May 28

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The midday weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 60 degrees and a light wind out of the west.  Before descending the hill toward Mallard Marsh, I planned to focus on the smells and scents of nature in the springtime. I stopped at Mallard Marsh and pulled a Cattail shoot out of the water. The bottom white part had the subtle smell of cucumber. Walking through Bobolink Meadow, I pulled up a Wild Carrot plant. Not surprisingly, the root had a strong carroty smell. I entered North Woods and followed the trail west where I noticed that some large, umbrella-leaf Mayapples were blooming. I picked one of the attractive, 3-in diameter flowers with white petals and a yellow center and sniffed it. I was surprised that there was no detectable scent. I got off the trail and headed 30 yards further west to find a patch of Wild Leeks. I picked one and sniffed its strong onion-like odor. I exited North Woods and continued around Succession Field where I looked up with my binoculars near the top of a birch tree to see a beautiful Indigo Bunting singing loudly. I paused at a Honeysuckle shrub to take in the sweet scent of the pink blossoms. I entered South Woods and hiked along Swanson Swamp where I picked a leaf from a Witch Hazel tree and crushed it between my fingers to smell its citrusy aroma. Next, I stopped to pick a leaf from a Prickly Ash tree. I crushed it with my fingers and smelled its lemony aroma. Exiting South Woods, I continued past Artist Overlook and hiked along the edge of Sora Swale where I smelled the fragrant blossoms of a Crab Apple tree. I followed the south trail and turned at Frog Fen toward Brady Cemetery where I paused to take in the scent of pine needles from one of the small White Pine trees as well as the scent of white blossoms from a Red Osier Dogwood shrub. Then I paused at the entrance to the cemetery to smell the fragrant white flowers of a Butterfly Bush. I entered Native Grassland and noticed a reddish-brown Brown Thrasher flying past me and perching on a tree. Continuing around Grebe Pond, I checked out the Killdeer nest and noticed that it was empty. Since the chicks are precocial (they are mobile and able to follow parents right after hatching), I was not surprised that there was no sign of the fledglings or the parent birds. As I headed toward the barn, I recalled a few days ago when the wind was from the southeast, taking in the manure smell from the large cattle farm two miles away. Next, I walked to the east side of the cement slab next to barn to enjoy the strong minty scent of Common Tansy leaves. This plant has long been used as a natural insect repellant. Finally, another hike was finished so my nose and I got in the van and took off for home.

Through all the frozen winter 


My nose has grown most lonely

For lovely, lovely, colored smells 


That come in springtime only.

The purple smell of lilacs,

The yellow smell that blows

 Across the air of meadows

 Where bright forsythia grows.

The tall pink smell of peach trees,

The low white smell of clover,

And everywhere the great green smell

Of grass the whole world over.

Kathryn Worth

May 21

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The early afternoon weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 75 degrees and a gentle breeze out of the southeast.  I paused at the crest of the hill and scanned the western vista. It was a welcome sight to see the different shades of green foliage that now defined the woods, the thickets and the meadows. I descended the hill and paused at Mallard Marsh to see a couple of Leopard Frogs sitting in the water near the shore.  Walking through Bobolink Meadow, I became increasing concerned by the absence of Bobolinks, since their spring arrival was now about 3 weeks behind last year’s. Before entering North Woods, I noticed to my right several six inch-high horsetail plants in the vegetative stage with their needle-like leaves. Also, I saw some Poison Ivy vines beginning to grow along the ground near the footbridge. I entered the woods, followed the trail west and was pleased to see some lovely lavender Wild Geraniums beginning to appear.  Also, I saw some large yellowish-brown shelf fungus growing on a dead log. Following the trail, I observed a few attractive Blue Phlox poking up through the leaf litter. I exited North Woods and continued around Succession Field where I noticed a few yellow Sulfur Butterflies fluttering around. I entered South Woods and noticed lots of white fuzz on the ground that was being shed by the Poplar trees. Next, I saw a few fiddleheads and mature plants of the Sensitive Fern along the edge of Swanson’s Swamp. Also, I was surprised to see a colorful, male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak sitting up high in a tree and singing loudly. Exiting South Woods, I continued on to Artist Overlook where I noticed dozens of small, fresh anthills on the trail. I walked along the edge of Sora Swale where I observed and heard a handsome, male Baltimore Oriole high in a birch tree. I continued along the south trail and turned at Frog Fen toward Brady Cemetery. I passed the cemetery and entered Native Grassland where I noticed the field was covered with numerous white fuzzy Dandelions that had gone to seed. Following the trail, I observed some 2-ft. high plants with small white blossoms called Hoary Alyssum.  I continued hiking along the edge of Grebe Pond where I noticed some pinkish-white daisy-like Common Fleabane beginning to bloom. Next, I paused to see that the four Killdeer eggs were secure in the nest. I was happy to see both parent birds flying nearby. I headed toward the barn and recalled being puzzled yesterday as I watched a flock of five Herring Gulls circle over the pond a half dozen times and then head east. Finally, I arrived back at the Classroom Building and got in the van. It was time for the dog and me to head home.

