The Oakdale Nature Preserve

On a warm yet muggy day, my husband and I decided to take a walk through the Oakdale Nature Preserve which is located in Oakdale, Minnesota. The Preserve has a Discovery Center that was closed when we were there.

Discover Center - Oakdale, Minnesota — Discovery Center – Oakdale, Minnesota

The paved pathways are easy to walk on — thankfully!

P1090504 — Path at the Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

A lone duck sits in this rain-made pond. Can you see him over on the right sitting on the log?

P1090505 — Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

P1090506 — Oakdale Nature Preserver – Oakdale, Minnesota

Wooded benches with names of people who donated them or for whom they are in memoriam are scattered throughout the Preserve.

P1090507 — Benches at the Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

Throughout the Preserve, wooden birdhouses can be seen — some are attached to trees and others are on long poles.

P1090508 — Bird house at the Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

There was a section of the park where they had set aside an area to grow vegetables. I’m not sure how that will work since deer frequent this park.

P1090510 — Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

P1090511 — Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

P1090512 — Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

P1090513 — Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

P1090514 — Oakdale Nature Preservec – Oakdale, Minnesota

The Oakdale Nature Preserve is 220 acres. We saw people jogging, walking their dogs and enjoying the quiet of the area.

P1090517 — Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

Since moving to Minnesota, I haven’t seen very many lilac trees. Â This tree was in full bloom but did not “smell” like a lilac tree.

P1090520 — Lilac Tree at the Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

P1090519 — Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

I want to get a few birdhouses for our property like the one below. Â They are nice and tall and squirrels are not able to climb up the poles.

P1090532 — Bird house at the Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

Since we had a late spring, the cherry trees are just now blooming.

P1090534 — Cherry Tree at the Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

This handmade wooden bench gave me inspiration to make something similar to use on our property. It won’t be quite as fancy but I’m sure it will work fine. Shhhh … it’s going to be a project for my husband. Â (laughing)

P1090536 — Wood Bench at the Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

I have always enjoyed walking through or past groves of trees and this day was no exception. The appearance of “camaraderie” among trees makes me feel as if I’m one with nature. I would have taken a nice deep breath but for the cottonwood trees that were also in full bloom (achoo!).

Discovery Center - Oakdale, Minnesota — Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

Further down one of the trails we saw a playground.

P1090523 — Playground at the Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

The preserve is well taken care of and there were areas where piles of branches were lain waiting to be picked up.

P1090524 — Oakdale Nature Preserve – Oakdale, Minnesota

Continuing on our walk, we saw tennis courts. Hmmm … I wonder if my husband would entertain the idea of playing tennis. Knowing him, he’d entertain the idea but that would be the extent of it.