Nature Center

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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,

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

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