 |
| Gazebo at Quail Ridge Park |
I love exploring new parks and the St. Charles County Park system has a lot to offer. On a beautiful day in mid-August, I was able to explore Quail Ridge Park with a photography group. We had a great time exploring the park and taking a lot of nature photography.
Quail Ridge Park
Quail Ridge Park is located in Wentzville Missouri at 560 Interstate Drive. Although it is only about 20 minutes from my house it is a park I had never visited before. This park has many trails that can be used to explore the park. There are over seven miles of both paved and natural trails throughout the park.
The park features fishing lakes, ponds, playgrounds and shelters. It also has a wonderful dog park where you can unleash your dog and let them run. The park has an eighteen-hole disc golf course and is also home to the National Horseshoe Pitchers Hall of Fame.
Lodge and Gazebo
My group met in the parking lot of the lodge and then proceeded down the paved path for a walk around one of the lakes.
 |
| Lodge at Quail Ridge |
The lodge, pictured above, is a rustic cedar banquet facility that is often used for weddings and other events. It will hold 180 people. The gazebo, which is pictured in the opening photo is the first stop on the path leading down from the lodge. One of the photographers that was with our group said it is a popular place for the bride and groom to have their photo taken for the wedding.
Walking the Paved Trail
From the lodge there is a paved trail that curves around past the gazebo, and then around the lake. It was a beautiful day, and we took a leisurely stroll along this path stopping to take photos along the way. Here are some of the photos I took.
 |
| Path Around Lake |
 |
| Fishing Lake |
 |
| Fishing Lake |
Blossoms, Butterflies and Moths
As we walked along the path, we stopped to photograph the wildflowers and butterflies that made their homes in the woods around the lake. I also captured a moth on a wildflower across the path from the lake.
 |
| Missouri Wildflower |
 |
| Lavender Wildflower |
 |
| Swallowtail Butterflies |
 |
| Butterflies |
 |
| Flower on Edge of Prairie |
 |
| Moth on Blossom |
 |
| Purple Wildflower |
Learn More About Missouri Butterflies and Wildflowers
Here are a couple of books where you can learn more about butterflies and wildflowers.
Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”
