Month: October 2025

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Outstretched Limbs

ellenparkerwrites

Have you ever stood with your arms stretched out, hands ready to receive an object for 30 seconds?

It feels like an hour. However, with a therapist watching and knowing that it in the you’ll be stronger — a person does it.

Time to admire a tree for doing the same day after day, month after month, year after year.

Bare for the winter, this admirable tree in Missouri’s Dr. Edmund A. Babler Memorial State Park displays the structure and framework for a plentiful amount of leaves. (No, I’m not going to go back in June and count them.)

If your travels ever take you to St. Louis, consider a drive to the western edge of St. Louis County and visit to this park. Lots of space to picnic, let the children run off some excess energy, or hike through nature. Perhaps a game of softball or basketball suits you better. Camping is available on the outside edge of this 1600 plus acre park in case you want to give it a more detailed exploration.

In the sweet, later-in-life romance, Morning Tryst, photographer Serena Carter plans her route visiting all the Missouri State Parks to fall here at Christmas so she can combine a day off with a visit to a dear friend. Find this introduction to the heartland by following the link.

https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Tiger, River, & Tree

ellenparkerwrites

Enter the correct word into your favorite search engine and you get a choice.

Are you interested in the Amur Tiger?

Perhaps you want facts concerning the Amur River.

Oh, you’re looking for information about the Amur Cork Tree. Would you like to see a photo?

Far from it’s native range in East Asia, this specimen lives in St. Louis, Missouri. It receives excellent care from the staff at the Missouri Botanical Garden. While considered invasive in much of this continent, I can’t help but admire the inviting shape of the branches. (Mind the “no climbing or sitting” signs)

Where would you go on a date with your sweetheart? How about a stroll around a public garden? Conversation as you walk. Interesting things to see — plants and fellow visitors. I like to imagine Janet & Rich, the main characters of Comfort Zone, a later-in-life romance, pausing to admire this tree and others. Follow the link for more book information. https://amzn.to/2ZvL0Av

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Historical Spot

ellenparkerwrites

Two hundred-forty-four years ago, a battle raged in this field. Soldiers attacked fortified redoubts and were successful. Trapped and cut off from supplies, the commander surrendered.

The reason the day is not lost to history as just another action in a long war is that the surrendering army was British and Americans were the victors. Thus — at Yorktown, VA — the primary action of the American Revolution ended.

The Military Park is quiet today. I’m sure wildlife romps without fear across the ground which once hosted gunfire, smoke, and blood. This group of trees has been witness to much — not the battle — but the decades since. Was the ground farmed? When did future-thinking people take action to purchase and then preserve the remnants which remained? Time to plan a return trip with more time to browse the museum exhibits.

Seven decades after the battle, on the eastern back on the Mississippi River, stood the fictional town of Elm Ridge, Illinois. Immigrants arrived each spring and summer to start a new life in America. Check out the sweet romance, New Dreams, for one story. Complete blurb is at the link: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Sad History Remembered

ellenparkerwrites

Americans like to think of themselves as generous, welcoming people. We point to the hundreds of thousands of European immigrants with pride.

At times, we ignored our ideals and acted both greedy and cruel. One such chapter occurred in the winter of 1838-39. This was during the “Indian Removal” — a dark time when native peoples were forced to leave established homes and begin life again in what is now Oklahoma.

Bits and pieces of this tragedy are remembered at Missouri’s Trail of Tears State Park. This is an area where many crossed the Mississippi River. Be sure to visit The Bushyhead Memorial and learn a little history while camping, hiking, enjoying vistas or listening to birds.

Not old enough to have been a sapling when the bands of tired, weak, and ill Native Americans were forced to cross this land — I like to think of this tree as standing guard in one of the meadows of the current park.

In the later-in-life romance, Morning Tryst, you will find portions of two visits to this park by photographer Serena Carter. Join her to get an introduction to this and several other Missouri State Parks as setting. Complete book blurb is at the link: https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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History with a Twist?

ellenparkerwrites

Missouri’s Battle of Athens State Historical Site is located in the extreme northeast corner of the state. A two-hour battle, or skirmish, in August 1861 was an early, and rare, Union victory in the Civil War.

The most obvious battle scar is seen on the Joseph Benning home. A cannonball entered the front and left via the back. Amazingly without injury to any of the several occupants.

