipara or Coryphantha missouriensis, with species identification not possible as the plant pictured does not have any flowers, an essential needed to determine their coloration; North Lake Shore Hills; 08/27
    
56. Bristlegrass — Setaria species; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/27
    
57. Cocklebur — Xanthium strumarium; Water Tanks Tract; 08/27
    
58. Fringed Sage — Artemisia frigida; North Lake Shore Hills; 08/27
    
59. Prostrate Vervain — Verbena bracteata; North Lake Shore Hills; 08/27
    
60. Snakeweed — Gutierrizia sarothrae; North Lake Shore Hills; 08/27
    
61. Lamb'squarters — Chenopodium album; North Lake Shore Hills; 08/29
    
62. Broad-leaved Cattail — Typha latifolia; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/30
    
63. Bulrush — Scirpus species; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/30
    
64. Purple Loosestrife — Lythrum salicaria; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/30
    
65. Blue Cardinal Flower — Lobelia siphilitica; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/31
    
66. Boneset — Eupatorium perfoliatum; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/31
    
67. Common Duckweed — Lemna minor; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/31
    
68. Dandelion — Taraxacum officinale; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/31
    
69. Green Foxtail — Setaria viridis; North Lake Shore Hills; 08/31
    
70. Late Goldenrod — Solidago gigantea; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/31
    
71. Puncture Vine — Tribulus terrestris; North Lake Shore Hills; 08/31
    
72. Rough Barnyard Grass — Echinochloa muricata; Valentine Mill Pond; 08/31
    
73. Field Sandbur — Conchrus longispinus; North Lake Shore Hills; 09/01
    
74. Red Clover — Trifolium pratense; North Lake Shore Hills; 09/01
    
75. Bearded Flatsedge — Cyperus squarrosus or C. acuminatus; Valentine Mill Pond; 09/08
    
76. Lady's Thumb — Polygonum persicaria; Valentine Mill Pond; 09/08
    
77. Nodding Beggarticks — Bidens cernua; Valentine Mill Pond; 09/08
    
78. Pale Smartweed — Polygonum lalathifolium; Valentine Mill Pond; 09/08
    
79. Redroot Flatsedge — Cyperus erythrorhizos; Valentine Mill Pond; 09/08
    
80. Straw-colored Flatsedge — Cyperus strigosus; Valentine Mill Pond; 09/08
    

    This visit to the Mill Pond involved wading out to the terrestrial flats just west of the open water of the pond, where the beggartick plants were profuse in their blooming.

81. Siberian Elm — Ulmus pulima; Water Tanks Tract; 09/14
    
82. Aromatic Aster — Aster oblongifolius; Water Tanks Tract; 09/14; some of these were blooming late in October at the Cherry Street Nursery and were attractive to small butterflies
    
83. Catalpa — Catalpa speciosa; Valentine — 09/14
    
84. Golden Aster — Heterotheca villosa; Water Tanks Tract; 09/14
    
85. Little Bluestem — Andropogon scoparius; Water Tanks Tract; 09/14
    
86. Sand Bluestem — Andropogon hallii; Water Tanks Tract; 09/14
    
87. Sand Reedgrass — Calamovilfa longifolia; Water Tanks Tract; 09/14
    
88. Sugar Maple — Acer saccharinum; North Lake Shore Hills; 09/14
    
89. False Boneset — Brickellia eupatorioides; North Lake Shore Hills; 09/21
    
90. Heath Aster — Aster ericoides; North Lake Shore Hills; 09/21
    
91. Ponderosa Pine — Pinus ponderosa; North Lake Shore Hills; 09/21
    
92. Common Boneset — Eupatorium perfoliatum; Government Canyon; 09/28
    
93. Green Ash — Fraxinus pennsylvanica; Government Canyon; 09/28
    
94. Peach-leaf Willow — Salix amygdaloides; Government Canyon; 09/28
    
95. Riverbank Grape — Vitis riparis; Government Canyon; 09/28
    
96. Water Cress — Nasturtium officinale; Government Canyon; 09/28
    
97. Western Water-Horehound — Lycopus aster; Government Canyon; 09/28
    
98. White Aster — Aster lanceolatus; Government Canyon; 09/28
    
99. White Water-Crowfoot — Ranunculus longirostris; Government Canyon; 09/28
    
100. Woodbine — Parthenocissus vitace; Government Canyon; 09/28
     

     Wetland plants were notably gathered during this outing from the upper extent of the stream, with other distinctive plants also present in this scenic canyon.

