Iowa

Ada Hayden Park, Ames, IA (June 16, 2010)

Between 2003 and 2009 Massimo's Photoblog was my excuse for getting out with my camera and capture light. During that time I was living on the East coast (Boston area), and many of the photos I posted were views of the North Shore, architectural details of the city, or more in general images captured during my travels. In 2009 I moved to Ames, Iowa, to take up a new job at the local university, and things got very busy. The frequency of my posts slowed down, as new work responsibilities (and a new -- very demanding -- four legged family member) gradually took over what was supposed to be my "leisure time". Then, repeated computer crashed consigned the archives of this site to the dustbin of internet history. I never stopped to take pictures, though, and the need of a virtual wall where to hang them stayed with me. So here it is, my photoblog back from the dead, hopefully with new images for you to enjoy.

I needed to start with something "Iowan", and there it is, a view of the Ada Hayden Heritage Park in Ames. The park is dedicated to Ada Hayden (1884 - 1950), a botanist and avid conservationist that dedicated her life to the preservation of natural prairies. She was the first woman to obtain a Ph.D. at Iowa State University, where she worked as an Assistant Professor and Curator of the Herbarium. The park has been established in her memory on the grounds of the Hallett Quarry (more precisely a gravel and sand pit). The park now features two lakes connected by a land bridge, a wetland area hosting many migratory bird species and a farm area. All is served by paved and gravel paths very popular among Ames' bikers, roller bladers and dog owners. The photo above shows the farm area from the gravel path: as you can see it proves how Iowa does have some low-rolling hills, and it is not completely flat and covered by corn as I assumed when I moved to the midwest.