KCRag Forum

It is May, 2016, and we are headed for a reunion near St. Louis, but we visited a few other places.

Here, we see that we are entering the Johnson’s Shut-Ins State Park.


My husband and son venture down a path in the forest.


If I spot a flower…


My son takes a shot with his iPhone.


Kind of confusing, but I like it.


These little guys will grow anywhere!


Enjoying a bit of sun.


My son uses a card with some of his iPhone shots to fool the camera in the direction he prefers.


Purple aliens.


This is my view of my son's prey.


Nice job in a struggle for life.


I like the variety here.

We are walking around Johnson Shut-Ins State Park. We spot a river.


A display of braggadocio from such a tiny flower.


Daisies reaching out.


The original was portrait-oriented. Most of it is on the right.


These flowers can’t seem to get their act together.


More of the Shut-Ins water.


Another portrait-oriented image that I smooshed inside a larger portion of itself. Hardy little flower.


More water and rocks.


Husband and son happen to be on the nice walkway I’m trying to show.


Love those wildflowers.


Fighting for access to the sun.


It would have been nice if the butterfly had given us a better view of his wings.

Amazing restoration. Were there no signs of the great wall of water from the dam collapse on top of the mountain?

Hi, Moderne. I didn't remember anything, so I asked my son. He said there were boulders strewn all over. He showed me on Google Maps how the trees were stripped down to the bedrock. I grabbed a screen shot that shows it:


Hope this helps.

I have to add my son's comment: That's what could happen when you build a lake on top of a mountain. Of course it did happen. It was asking for trouble.

Stairs to the Shut-Ins and the Black River.


Flowers, as if scattered among the rocks by angel fingers


Rafting here might not be a good idea.


I asked my son what kind of rocks these were. He said they were rhyolite, a volcanic rock.


The water by itself is rather energetic.


Had to do something a little different.


Unmovable.


I took many pictures of these beautiful flowers. So peaceful.


The makings of a bridal bouquet. Maybe the bride lives in the woods.


Sometimes visitors may not know what isn’t good for them.


Here is how to pretty up a rock.


There was a lot of floor art in this area. This is just one of many.

Some of my ancestors lived near there. It's lovely to see photos of the area.

Thank you for posting that message about your relatives, FangKC. My grandfather owned many acres about 120 miles south of St. Louis in Iron County. He owned and ran a sawmill. He also built houses in the area. One of them was where his wife and nine children lived. It was a beautiful, two-story house. He also built a structure that covered an ice-cold, pure, clear, running stream, where produce and other perishables could be kept. He died in his 50s early in the 20th century. This trip was primarily to attend a family reunion, even though all of his children, including my mother, are long gone.

Now for the pictures.

This flower tried to hide from me.


I overcame.


My son took a shot.


Oh! We’re in Elephant Rocks State Park in Missouri! Impressive place.


My husband follows the path.


Trees and rocks mingle.


A ladybug and pretty flower. Perfect match.


Flowers and rocks mingle.


I wonder what smashed these boulders.


Honeysuckle invasion. I understand they really are invasive.


They are still rather attractive.


Tiny daisy-like flowers with a visitor.

Wow. You were there when the East Fork of the Black River which flows through the shut ins was rather high. Some nice looking rapids.

It's unfortunate that Taum Sauk hydroelectric station was ever given permission to rebuild (the fake lake on top of Proffit mountain). It really puts the state park and the shut ins at risk.

Yes, Highlander. My son commented on the foolishness of building a lake on top of a mountain like that.

For all those who love purple. You know who you are.


I call these baby daisies. I’m sure they have a different, real name.


Almost looks like a giant bowling ball.


On second thought, I should have put this portrait-oriented image in an oval in the middle rather than off to the side.


If you don’t follow the path here, you might trip over a boulder.


The path leads us to a really big rock surface.


I had to include this image because of the impressive lighting. I had nothing to do with it.


Good place for kids to visit.


Lots of broken boulders below.


Isn’t this the cutest little boy? I asked permission to take his picture.


I have no idea what this is. It seemed out of place.


The rocks kept getting bigger and showing up in odd places.

We’re still tromping through Elephant Rock State Park.

Our path led us to this “rocky top” sort of place.


Other folks enjoyed the big rocks along with us.


My husband checks the view.


One couple sunbathed.


Miniature lake.


Little ones pose for a picture.


Wide hips may have trouble here.


Now this was a pleasant surprise!


Rocks, trees and water. What more could you want?


Oh. The sign explains it.


The long holes have something to do with the quarrying process, no doubt.


This leaf will have to substitute for the usual flower.

Roanoker wrote: ↑Tue Nov 10, 2020 8:37 pm We’re still tromping through Elephant Rock State Park.

Our path led us to this “rocky top” sort of place.


Other folks enjoyed the big rocks along with us.


My husband checks the view.


One couple sunbathed.


Miniature lake.


Little ones pose for a picture.


Wide hips may have trouble here.


Now this was a pleasant surprise!


Rocks, trees and water. What more could you want?


Oh. The sign explains it.


The long holes have something to do with the quarrying process, no doubt.


This leaf will have to substitute for the usual flower.

I had heard of Elephant Rock before but never visited. Looks like I will have to check it out! Are there any other attractions around that area?

Very close to the same area is Taum Sauk Mountain State Park. It features the highest point in Missouri, but it also boasts beautiful scenery. I do have pictures from our visit there, but you know how slow I am at posting these things. There's also Johnson's Shut-Ins State Park nearby. I already posted pictures of that place. It was almost too flooded when we were there.

Spent some time cutting around this flower stalk to eliminate the busy background. I charge by the inch. (not)


Nice forest? I thought so.


I like the tiny shadows on the bottom flower petals.


I think these orange things are a fungus. They certainly want to be noticed. The rock is granite.


It is now 5/29/16, and we are visiting Taum Sauk Mountain, the tallest spot in Missouri, a State Park.

This image of a sign was at an off-into-space angle. I pushed and shoved it into more of a rectangle. Not perfectly.


Spread out a blanket, grab a sandwich, and enjoy the view.


The background didn’t interfere with the flower stalk so much this time.


Bee… careful!


The original portrait-oriented image is on the right. I smooshed an enlarged portion of itself on the left.


I think the green moss here turns red when it dies. Kind of Christmassy.


Proud little flowers.


Like Willie Nelson’s song, “Angel Flying too Close to the Ground."

Amazing thread, thanks again, for posting.

These forests with wildflowers are essential bee and butterfly refuges, since there aren't a lot of fields around using pesticides.