Hanging Out in Siouxland on a Cold Winter’s Day, Sioux City

A male cardinal sits nestled in a bush harboring during a cold blustery day at Latham Park in Sioux City, Iowa Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2022. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Some days recently in Siouxland it’s been extremely cold and like the winter’s tale involving Santa Claus’ trip around the world, “not a creature is stirring”. Upon a recent visit to Latham Park, a local private park, birds were hanging out about in the bushes that surround the park. While the green leaves and foliage is gone, the bushes still offer some refuge on a cold day sheltering the little feathered friends from gusts of wind. Probably dreaming of spring and warmer weather themselves. Patience oft thought of as a virtue, can sometimes be in short supply.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Two sparrows sit on an iron wrought fence which surround Latham Park in Sioux City, Iowa Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2022. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A Downy Woodpecker looks for lunch on a tree at Latham Park in Sioux City, Iowa Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2022. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A male cardinal sits nestled in a bush harboring during a cold blustery day at Latham Park in Sioux City, Iowa Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2022. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Hanging out on a Summer’s Evening in Siouxland, Latham Park, Sioux City

A common sparrow greets a visitor at an entrance to Latham Park in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, August 29, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A quiet little park area in Sioux City attracts all sorts who on a quiet Sunday evening in Siouxland like to hang out and enjoy some of summer’s last or waning days. Meeting some friends for a bit of a picnic lunch before fall really revs up I got there early to find some other locals enjoying the park as well and a quiet summer’s eve.

A fountain area at Latham Park in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, August 29, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Two common house sparrows looking for some water in the fountain at Latham Park in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, August 29, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

There was plenty of bird song emanating from the surrounding bushes and trees that filled the air even as some of the little creatures had some problems finding a good spot from which to sing. But that happens to all of us at one time or another.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

A house sparrow enjoys a quiet sunset at Latham Park in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, August 29, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Oops, some landings in the bush are more graceful than others and interrupts a quiet setting sun moment for another house sparrow at Latham Park in Sioux City, Iowa Sunday, August 29, 2021. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Siouxland 4th of July, Latham Park, Sioux City

A hidden gem in the city of Sioux City, Iowa, is Latham Park. It is an original family site of Benjamin Tuets Latham’s family. Benjamin retired from farming near Moville, Iowa, and then settled in Sioux City at 1806 S. Lemon Street. The last member of that family, Clara Latham, died in 1937, and had set up a trust to ensure the park would remain just that, a park to be enjoyed by neighbors and residents. 

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Latham Park is open at various times for people to stroll through the grounds and enjoy the surroundings and quiet of the park. Photographs of the Latham Park pancake breakfast.

Jerry Mennenga, Sioux CIty, Iowa

Friends of Latham Park, Sioux City, Iowa, sponsored a pancake breakfast the morning of July 4, 2012, to honor this country’s Declaration of Independence and to sustain the independence of this traditional park sponsored by private donations. According to the group’s website “The Latham Park site was originally the home of Miss Clara Latham. Upon her death in 1937, the property passed into a charitable trust established for its perpetual maintenance.” The house still stands on the park grounds along with gardens that decorate the grounds. (photo by Jerry Mennenga©)

Friends of Latham Park, Sioux City, Iowa, sponsored a pancake breakfast the morning of July 4, 2012, to honor this country’s Declaration of Independence and to sustain the independence of this traditional park sponsored by private donations. According to the group’s website “The Latham Park site was originally the home of Miss Clara Latham. Upon her death in 1937, the property passed into a charitable trust established for its perpetual maintenance.” The house still stands on the park grounds along with gardens that decorate the grounds. (photo by Jerry Mennenga©)

Friends of Latham Park, Sioux City, Iowa, sponsored a pancake breakfast the morning of July 4, 2012, to honor this country’s Declaration of Independence and to sustain the independence of this traditional park sponsored by private donations. According to the group’s website “The Latham Park site was originally the home of Miss Clara Latham. Upon her death in 1937, the property passed into a charitable trust established for its perpetual maintenance.” The house still stands on the park grounds along with gardens that decorate the grounds. (photo by Jerry Mennenga©)

Friends of Latham Park, Sioux City, Iowa, sponsored a pancake breakfast the morning of July 4, 2012, to honor this country’s Declaration of Independence and to sustain the independence of this traditional park sponsored by private donations. According to the group’s website “The Latham Park site was originally the home of Miss Clara Latham. Upon her death in 1937, the property passed into a charitable trust established for its perpetual maintenance.” The house still stands on the park grounds along with gardens that decorate the grounds. (photo by Jerry Mennenga©)

Friends of Latham Park, Sioux City, Iowa, sponsored a pancake breakfast the morning of July 4, 2012, to honor this country’s Declaration of Independence and to sustain the independence of this traditional park sponsored by private donations. According to the group’s website “The Latham Park site was originally the home of Miss Clara Latham. Upon her death in 1937, the property passed into a charitable trust established for its perpetual maintenance.” The house still stands on the park grounds along with gardens that decorate the grounds. (photo by Jerry Mennenga©)

Friends of Latham Park, Sioux City, Iowa, sponsored a pancake breakfast the morning of July 4, 2012, to honor this country’s Declaration of Independence and to sustain the independence of this traditional park sponsored by private donations. According to the group’s website “The Latham Park site was originally the home of Miss Clara Latham. Upon her death in 1937, the property passed into a charitable trust established for its perpetual maintenance.” The house still stands on the park grounds along with gardens that decorate the grounds. (photo by Jerry Mennenga©)

Friends of Latham Park, Sioux City, Iowa, sponsored a pancake breakfast the morning of July 4, 2012, to honor this country’s Declaration of Independence and to sustain the independence of this traditional park sponsored by private donations. According to the group’s website “The Latham Park site was originally the home of Miss Clara Latham. Upon her death in 1937, the property passed into a charitable trust established for its perpetual maintenance.” The house still stands on the park grounds along with gardens that decorate the grounds. (photo by Jerry Mennenga©)