Monday woke to clear, cold weather and I decided to shift my workout plans for the week to accommodate. Instead of the two mile exercise video in my living room, I opted for the two mile hike through Mercer Slough and Bellefields Nature Parks. This is a gentle walk through a wetlands circling an historic blueberry farm that is now maintained by the city.* Mercer Slough divides the two nature parks and provides a natural habitat for various aquatic birds and salmon. The area was also home to a rhododendron nursery at one time and a portion of the trail passes through the now-wild shrubs left over from this period.
I really enjoyed the winter beauty of this nature park! The dormant grasses, leafless trees with beautiful peeling bark, and vibrant red branches of the blueberry bushes were all pleasing to the eye.
I would have lingered longer to watch the waterfowl at the bridge, but it was too cold and damp to pause for long. It is a wetlands, after all, and a bitter cold front was moving in to threaten the snow that fell Tuesday night.
That’s downtown Bellevue in the background.
I thought the light would be all wrong for the camera in my cell phone, but apparently not. Every now and then I accidentally take some good pics.
The only drawback was the noise level of the surrounding area. It is what it is – an oasis in the midst of a city. I could hear the droning of I-405 and I-90 nearby, and actually see the vehicles traveling on I-405 from some points. However, I think that hassle is worth enduring in this case.
I can’t wait to see this nature park in the spring and summer!
* Mental Note: Make plans to return in the late summer for u-pick blueberries!
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