Nature Center

Brightest Shining Sun

12/21/2024, red R, 10:00-12:00 Cold, crisp morning with brightest shining SunBirds chirping, squirrels pouncingGorgeous warm golden light in cold airSlick, icy rocks and branches.Gentle knocking woodpeckersConstant flow of ice-cold creekFrosty, sparkling moss-coated logsSoft-leafed footsteps, breeze-tinkled branchesWoodpeckers make noise to claim their spotsBrilliant diamond warming SunPenetrates, shines new energy

Iced Crystals

12/7/2024, red L, 10:00-12:00 Sun shines brightlySweet little birds hop and chirp on the groundSoft shiny-leafed trailRemaining leaves gently rustleStill, quiet, sleeping logsNew moss growth in sun-patched spots-Despite the frosty coldStriking green thorny vines amidst all the brownsSlick rocks in icy creeksSuch luscious shades of brown-With creams, oranges chocolates and blacksOrange and red berries decorate …

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Browning Tips of Goldenrod

10/5/2024, red R, 10:00am Soft leaf-covered trailsSounds of gently falling leaves and acorn thunksNewly fallen trees left in Helene’s wakeDew-glistened spider web bowls in the PrairieBrowning tips of goldenrodOranges, roses, browns filling in through the greensBack into the cold, shaded forestSurrounded by cricket and bird soundsCracked black walnut seeds cover trail

Crushed Leaf-Lined Trails

9/18/2024, red L, 2:30-4:30 So dry after many weeks without rainGentle hush leaves in the late summer breezeChipmunk gulps in the distanceChipmunk and mole holes surrounded by dirt at limestone steps and fallen logsOnce creek, now bed of rocks with tiny trickleSweet pitter of leaves falling softly to the floorLots of yellow melting into green …

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Busy Insects

8/20/2024, red L, 1:50-3:50pm Cool lovely late summer daySoft blanket of cricket sounds and breeze Yellows emerging in lower shrubsSun-dappled trailsDoe with fawns gracefully bound through the forestIridescent bug gathers pollen from purple petalsSmall scatterings of fallen leaves, occasional acornCreaking treesRattling, chiming, chirping, buzzing of the PrairieIron weed bursting purplesPrairie vibrates with busy insects, bees …

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Distracted

7/13/2024, red L, 10:45-12:15pm Sound of cricketsUndulating waves of rattling cicadasPrairie Lush and fillingSweet sweet herbal scentsDistracted

Brightest Green Snake

6/28/2024, old school (minus green) 10:00-12:00 Fresh lovely foliage scentsContemplating dreamsCrickets, bird songs and crunch of trailStill, dark, engulfing forest lets in slips of lightSoft periwinkle bellflowers stand tall in the fieldSun-glistened iridescent spider websStillness of fossil-filled creekPaper thin rolled birch bark sprinkles far trailBrightest green snake resting across trailSquirrels and chipmunks rustle and scamperForest …

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Intricate Spider Webs

6/22/2024, red R, 10:00-12:00pm Morning temp already above 85° and humidBirds call sweetly back and forth amid gentle backdrop of cricketsQuiet trickle of the creekDeep resonant sounds of rocks with each traversing creek stepForest: still, quiet, attentiveOnce thick moss, now thinning in its retreat back into woodLovely intricate spider websForest opens up to sun-soaked, cricket-ringing …

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Deliquescence

6/1/2024, red L, 9:50-11:50am Cool Sunny morningGentle hush of crickets fill the forestSun-dappled trailsIridescent green beetlesCalm chatter of such a variety of birdsCrickets and birdsongs fill the space of the PrairieGrasses and flowers grow tallImprinted deer hooves on trailSuch variety of breathtaking scents lift and swirl in each region of the trailLeaves gracefully rustle in …

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