I started Sunday’s ramble by the city communications building, across from SLU High School, in the south east corner of the park. The building is underground, a cold war holdover, built to secure city communications in case of Soviet nuclear attack. Considering it is 62 years old, I’d say it’s done all right by itself. On the east side of the building, where the ground slopes up from Oakland Avenue to the grass and trees on top of the building itself (so the Russians can’t find it), there were large patches of common blue violets and a small white flower I have not been able to yet identify. I spent some time there photographing them before wandering on, picking up trash (glass booze bottles, a beer can and other items) and looking for items of interest.
Walking through the pedestrian tunnel that passes under US40, I came out next to Bowl Lake, with its many cypress trees. In the Summer it is covered with the bright blossoms of hundreds of American Lotus plants. Now, it is still choked with the remnants of last year’s blooms. Bees busily buzzed by the blossoms, and the occasional cyclist rode past me. Under the cypress trees spring beauty was in bloom, but up the hill from this idyllic and irenic spot, the cruel mien of T Rex dominated the view, threatening passers by with his impressive dental work. I would have stayed and chatted, but I had a birthday party to attend.
A dark and mysterious passage leading into Forest park.