Seeing Spring in Siouxland, Sioux City

There are days when I put on a lot of miles looking for images and just exploring Siouxland in general. Always wanting to see what is over the next hill and dale. But sometimes seeing just requires that. And pleasant surprises can even be found in one’s backyard, even one only takes the time to stop and smell the “tulips”, or in this case tulip.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Enjoying a backyard tulip in Sioux City, Iowa Tuesday May 15, 2018. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Enjoying a backyard tulip in Sioux City, Iowa Tuesday May 15, 2018. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

No sunny skies in Siouxland as spring showers continue, Woodbury County

This particular spring in Siouxland has seen a continuation of rainy days. While not unusual in itself, but it follows what seems a long feeling of winter into spring with snow showers and cold temps into April. So sunny skies such as these are not that common yet.

Older barns with newer accommodations in rural Woodbury County, Iowa Wednesday Sept. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Traveling a gravel road in rural Woodbury County, Iowa Wednesday Sept. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

And I am sure there are many of those days that will grace the Siouxland region in the weeks to come, but photographically speaking, it’s a bit of dreary weather. But sometimes one must be patient for that sunshine to appear and nurse those flower seedlings and grass to green up the hillsides and provide a bit of color. And when it does appear, all of this waiting will be forgotten.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

 

Early fall days in rural Woodbury County, Iowa Wednesday Sept. 27, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Finding new Places in Siouxland, Harrison County

As the weather finally gets warmer and the brown of winter turns into the green of spring and summer, I look forward to exploring more Siouxland places and finding what is just beyond the near hill. To me driving about and seeing what is there never gets old. Exploring small communities, the countryside and some of the larger cities give way to new adventures, repeat adventures and just a nice day and good excuse to get out and photograph.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

The rolling Loess Hills of rural Harrison County, Iowa Friday, June 16, 2017. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Winter Hangs on in Siouxland at Bacon Creek Park, Sioux City

Talking with friends and acquaintances everyone is agreed that winter is overstaying its welcome a bit too much. Another storm push with maybe 3-8 inches depending on where one lives could show up. On a walk at Bacon Creek Park recently I experimented a bit with a Holga plastic lens again. Personally, I am getting tired of the colors white and brown. But what can one say, just a day at a time.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Winter clings to the area around Bacon Creek Park in Sioux City, Iowa Wednesday, March 14, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

A local resident takes a walk as snow stills covers the ground at Bacon Creek Park in Sioux City, Iowa Wednesday, March 14, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Geese an over extended visit by winter at Bacon Creek Park in Sioux City, Iowa Wednesday, March 14, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Lingering Winter in Siouxland, Stone State Park

Winter is hanging out much too long this year in Siouxland. And it’s not only in Siouxland, but sometimes being selfish, I only care that it is lingering too long here. There have been brief moments of sunshine, and actual sun shining, but those seem to be few. Recently there was another snow fall. And the sky is grey and hazy.

I began looking at images as black and white, trying to see the possibility of grey tones.

Walking on a cold grey day at Stone State Parkin Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, April 1, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

On a recent hike before the snow in Stone State Park the browns and greys of this past winter still loomed large and didn’t create any excitement on my part. And with hazy, grey and overcast skies it’s sometimes hard to create images that have any kind of spark to them.

Walking on a cold grey day at Stone State Park in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, April 1, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

But it was nice to get out of the house, go for a walk and breath some fresh air without the intake freezing one’s lungs, or walking, again, through snow drifts. I like winter, being outside and enjoying what it offers, but it’s time to move on, climb new hills and see what a reawakening or rebirth can is in the offering from spring. I just hope it shows up before summer is here, maybe in June.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Walking during a grey cold day at Stone State Park in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, April 1, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Creating a Theme in Siouxland, Iowa Lakeside Labs

Sometimes when out photographing in Siouxland I will revisit a subject or see a new one and work to create a different image or selection of images. There are those days when the light helps you and others when you wished it helped you a little more. So it was visiting the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa, along East Lake Okoboji. At least I think it is the East Lake. After a couple of years of visiting I am still not certain. This time I concentrated on the stone of the buildings along with nature in its proximity. Winter season was still “in bloom” in the area there with the lakes completely frozen over with only water showing near the shoreline.

A research building at the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

Research buildings at the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The sky and sunshine was a bit muted with the light diffused and so looked at angles and patterns.

One of the research buildings at the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

These buildings were constructed in the early 1900’s and has been a constant field study laboratory site and so many trees have sprung up around the buildings. I wonder if planted to partially shade them to help cool them in the summer, and partly by nature’s design rather than man’s.

A detail look at one of the research buildings at the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

A detail of nne of the research buildings at the Iowa Lakeside Labs in Wahpeton, Iowa Thursday, March 15, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

I always find it a good exercise to try and see new in the places I have been. Challenging myself after a few visits when the time of year is full of browns and not spring’s new growth and greenery that helps spruce up a place as the life cycle continues.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Seeing “spots” in Siouxland, Ice Flows, Yankton, SD

Friends of mine told me that they had seen some spectacular ice flows in the Missiour River along the banks in Sioux City. I never made it out there, but did take a peek while in Yankton, SD during an outing on a sunny, but very cold day in Siouxland.

Bits of ice flow along the bank of the Missouri River in Yankton, SD Friday, Feb. 16, 2018. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

While not as spectacular as friends had mentioned, it still wows me that the water is that cold during the winter to form ice flows along the river banks. And all the more reason why this person is waiting for spring to bring a respite and temps that are in the 40’s at least on a more consistent basis. This look at the river is a lot different than during the summer during a festival along the banks. I can feel the sweat slowly trickle down my back right now and be glad for it.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Tucked in among the trees along the Missiouri River, the Riverboat Days in Yankton, SD, Saturday, August 20, 2016. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)