Near the beginning of June, I took a break from bird photography. It may be time to focus on other things, such as photographing Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies) and wildflowers. I last visited Hobler Park for a volunteer park cleanup and restoration event in 2021.
Hobler Park is a 50-acre passive recreation area located on Great Road (Rt. 601) in the Blawenburg section of Montgomery Township. It sits opposite the Cherry Valley Country Club. The park was dedicated to the township in 1990 by the developers of Cherry Valley Country Club.
The park features a 1.0-mile loop trail around its perimeter, with additional cross trails for exploration. Mostly managed as a meadow, Hobler Park also includes some forested areas at the southern end, surrounding an unnamed tributary of Bedens Brook. This diverse landscape provides excellent opportunities for bird watching, with 7 species of hawks noted in the area. But I wasn’t here for bird photography..
![Hobler Park](https://cdn.statically.io/img/islandinthenet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Fujifilm_X-T3_20240603__DSF4327-Enhanced-RD.jpg)
Hobler Park has several amenities, including a small parking lot, a gazebo housing a children's library where books can be borrowed and donated, a multipurpose field often used for soccer, playground equipment, and restrooms. The park's natural pathway winds through the meadow, offering flat walking surfaces with good views, making it ideal for easy walks and nature appreciation. That’s why I was here.
![Hobler Park](https://cdn.statically.io/img/islandinthenet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Fujifilm_X-T3_20240603__DSF4330-Enhanced-RD.jpg)
I expected to find many native wildflowers in Hobler Park. However, after walking one of the trails for nearly 90 minutes, I was disappointed to find only four native wildflowers, despite a dozen wildflowers being identified using iNaturalist. The remaining eight wildflowers, which I photographed but won't show here, are invasive plants native to Europe, Africa, and Asia. They displace native species in areas with favourable climates. Few of the animals that feed on them are found in North America.
![Hobler Park](https://cdn.statically.io/img/islandinthenet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Fujifilm_X-T3_20240603__DSF4332-Enhanced-RD.jpg)
My walk was peaceful. The air temperature was comfortable with a gentle breeze. The local commuter traffic was just a whisper in the background. The early morning light filtering through the leaves made me feel calm. This experience reminded me of the many wonderful parks and open spaces in my area that I often overlook. To remedy this, I'm considering creating a seasonal visitation schedule for local parks, allowing me to experience them throughout the year.
![Hobler Park](https://cdn.statically.io/img/islandinthenet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Fujifilm_X-T3_20240603__DSF4491-Enhanced-RD.jpg)
![Hobler Park](https://cdn.statically.io/img/islandinthenet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Fujifilm_X-T3_20240603__DSF4499-Enhanced-RD.jpg)