Mild weather and an abundance of spare time repeatedly lures Camille into the woods – February 3-18
SHAGBARK HICKORY
Only one tree wears strips of bark that wave at wayward walkers.
TRAIL AND SKY
A cowrie shell tops the cairn at Trouts Farm and Sweet Sixteen. This time of year, the sun sets in the southwest.
HEMLOCK BLUFFS
Hemlock Bluffs is a good rendezvous park for Linda and Camille, half way between the Watsons and the Trouts.
MAPLE BLOOMS
It’s happening. Spring!
MOUNTAIN TREES ON THE PIEDMONT
The bluffs offer the Eastern Hemlock their preferred eco-niche.
A LITTLE OF EVERYTHING
Trails, peaceful views on 140 acres of urban wilderness, picnic structures, bathrooms, and a visitor’s center – the bluffs have it all!
NATURE LOOKS GOOD ON EVERYONE
These happy eyes are the result of yet another nourishing meander.
MOSES’ LEGACY
Camille got an email from Haruka, “Are the daffodils up?” and she knew just where to look. Neighborhood lore has it that a man named Moses went into the woods and planted dozens of daffodils after finding out that he had cancer. Years later Haruka and Camille came across Moses’ cheerful legacy, and were so delighted that they made a point to search for daffodils every February.
AGING INTERESTINGLY
The many faces of the natural world become more interesting with age.
JASON’S BRIDGE
The rock bridge Jason constructed nine years ago shows no sign of breaking down.
WORK OF ART
Camille nearly stepped on a raccoon lying on the other side of a high-water creek crossing and for a moment, she thought it was only taking a nap.
Most likely the poor animal drowned in high water as there was not a mark or blemish on it’s exquisitely crafted form.
WILD WINTER WALK AT TOWN LAKE PARK
Kim Calhoun, a.k.a. Planty Kim, introduced a group of naturalists, Camille among them, to Creasy Greens and the male and female flowers of the Tag Alder.
Here Kim points out some Jelly Roll on a fallen branch and the spring buds of a Winged Elm.
Tag Alder in reproductive mode on the shore of what was once the town’s water supply. The lake steps down into a picturesque waterfall.
QUIZ TIME
When Camille went to hang the laundry the next day, she recognized some of Planty Kim’s friends in our yard, namely: henbit, wild geranium, creasy greens, purple deadnettle, and two kinds of chickweed.
WEEKLY WALK AT ROCK RIDGE PARK
Most Mondays, Camille and Shelley and sometimes Amy spin off five miles at Rock Ridge Park. Shelley lives about a mile from the park sign, so we park there and walk up and then do half mile laps until we’ve only a mile left. As many times as we’ve walked the park, there is always something new, like this moss with its hair standing on end. Last year we watched a box turtle dig a hole, presumably to lay a clutch of eggs. We marked the spot and look each week to see if the ground has been disturbed by hatchlings but so far, nothing to report.
WINTER SUN
The sun makes all the difference between a so-so day and a good one. That, and walking around outside with a good friend like our Shelley.