THE DESIGN of the trail entrance signs represents the spokes, rim and hub of an old stagecoach wagon wheel. The name and design are appropriate because, according to Mark Vavroch, some of the trail was built on part of the historic and still partially visible road bed of Stagecoach Road – the dirt road that long ago ran west out of Montezuma.
Text and photos by Roger Allen
• North Trail:
It starts at what seems to be the highest elevation of the Conservation land. An estimated curving walk of perhaps 1,500 feet leads to a bench where my wife and I felt like we were “at the top of the world.”
A COMPASS PLANT blossom at the top of perhaps the tallest plant along the trail. It is a native prairie plant. Each bud will turn into a saucer-sized yellow flower. Naturalist Amy Andrews said, “One of the really cool things about compass plants is that they have massive leaves which help them compete with other plants. Compass Plant gets its name because the leaves are always pointed upward, oriented with the flat surfaces facing east and west to take advantage of morning sun.” When the sun is directly overhead, less of a leaf is exposed to hot sun to provide less water loss.
Second of Two Parts
From the bench you have a nearly 360-degree panoramic view of the countryside. (Looking eastward we could not resist the urge to see how many wind turbines we could count in the distance– which was more than 50.) That peaceful rest stop leads to a long gradual curving downward slope followed by a long rising slope, then more of a plateau leading to the north trail termination point. The north trail is no doubt a great place to obse
COMMON MILKWEED. As the name indicates it is the most common of the milkweeds. According to Naturalist Amy Andrews there are 4 species of milkweed that we have in the park, and this is by far the most common! Plants in the milkweed family are the only plants that can host the caterpillars of the monarch butterfly! Milkweed is the only thing their stomach can handle, so the butterflies lay eggs on the milkweeds, then a caterpillar lives and eats on one plant until it is ready to pupate (form a chrysalis) and metamorphose into a butterfly.
rve both sunrises and sunsets. (I may never see a sunrise from there, but I look forward to photographing some sunsets.)
Above is an example of symmetry that often appears in nature. This may be a weed or it may be a wildflower, but either way it reminds Roger of a whirling Carnival Ride, so that is his name for it.
• East Trail:
There is a greater variety of wildflowers and other plant life visible on this trail, with subtle but constant changes in what plants are at their seasonal “showiest.” The altitude change is more dramatic in the halfway area of this trail. For bicycle riders, depending on how fast they choose to go down into the valley, it can provide a bit of a “thrill ride” – with the hope that
a deer or some other creature does not decide to enter your path!
COMMON IRONWEED with 2-to-5-ft stems has attractive floral sprays at this time of year. Butterflies frequent it and it plays host to the American Painted Lady Butterfly. It received its common name from its iron-like qualities: tough stems, tenacious growing habit, and flowers that give way to seed clusters the color of rust.
A significant drop in the air temperature is often experienced in the valley. Progressing on this trail results in a nice reward: a resting spot at a modern shelter and a pleasant view of Diamond Lake. A short distance downhill from there concludes the east trail, across the road from the main shelter house of Diamond Lake Park.
A MOTH FEASTS on Red Clover. Useful as a nectar source for wildlife, but not native to Iowa. It came to North America from Europe with hay and livestock.
Stagecoach Trail is a treasure to be experienced, for exercise, for a respite from daily life, and an opportunity to take “a closer look” at some of the many marvels of creation visible in nature.
I have bonified evidence of users of the trail ranging in age from 5 to 85 (or maybe only 84) but 5 to 85 has better alliteration! I plan to be on the trail again next year, to make it for sure 5 to 85.
ROUND-HEADED BUSH CLOVER, a native prairie plant. The green leaves are this year’s growth. The brown ball-shaped seed heads are from last year. When this plant blooms each seed head is covered in tiny white flowers.
A footnote: The vegetation photos accompanying this essay were taken over a six-week period along the east trail.
Roger Allen called this one a Carnival Ride Plant.”COMMON DOGBANE. This is a flower that is native to the Midwest and grows throughout the U.S. and Canada. It serves as a larval host for the Snow- berry Clearwing, which is a pollinator that resembles a small hummingbird.
NATURALIST AMY ANDREWS said these have three common names: false sunflower. Or early sunflower. Or oxeye sunflower. Regardless of the multiple names, these small bursts of yellow add beauty to a walk along Stagecoach Trail.
