Tough Day for Photography - Hobbs Woods

© 2015 by Dawn Braun

If you need a place to escape and feel like you have been dropped into a scene from Legend, this is where you want to go. When I allow my gaze to drift up the creek there is always an intriguing bend that I have to follow that could possibly have a unicorn on the other side.
My daughter had agreed to come with me to Hobbs Woods on July 1st as I wanted to experiment with some ideas. Let's just say I have a LOT to learn and she was the perfect model and had the patience of a saint.

On this fateful day we discovered it was too buggy to take any real serious shots and the canopy of trees made any actions scenes impossible. Did I mention it was buggy? It was. What made it bearable was the discovery of a few kittens that greeted a few hikers. You can barely see the calico kitten on the upper left picture, but he/she followed us for about a half hour or so. Really just adorable.

So what you may not recall, Dear Reader, is that Hobbs Woods is across the way from a very large farm, therefore it is a reasonable conclusion that the cats came from there. I hoped I have assuaged your concerns for the cats as I continue with this story as the tale of the kittens does not end here. The calico/tiger kitten had approached us and our plans for actions scenes were focusing on including our new friend. I have about 100 shots with this cat but there is only a few usable ones due to the slow shutter speed.  We spent maybe an hour here before driven back to our car to escape the mosquitoes, vowing another trip the next day.

© 2015 by Dawn Braun

Fast forwarding to tomorrow, the mosquitoes were still just as bad, but we at least had a plan, and a tripod. Here is a sample of what kind of scenes I am developing. When I have a chance, I'll be headed back to Hobbs Woods with my model and costumes in tow. Who knows what will come out of that photoshoot. All I know is that I need to seriously step out of my comfort zone. My next scenes may be similar to the movie Legend or it might be a zombie.

Or both.

Winter Walkabout - Hobbs Woods

Taken February 2015

It's been awhile since my last upload.    I was driving with my adult son Aaron, looking for inspiration and ultimately ended up on Fond du Lac.

For winter subjects I look for brooks or streams with open water and at Hobbs Woods it was exactly what I was looking for. There were a few cars there but the park is big enough (60 acres) that you occasionally crossed paths each other.

One woman was with her two spaniels when one of them broke through the ice. Aaron and I were close enough to help if needed, and within about 10 seconds she was out of the cold water.   The now wet dog saved herself and made a bee line for us.   She had to tell us her story and shook herself off next to us before running back into the snow.   Not exactly the greeting I was looking for and made sure my camera was tucked away.

So if ever you are in the area - Hobbs Woods is located on Hickory Street, heading east, looking for the farm with 7 blue silos known as Cotton Wood Creek Farm.


Wheretofind: Hwy 41 to Hickory Road Exit, head west (away from Fondy) and you will be going through an industrial park. Continue following this road until you reach the stop sign which is the corner of Hickory and Larsen. Ahead of you is a farm to the right, and right across from that is the entrance to Hobbs Woods.

What to expect: Shallow creeks, natural trails, steep hills with some rest benches, cross country ski trail. No bathroom unless you count the privacy provided by trees and shrubbery.

West of the Lake Gardens - Manitowoc

West of the Lake Gardens
Originally uploaded by WheretogoWisconsin

925 Memorial Drive, Manitowoc (Manitowoc Cty)
(see previous post on Point Beach Ice Age Trail)

After lunching at Kurtz's, Dan and Judy showed me where to find this garden that I have never seen before. Previously we had hiked approximately 8 miles on the Point Beach segment of the Ice Age Trail (link to be inserted when post is competed).

The driveway is a beautiful gateway entrance (there are two driveways, it's on the left, the other is a residence, so watch for signs).

The main home is known as the 'Shoebox Estate' and was the first modern style design that most of us recognize as a Frank Lloyd Wright. West of the Lake was named by Mrs Ruth West (lovely double entendre if you think about it) who had purchased the old street car right of way in 1934. Later that year Mr. John West began the building of the famous home and Ruth's beginning of her garden that began with 200 tulips.

By 1950, a 30 year tradition was born to open the gardens annually to the public to celebrate the West of the Lake Tulip Tea event. After the passing of John in 1989, then Ruth in 1990, The West Foundation was used to formally open the gardens to the public, which is now opened daily from Mother's Day to Mid-October 10 am - 5 pm (weather permitting), and continues its stewardship by providing scholarships/grants for the Manitowoc-Two Rivers area.

How to find: From I-43 North or South: Take exit 152, State Highway 42 East (Waldo Blvd., toward Manitowoc). Follow Waldo Blvd. to Lake Michigan (about 5 miles) where it curves left (North) and becomes Memorial Drive. At the first traffic signal (Reed Ave.), turn right at the West of the Lake Gardens. 925 Memorial Drive, Manitowoc, WI 54220 (920) 684-8506

What to Expect: Flowers, silly! Free Parking and Admission, self guided brochures take you through all of the gardens known by name: Japanese, Sunken, Rose, Red and White, The Path, Mae West, Formal and The Loop. The gorgeous view of Lake Michigan makes for the perfect backdrop.

Old Red Mill - Waupaca

Waupaca (Waupaca Cty)

I literally wandered into this place at 6 am in the morning many,many years ago while looking for a place to pee and directions to Twin Lakes Camp Ground for my son's Cub Scouts day camp.

Along the front you will find the entrance to the back and this is what I found, the most beautiful secret garden I had ever accidentally trespassed onto. It had led me to search for other secret gardens in Wisconsin but really have not found anything that had captured my fancy as The Old Red Mill.  In my opinion it is THE most romantic place, and typically it is not in my nature to find places romantic. Really.  Seriously.


Wheretofind:  Since the date of this original

post, the reconstruction of Highway 10 has been completed. Travel time from Oshkosh is about 45 minutes. It's almost the midway point between Oshkosh and Stevens Point, where my daughter is currently going to college.  FROM Highway 10, take the Cty K/Hwy 22 South Exit for approx 2 miles to the first set of lights. Turn left onto Cty K and follow the winding road just over a mile.  Just over a small bridge, the road will and the shop is at the curve, to your left.


What to expect: Covered bridge, Crystal River, occasional canoers (there is canoe launch right before the shop) gift shop with cafe, house cat, tiny chapel with pet cemetery. Beauty, splendor. 
Phone: 715-258-7385 
Hours: M-Sat 7a-pm, Sun 8a-5p.
For more information, visit their facebook page.