101. Switchgrass — Panicum virgatum; Valentine Mill Pond; 09/30
     
102. Windmill Grass — Chloris verticillata; along the road at the Valentine Fish Hatchery; 09/30
     
103. Black Walnut — Juglans nigra; Valentine Mill Pond; 10/01
     
104. Box Elder — Acer negundo; Valentine Mill Pond; 10/01
     
105. Honey Locust — Gleditsia triacanthos; Water Tanks Tract; 10/02
     
106. Bur Oak — Quercus macrocarpa; Valentine Mill Pond; 10/07
     
107. Eastern Cottonwood — Populus deltoides; Valentine Mill Pond; 10/07
     
108. Small Soapweed (yucca) — Yucca glauca; North Lake Shore Hills; noted on 10/07 though obviously present throughout the season, though flowering was not noted
     
109. Skunkbrush Sumac — Rhus aromatica; Water Tanks Tract; 10/16
     
110. Northern Red Oak — Quercus rubra; Lake Shore Drive; 10/27
     
111. American Elm — Ulmus americana; Lake Shore Drive; 10/31
     

Additional early spring species could most likely be denoted if the Valentine City Park woodlands were visited early in the growing season.

Of the thousands of pictures taken, only about 10% were retained and suitably named and saved.

Autumn Pictorial - Spring Lake Park

A visit was made to Spring Lake Park in south Omaha to see what autumn birds were about on November 1, 2011. There weren't many birds, but it was a nice day and the autumn colors were vibrant.

Debris dumped in the north part of the park.
With the many tires usually about this park, it should almost be called tire park!

Former ball field which will be made into a stormwater detention basin (i.e., a wetland).

Illegal fire site.

Fishing tackle box abandoned at the south spring, the largest in the park. What might they have been fishing for?

The following two images indicate the results of unfettered stormwater runoff from the corner at 18th and G Streets. The resultant erosional rift - more than 20 feet deep and a prominent park hazard - among the forest trees has been ongoing for years, and the Public Works department has never addressed the problem.

Perhaps a local resident is trying to build a facility for a tire business.

This is a view of the area where there was a fishing pond constructed in 1931, according to a newspaper article of the era.

Water stream from a north spring. The robins - and other birds - enjoy this water for drinking and bathing, especially during the winter when few other water sources are available. This spring and others would be inundated by a pond.

A Pictorial Memorial of a June Day at La Platte Bottoms

With sunny skies to start the summer's day, a visit was made to the La Platte Bottoms on June 18th. It was a fine morning to get a look at one the last June days for this place, which will soon be dramatically changed with the construction of a huge highway and an equally imposing interchange and access roads.

View to the southwest.	View to the south.
A southerly view.	A view to the southeast.
A view to the northwest, from the west side of Harlan Lewis Drive.	A view to the northwest, from La Platte Road, east of Harlan Lewis Drive.
A view of the crop field on the west side of Harlan Lewis Drive.	A view of the wetland area on the south side of La Platte Road, showing the La Platte water tower in the background.

The Interstate-type highway alignment as developed and approved by bureaucrats, will slice right through the middle of the best wetland spot at this locale.

The 21 species noted in the early morning visit were: Canada Goose (2 observed), Wood Duck (2), Mallard (4), Hooded Merganser (2), Wild Turkey (1 heard in the woods to the south), Pied-billed Grebe (5), Great Blue Heron (4), Great Egret (4), American Coot (2), Killdeer (a minimal count of 8), Least Tern (1), Mourning Dove (1), Eastern Kingbird (2), Blue Jay (1 heard in the nearby woods), Cliff Swallow (a minimal number of 15), American Robin (2 heard in the nearby woods), Dickcissel (2), Red-winged Blackbird (10, and more), Eastern Meadowlark (1), Yellow-headed Blackbird (1), and Common Grackle (at least 20).

The egrets and herons were probably after some of the numerous frogs present.

Lots of dragon flies were along the wetland's edge.

A grackle that was found dead along the county road. It was probably struck by a motor vehicle, and shows what happens a bird at a wetland split by a road.

This was the final view of the morning, showing the storm clouds moving in from the northwest. It seemed to be an apt metaphor for the impending, dark changes which will be occurring at this place.

R.I.P. La Platte Bottoms.

The La Platte Bottoms on June 18, 2010. View looking west.