1/17/2024, red R 1:30-3:45 Cold wintery dayBiting windDeep cracks and creeks from the treesWater flows under ice-coated creeksWind energy lifts up and swirls dried fallen leavesBrittle brushing grasses alive in the windKhaki-lined white velvet mushroomsTrees in constant communication through deep cracks, creaking, clunks and squeakingIcy fingersTrapped leaves and suspended algae in the iced pondWind energy …
12/24/2023, red L, 10:15am -12:00pm Unseasonably warm, drizzly morningRain falls softly on the leavesActive birds, calling and singing to each otherChristmas chat with MykoMoss-socked tree trunksGlimpse of cotton-white deer tails bounding through the forestIntoxicating petrichor lifts from belowLeaf-domed squirrel shelters, exposed high in treesAh, the dampened, ever-fragrant prairieCrystal drops from branches and thornsFossil-filled creeksSun emerges …
12/16/2023, red L, 10:00-12:00 Cool, damp, grey morningThin layer of ice coats the pondGolden-crowned Kinglets so very busyOranges and peaches stand out amidst the greysSun attempts to burn through misty cloud coverVines and limbs seek each other out, entangleRed always makes itself knownAh, the gorgeous sweet scent of the prairieDry grasses speak through crackles
12/3/2023, red R, 9:30-11:30 Gray clouded dayGrays and browns and faint late autumn orangesVibrant mosses amidst subdued colorsBirds and foragers extremely activeMind highly focused on future plansDry, petal-less remains of flowers in prairieBreezes gently swish the tall, dry grassesOne vibrant red streak amidst the browns, tans and subtle rosesSoft, quiet footsteps on leaf-crushed trailsGentle winds …
11/18/2023, red L, 9:25-11:20 Chilly, misty morningSparkling grasses, shiny leaves, slick branchesBird sounds fill the treesSoft moss-carpeted tree trunksJust like that – red orange Oriental Bittersweet berries almost gone-main remaining evidence: the yellow orange casings mixed in with leaves and rocks on the trailNew luscious, thick, musky scentsPartially chomped acorn left behind on a “picnic …
11/4/2023, red R, 9:40-1:45 Beautiful bright morningLeaf and acorn-covered trailsChirping birds, clucking squirrels, rustlings in leavesLeaves, stuck on rocks, slow the creekGolden light brightens barren treesStill soft greens, yellows and oranges remain; occasional pops of redSoft orange-coated hillsideIlluminated mossesGlistening threads among branchesWind whooshes leaves and drops acornsGreen ferns push through orange-brown fallen leavesSweet earthy scent …
10/6/2023 red L, 9:30-12:00 Cool, damp morning under cloud-sealed skySurrounded by variations in volume, rhythm, pitch and tone of cricket ringing-adding inexplicable comfort and depthLovely earthen scents: mix of wet leaves, mushrooms, damp rock and herbsSounds of acorns clunking, rolling, sliding down trunks, branches and leaves50% leaf-covered trailsChipmunk gulps echo throughout the forestSun attempts to …
9/21/2023 red R 2:45-5:00 Gorgeous, breezy, sunny dayYellow and bright green dappled ceilingPersistent hollow knocking, creakingCreek only trickles now, much drier than usualTiny red velvety mite spotted from afar by the contrast against green mossy backgroundFallen leaves sprinkle trail (about 10-15% coverage)Cricket’s murmur: no cicadasOccasional leaf drops quietly, effortlesslyTiny bees and wasps thriving on goldenrod …
9/2/2023, red L, 9:45-11:30 By far not the only one with this idea on such a gorgeous Saturday morningTrees filled with rattlingSuch intricately complex spider web systemsWow – witnessed wasp capture spider from its own web!Animals have been crunching on all the newly dropped acorn, walnut and hickory nutsNewly graveled trail on the muddy sections …
8/25/2023 red R, 9:30-11:45 Balmy, steamy, overcast morningAlready 92° at 9:30!Cicadas roaringFallen pink lilies chaotically cover the forest floorSlick, damp limestone stepsFoggy golden haze coats the creekStorms littered the trails with branches, sticks, acorns, leaves and even some newly fallen treesAlways impressive how nature cleans itself through its entire harmonious ecosystem – environment, weather, inhabitantsNew …