Many years after the battle, when the town of Athens was abandoned, a tree (or trees) took root. Taking advantage of open space, this tree is spreading branches and displaying spring beauty for visitors. Take a close look at the trunk.

Can you create a story of two seeds, emerging the same spring, growing closer and closer until one year they touch. Perhaps a prevailing breeze, or something else, encouraged one trunk to embrace the other. What do you think?

A decade before the Battle of Athens, on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River stood the fictional town of Elm Ridge. Steamboats brought a steady supply of immigrants and Americans seeking opportunity. Pay a visit to this imaginary place in the sweet romance, New Dreams. Time travel and observe the interaction between new and established Americans. More information at the link: https://amzn.to/3vWydWE

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Flowers – no Fruit

ellenparkerwrites

Rules, rules, rules. When a person lives in a densely populated development, rules benefit everyone.

While some rules may read as picky and overreaching at first, a little thought reveals the logic.

During a recent spring, our development had a flowering cherry tree posing for a photo. The pink and white blossoms were gone. And no fruit will appear – for this an ornamental tree, not an orchard tree.

Planted for beauty and future shade, this particular tree is friendly to the landscape service. No fruit also eliminates the possibility of the neighborhood children (and perhaps adults) picking, throwing, and gorging on cherries. I’ll accept the rule that any new tree planted on our property must meet restrictions. After all, I’ve navigated walking across a sidewalk and street when the oaks bless us (and the dozens of resident squirrels) with a bumper crop.

Nature does the planting and harvesting in Missouri State Parks. (And very likely in the state parks near you.) Yes, humans check and keep trails clear of fallen trees and branches and repair areas washed-out by rain or spring run-off. Oak, hickory, dogwood, and others put on a show for visitors — from pale to intense greens of spring to yellows, browns, and dashes of red in autumn.

Morning Tryst, is a later-in-life romance featuring several Missouri State Parks. Join photographer Serena Carter as she discovers treasures of several kinds. More details when you follow the link: https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Close to Home

ellenparkerwrites

When you hear the word “scenic” what comes to mind?

Do you picture a view of a lake, river, mountain, or building you encountered on vacation? Or perhaps a water feature in a park or public garden comes to mind.

Do you ever think about the view from your home’s window?

Perhaps I’m lucky. But from a window I can see this tree — from a different angle. Four years ago, early in October, it put its best leaves forward and provided shade, a landmark, and a headache for the garbage truck driver.

Do you have anything interesting outside your window? A bird feeder? A business sign? Can you smell a bakery or fried chicken restaurant? Sunrise or sunset?

Bloom where planted. Some advice I took to heart a number of years ago. Open both eyes and look for an object you find interesting.

St. Louis, my current home, has many attractions which draw both tourists and residents. In Comfort Zone, a later-in-life romance, the background includes little things — a bridal shop, mini-golf, an Italian restaurant — which keep an area vibrant. Explore this novel filled with second chances at the link: https://amzn.to/2ZvL0Av

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A Jaunt to the Tropics

ellenparkerwrites

Ah….finally autumn in St. Louis. Well — maybe. What’s going on with near record temperatures in early October?

Right. The phrase frowned upon when written. I’ll live dangerous today — CLIMATE CHANGE.

Comfortable within the greenhouse dome, this palm brings a touch of the tropics to the Midwest. Will they survive in an outside garden here? Not now. In two decades? Three? Or will ice and snow continue to keep tropical and temperate zone plants separated?

Explore current day Missouri in the clean & wholesome romance, Morning Tryst. Photographer Serena Carter will guide to you several Missouri State Parks while facing some life-altering decisions. Click on the link for book details. https://amzn.to/35gH37S

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Hiding in the Shade

ellenparkerwrites

The town was founded 326 years ago. I doubt if this tree was standing at the time. However, I like to think that not long after a seed, then a sapling took root in the warm Virginia earth and flourished.

When you and the tree were younger – would you have climbed among the branches? Hid behind the thick trunk? Searched for bird nests?

When you stand half-concealed by a low branch, do you hear the wind and leaves telling stories?

In general, when a town was platted and built — the trees were cleared. Some homes planted orchards. And an occasional old-growth tree would survive due to location or perhaps the first owner of the lot favored the shape.

Fictional Elm Ridge, Illinois during the 1850’s featured many gardens, a few small orchards, and only a rare older tree. Follow the link to a sweet romance between neighbors. https://amzn.to/3VwoeFh