Going Natural in The Natural State

Little Rock wasn't exactly warm during our visit but anything's warmer than Wisconsin's temps. This week our single digit weather even ventured down to Arkansas. SORRY. What's normal for us certainly can paralyze a southern city and definitely isn't kind to camellias blooming already in Zone 6. This colder weather reminded me that I still had a couple stories left to share about our past visit... because one can even be a tourist in one's own home town.

Since it had been a while since Natureman had been able to accompany me South, my brother Marc was kind enough to serve as tour guide during our visit. The guys toured Little Rock neighborhoods, South Main Street i.e.: The Root Restaurant for locally grown food, southwestward:The Bass Pro Shop (like our Cabela's), the new freeway exchange, and I got to go with them on a couple of southward field trips besides the locals's barbeque lunch at H.B.'s ( unfortunately their fryer was down for the day, alas no fried pies)... 

followed by our stop at the Sequoyah National Research Center written about in the preceding blog entry.

It had been a good while since I had headed farther westward on Highway 10. Fortunately with my brother as chauffeur I could catnap en route. I actually remember when the garden plots out there became popular by the Little Maumelle. Now there's even a park called Two Rivers Park surrounded by nice sized waterfront homes.

The wind was biting but sunshine and blue skies made it seem warmer than it really was. It was just cooler than usual for Arkansas.

Brother Marc and Natureman study the Little Maumelle River Trail.

We enjoyed a brisk walk on  a  trail down to the water's edge. There were actually a couple other folks there enjoying the park's beauty with us on that week day.




Natureman and I really appreciated the beauty of the area and public parks efforts. My brother pointed out  a golf course area granted by a variance and future possible new housing developments that may happen around the reservoir area.  What a shame to lose that natural beauty so close to the city.
'Progress' for a view is not always a good thing especially if you have been spoiled living in the Natural State. I don't know if it's a done deal but it would behoove Arkansas citizens to reconsider razing this land for a buck as once its gone, it's gone. Living where we live in the End of the Rainbow Valley we can truly appreciate the value of green space and the outdoors...