04.07.09
Dogwood in Bloom… (almost)
For the millions and millions of Internet users reading this that don’t know what Innsbrook is… it’s a 7,400-acre community in eastern Missouri. Most of the folks at Innsbrook are second-home owners and, for the most part, they live in St. Louis (regarding the millions and millions of readers, most “How to Blog” articles recommend that you write like no one’s reading — because they aren’t… I guess that’s reassuring, but we can pretend).
So, as I was saying, there are also about 300 families that live at Innsbrook “full time”, although some make their way to Florida and other warmer climes in the winter months.
The geography of Innsbrook is spectacular. We are blessed with rolling wooded hills and mature hardwood forests. Because of the abundance of clay in the area, we were able to build about a hundred lakes which dot our community making it look more like the Northern Wisconsin and Minnesota than Missouri. And the developers treated the land gently, keeping the building density very low so there is lots and lots of forest surrounding those beautiful lakes.
Most of the second homes here are some version of A-frames — we call them chalets. They have lots of glass so being in one is a lot like being in a tree house — leaves everywhere and every shade of green one can imagine. In fact, as the sunlight filters through the branches, and leaves — it can feel like you are surrounded by stained glass windows, but the only colors the artist had to work with were green and blue.
The exception to the prevalence of green is this time of year. Now the woods are laced with the white of Service Berry and the lilac of Red Bud (sort of a misnomer there). And we are awaiting the Dogwood that will absolutely fill the woods with clouds of white that blaze as the sunlight breaks through the forest canopy — sunlight can do some wonderful things in the woods but I don’t think anything compares to a dogwood lit in all it’s glory.
So, that’s why we named our blog the Dogwood Journal? Ahhh…no. The reason is not so much what Innsbrook Villagers find in the woods when they arrive at their home or chalet, but why they came in the first place. That is not a simple thing to explain, but Ann Morrow Lindberg did a pretty good job of it when she said, “After all, I don’t see why I am always asking for private, individual, selfish miracles when every year there are miracles like white dogwood.”
Folks at Innsbrook come here in search of those kind of miracles…the things that the wilderness, the woods and nature give us that we can’t find anywhere else. They experience them with their families and friends, and when the go back to the paved streets, strip malls and big box stores, some of the Dogwood, or the oaks or the wildflowers stay with them.
That is what we hope this blog will be about — the things that folks come to Innsbrook to find.
The colors of the sunset are bouncing off the waters of 150-acre Lake Aspen at Innsbrook Resort.
Donna Lawrence said,
April 8, 2009 at 11:22 am
Great article. You’ve really summed up what Innsbrook is all about! Thanks.
vicki mcalister said,
April 8, 2009 at 1:25 pm
I agree with Donna. Innsbrook is lakes, fish, dogwoods, redbuds, dear, turtles, racoons…and lots of friends who enjoy this very short time called “life”. We’ve been here for 9 years and we love it more now than we did when we bought our chalet.
Janet Ryan said,
April 8, 2009 at 1:35 pm
Agree with Donna – a lovely article. We are lucky people to be a part of Innsbrook.
Jennifer Junker said,
April 9, 2009 at 7:39 am
I love driving around the property and am constantly amazed at the abundance of wildlife and natural beauty. Especially this time of year when the woods are just waking up from their winter’s rest and are ready to show their colors. We are truly blessed to be able to enjoy this wonderfully preserved development called “Innsbrook”.
Greg Hoeltzel said,
April 9, 2009 at 8:11 am
Great photos! We all must have similar photographs of sunsets over Innsbrook’s lakes- beautiful, but none can hold a candle to the real thing!
Tony Boelhauf #235 said,
April 10, 2009 at 8:02 pm
For 22 years as we drive through the gates my blood pressure would start to lower and life became Innsbrook ready! The beautiful flowers and the wild life. The lakes, trails and all the wonderful things to do and enjoy.
As they asked in a famous movie “Is this Heaven”?
Claudia Cutter #5 said,
April 15, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Life doesn’t get any better than when it is I-B time!
I have such a wonderful Innsbrook family…can’t imagine things w/o them.
Already opened up and a couple of weekends under our belts.
Stop by and introduce yourself!
Pat Teeple said,
April 17, 2009 at 4:50 pm
We saw our first wren this morning and a hummingbird this afternoon at the feeder…..Spring is here at Innsbrook
vicki mcalister said,
April 25, 2009 at 7:00 am
This morning 2 turkeys, birds of all kinds and two deer were outside our chalet near the feeder. Last night speculation is that flying squirrels are eating the seed from the feeder near the chalet. As I cross the dam I enjoy a large turtle resting on his favorite log every afternoon. And yesterday on a short drive I encountered the longest snake I’ve seen here yet, doing what? Why crossing the road, of course.
flash said,
July 6, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Great post!
Bill Bartmann said,
September 13, 2009 at 2:23 pm
Great site…keep up the good work. I read a lot of blogs on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I’m glad I found your blog. Thanks,
A definite great read…
-Bill-Bartmann