Black Locust Tree Reflections in Waughop Lake

The black locust trees at Fort Steilacoom Park have blossoms right now, and they smell wonderful! This is a picture of some black locust trees and their reflection in the lake.

Visit Watery Wednesday to see more pictures with water in them!

Water Level at Waughop Lake

I said the other day that I would put up a more current picture which shows the water level at Waughop Lake, and I know you all have been waiting with bated breath to see it ;), so here it is. . .

picture taken 9 June 11

Foam on Waughop Lake

picture taken on 14 June 2011

Doesn't the foam look a little worrisome?  I googled "foam on lake" and found this article on Lake Foam. The author explains,

On lakes, in bathtubs and in mugs of beer, the cause for foam is the same. Agitation at the surface causes air to get under the surface film of the water. Weakened surface tension is unable to force the air out, but rather keeps water wrapped around a volume of air, creating a bubble. If this happens for long enough, foam is created.

 It was windy when I took this picture yesterday evening, so maybe that's why there was foam at the shore of the lake? 

Feathery Clouds above Waughop Lake

I thought the clouds were so pretty the evening this picture was taken.  You can see Pierce College in the distance on the hill.

picture taken on 24 May 2011

The Water Rose Even Higher at Waughop Lake

I can't believe it's been so long since I posted!  I probably should post something wonderful and exciting since I haven't posted in so long.  I'm afraid, though, this picture isn't going to be terribly exciting.  Since my last post was about how high the water was a Waughop Lake, I wanted to make note that the water in Waughop Lake rose even higher than it was back in March.  This picture was taken on May 21st.   I'll try and post a more recent one soon! :-)

The Water is High at Waughop Lake

The first picture of Waughop Lake was taken on Sunday the 20th of March. The water in the lake is really high right now. The second picture was taken back in October, and you can see that the water is high by comparing the pictures and looking at the pilings of the old dock.  The piling the bird is standing on in the second pictures is completely covered by water in the first picture except for the metal pole that is sticking up.

March 20, 2010

October 20, 2010

LeaflessTrees around Waughop Lake

picture taken on 1/2/11

The leafless trees in this picture are such a stark contrast to the colorful trees I took a picture of in the autumn!

This post is linked to Shadow Shot Sunday.

Reflections in Waughop Lake

Picture taken on December 17, 2010

Waughop Lake in Fort Steilacoom Park

New Bench at Waughop Lake

We were happy to see that the bench that was smashed by a falling tree back in November has been replaced!

Waughop Lake on the First Day of 2011

Sun Shining on Waughop Lake

This picture is for Tuesday.  It's a little after 12am here, so I'm just a tad bit late!  It was taken on Tuesday at Fort Steilacoom Park.  Monday night we had another windstorm, though the wind wasn't as strong as it was the previous week.  This time, though, we had snow, too, and it was really cold.  Tuesday it was wonderful to see the sun and experience peacefulness after the storm.

This post is linked to Watery Wednesday.

Snow at Waughop Lake

We had snow today! It's beautiful!

It's Starting to Look Like Winter at Waghop Lake

We went for a walk tonight at Fort Steilacoom Park, and there was a very cold breeze.  We reached the lake as the sun was going down, and the reflection of the late sun on the water was beautiful!  Even though it's still autumn, there was a wintry feel to the air and a wintry look to the lake and the surrounding trees and sky.  We had a lovely, refreshing walk.

Contrail above Waughop Lake

A contrail and its reflection on Waughop Lake on Friday (12 Nov. 10).

Contrails (short for "condensation trails") or vapour trails are artificial clouds that are the visible trails of condensed water vapour made by the exhaust of aircraft engines. As the hot exhaust gases cool in the surrounding air they may precipitate a cloud of microscopic water droplets. If the air is cold enough, this trail will comprise tiny ice crystals. (from wikipedia)

This post is linked to Weekend Reflections and Skywatch Friday.

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Waughop Lake in Autumn

The trees and the reflections are very beautiful.  Unfortunately, Waughop Lake has a problem with algae, so the lake is a little green at times, and pets and humans are advised not to come in contact with the water.

(I'm a little behind now, so this picture is for yesterday.)

This post is linked to Weekend Reflections.

Old Dock on Waughop Lake

As you can see, the dock is not in use anymore, by humans, that is.  It's a nice place for birds to perch, and this seagull sure likes it!

This post is linked to Watery Wednesday.

The Trail Around Waughop Lake

The 9/10 mile paved loop trail around Waughop Lake at Fort Steilacoom Park is one of the best places to walk in Lakewood.  The path trail is wide, the area is peaceful, and the scenery is beautiful.  It often has gorgeous sunsets that reflect on the water of the lake.  There are many birds there--mallards and coots and Canadian Geese (though not the geese so much recently) often swim on the lake, and you may even spot a wood duck.  We've seen cormorants there, and a couple times we've even seen bald eagles perched high in black cottonwood trees near the edge of the lake.  Beautiful plants and trees surround the lake--willow, black locust, black cottonwood, coast redwood, douglas fir, and more. 

Way back until a little over 30 years ago it used to be a one-way road that cars could drive around.  My husband fondly remembers he and his sister, when children, taking turns sitting on their father's lap while driving around the lake.  They would put their hands on the steering wheel with their father and steer around the lake together.

Though the time when cars could travel around it is long past, these days the paved trail around the lake provides a wonderful place for families and people of all ages to travel around on foot or bicycle.

This post is linked to
Outdoor Wednesday.