Some of our country’s greatest treasures are right next door awaiting our notice.
A couple weeks ago, Harland and I paid a visit to an area of Kansas I had never heard of before. The Cross Timbers area is a strip of land that runs from southeast Kansas to central Texas and forms a natural barrier between the forested areas of the eastern US and the treeless great plains. Early settlers considered the land worthless, and the trees were not considered worth logging. So today it contains some of the largest tracts of old growth forests in the eastern US with post oaks from 200 – 400 years old and red cedars over 500 years old.
The northernmost area of Cross Timbers lies in southeast Kansas and 1000 acres of it is preserved at the Cross Timbers State Park. Harland and I visited the park early one morning before sunrise to catch the early morning show.
Our time there was short, and someday I would like to visit there again to walk the trails and visit the ancient trees.
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Wow! Even though I was originally from Wichita, and visit there regularly, I’ve never heard of this park! Beautiful!
Beautiful photos. Looks like a wonderful place. I’d love to see those old trees!
Very nice. I’ll come too.
Your pictures are beautiful!! Look forward each morning to seeing what you are photographing!
I live in Kansas too but you and Harland seem to find places I’ve never even heard of. Hubby and I will have to take a road trip. Thanks for sharing.
Very beautiful. Love the photo with the glowing red tree in the middle (#4). It looks like a fish must have jumped just before you snapped the pic. I would have to go back to see those trees sounds wonderful.
Oh what a beautiful place…it looks so peaceful. I like the big rocks on the shore.
I see you made a wonderful discovery as well, but I think this place has more space and diversity than the area I found today. You captured the beauty well!