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.

WOAH!  I've never been able to take a picture like that before.  Very cool!
I just love this color pink!

So, I started stalking bumble bees.

Darn it bee, come over to this side!

WOOOHOOOO!  I did it!

Ok, now I'm addicted.

Right about here is when I realized I was standing on an ant hill and I had ants climbing all over my feet and in my shoes.  Gross!  Relocate!

Look how cute they are!

Ok, really, I can't stop.

Oohhh!  Coooool!

Last one, I SWEAR!

Ok, sorry.  

There's cool stuff EVERYWHERE!!

Strange.

Ohhh  preeeettty!

Even the dead stuff is cool

Grass is cool, too.

And THAT, ladies and gentlemen, is how going to school becomes NOT boring!

Go enjoy nature!

~Lioness