Nature Center

Lovely Forest Scents

5/18/2024, red R, 9:30am Fresh, drippy, overcast morningDense greens filled with dense fragrancesChipmunks scurry and bound through leaves and over trailsDrops fall on umbrella leavesSlender, delicate, black dragonfliesCreek flows steadily over clay, fossils and rocksDaffodil greens have fully yellowed, flattened, succumbed to nurture in new forest floor growthIntoxicating mix of lovely forest scents: floral, herbal, …

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Vine-Laid Mazes

5/4/2024, red L, 11:00am Lovely sound of steady rain on leafed umbrellasBirds sing in appreciation of the rainGreen somehow always greener on cloudy, rainy daysDaddy long legs cross the trailScents of blooming multiflora roses, honeysuckle and lovely petrichor fill the airMist cradles ForestRain darkens trunks, brightens greensNo more evidence of pink helicopters on trail; now …

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Snail Slowly Feels Its Way

4/26/2024, red R, 9:30-11:45am Green climbs higher and deepensGentle breeze rustles bright new leavesChipmunks chirp out Morse codeCreek flows gentlySnail slowly feels its way across the trailCentipede marches across with absolute intentBeatle lumbers its way through the dust and fluff of the trailMayapple umbrellas cover the forest floorBright green filling in gentle hues of the …

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Unfurling Ferns

4/18/2024, red L, 10:00-12:15 Absolutely gorgeous morningSun shines brightly Illuminating, the new greenSoft green travels higher to the tops of treesBirds of every kind sing outPale violet blue phlox line the trailsRed-headed woodpeckers call back and forth to each otherSpider webs glistenDarkening sporophytes prepare for retreat back into lush green carpetsEastern Towhee with its sweet …

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Greenest of Greens

4/6/2024, red R, 10:15-12:15 Greeted by the most brilliant bluebird dipping across the trailSurrounded by the greenest of greensInterspersed by tiny pink flowers, purples, blues and daffodilsRushing CreekBreeze-shivered beechesSounds of water rushing, leaves rustling, birds singing, tinkling twigsSun shines through remaining morning mistDaffodils in quiet attentionGlistened spider threadsBeautiful bird songs on the edges of the …

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Shiny-Leafed Carpet

3/17/2024, red L, 9:45-12:00 Sun shines from behind the misty morning skyGreen shiny-leafed carpet with slick yellow flowers pushing upBirds sing joyouslyTrees creek and rustle with the windVines climb their way up tolerant treesEchoing woodpecker metronome keeps the beat of the forestBlue Jays with so much to sayArches and triangles of fallen treesSoft green emerging …

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Red Fuzzy Sporophyte Hues

3/3/2024, red R, 9:30-12:00 Beautiful spring morning – not the only one with the idea of coming today!Dew-covered buttercupsDaffodils pushing up their leaves, but not yet floweringGreen shiny leaves of buttercups fill crevices of limestone steps and edges of trailsTufted tit”mice” sing happy songs from every treeGentle creek sounds surroundBirds of every kind sing and …

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Winter Returns

2/17/2024, red L, 10:00am-12:00pm Winter returnsCold morning, new snow, gray skiesActive birds sing jubilantlyLovely song of a tufted titmouseGeese argue in the distanceChunks of snow fall softly from branchesCrunchy iced trailsSun attempts to burn through the cloudsSnow stuck on vines that spiral up treesTree trunk surrounds another, as if protectingWoodpeckers knock through the cold, snowy …

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Pause in Winter

2/3/2024, red R, 10:15am-12:00pm Gorgeous, sunny morningShiny, sleek trails, glistening branchesFrost sparkles the ground and the fallen leavesFrosted prairie trails transform into sog and sloshSo many busy birdsBlack crows communicate, calling back and forthWhitest of white and red-headed woodpeckerPause in winter; taste of early springRenew, re-energize

“Good Morning”

1/27/2024, red L, 9:40-11:40 Cool, damp morningGeese and ducks busy fishing and standing their groundSoft, wet, muddy trailsHat muffles bird calls, amplifies footstepsDeep contemplationGorgeous bright blue jay swoops pastAlways ever-amazed at the number of trees that fall into their neighbor’s “arms”Love the sound of the words “Good Morning” from passers on the trailSoothing, steady creek …

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