I finally got around to finding Brookhaven Nature Park, which is truly hidden away in one of Raleigh’s oldest suburban subdivisions.  Come to find out Scott Reston’s excellent new blog,  Get to Know a Park, covered the spot in July with a nice pictorial post.  With a respectful nod to Scott, here is my own quick take on the park.

It’s hard to find! The entrance is located is off Rembert Road, off Glenwood.  Brookhaven was begun in 1958 and contains many fairly regal residences with large yards and woodlots surrounding the numerous small waterways.  Scott mentions that the park is maintained by the Junior Woman’s Club of Raleigh, and the few reviews I find online describe it as decidedly low-key as a nature adventure.  But the small pond with a nifty zig-zag deck and the additional decks over wetland area make it a perfectly lovely site, in my humble opinion.  I had fun snapping shots of the heron.

pond at Brookhaven Park

heron at pond's edge

Great Blue Heron at Brookhaven Nature Park

wetland deck at Brookhaven

The post at Get To Know a Park has some nice photos (and an excellent map!).  It’s good to have some friendly, high quality competition in providing online coverage of Raleigh’s natural amenities.  Those features are more valuable and unique than most people realize.  Brookhaven Nature Park established that tradition well before the greenway system was begun.

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Bonus Shot

This hawk was being harassed by crows.

Jaycee Parks’ lily garden is a treasure of heirloom varieties nestled in one of the prettiest natural areas inside the beltline.  Many, many varieties and a beautiful nature walk to go alongside.  The small creek travels over a couple of significant waterfalls and creates deep pools where large dace minnows live.  This park is being seriously threatened by kudzu, encroaching from the south into the upland mix of post oak and northern red oak.  The path that winds around the fairly steep hillside feeds right into a fascinating section of greenway – it follows directly behind some backyards and then follows Gardner up to the Rose Garden.