Sweet May hath come to love us,

Flowers, trees, their blossoms don;


And through the blue heavens above us


The very clouds move on.

Heinrich Heine

May 14

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The weather was drizzly with a temperature of 55 degrees and a stiff wind out of the northeast.  I descended the hill, passed Mallard Marsh and walked through Bobolink Meadow where I saw several 5-petal small white flowers of Wild Strawberry scattered in the field south of the trail. I entered North Woods and followed the trail over the first footbridge where I noticed several small blue flowers called Marsh Blue Violets coloring the leaf litter. Continuing down the path, I observed some attractive Orange Peel Fungus growing on a dead log lying on the ground. Also, I saw several tiny Smooth Yellow Violet blossoms mixed in with the pink Spring Beauty blossoms. Next, I noticed several new ferns growing from the forest floor. I exited North Woods and continued around Succession Field. I entered South Woods and hiked over the boardwalk where I saw some dainty, white flowers of Wood Anemone growing close to a decaying tree branch. Stopping by the bench, I recalled a few days ago observing an elusive bird called a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher hopping from branch to branch. I suspected it was passing through on the way to its summer breeding grounds. I hiked along the edge of Swanson Swamp to check on the nesting mother goose. Much to my surprise, she was nowhere to be found. With my binoculars I could see the nest had been destroyed. I moved on and noticed several green Jack-in-the Pulpits sticking up among the brown leaves. I exited South Woods and instead of turning toward Artist Overlook, I headed toward Willow Wallow. Walked along the edge of the pond, I looked up to see a male Redwing Blackbird hovering about 10 feet above my head giving out a loud distress call to let me know I was too close to its nest. I proceeded east toward Reflection Hill where I was surprised to see a Common Yellowthroat hopping in the dense underbrush.  I ascended Reflection Hill and was unable to find the baby Whitetail fawn that had been spotted a few days ago by one of the nature guides. I moved south past Frog Fen toward Brady Cemetery and saw some Yellow Warblers hiding in the Dogwood. I entered the cemetery and wandered over to the southern boundary where I noticed several Barn Swallows swooping above the neighbor’s cornfield. I exited the cemetery, entered Native Grassland and hiked north toward Grebe Pond. I followed the trail along the edge of the pond and checked the Killdeer nest. While observing the 4 eggs still in the nest, one of the adult birds was calling out and walking ahead of me on the path so I would follow it and move away.  I walked past the barn and was surprised to see that a pair of House Finches had built a nest above the security light above the front door of the Classroom Building. This place had been used as a nesting spot by Barn Swallows the past few years. Finally, I got in the van and drove down the driveway and headed for home, rejoicing in another wonderful hike. 

‘Tis like the birthday of the world,


When earth was born in bloom;


The light is made of many dyes,


The air is all perfume:


There's crimson buds, and white and blue,


The very rainbow showers


Have turned to blossoms where they fell,


And sown the earth with flowers.


Thomas Hood

May 7

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The early afternoon weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 60 degrees and a slight wind out of the northeast.  Since the calendar indicated that spring was half-over, I was hoping that Mother Nature had more seasonal surprises for me today. Before descending the hill toward Mallard Marsh, I gazed over the landscape to the west and noticed that the willow thickets and deciduous trees had turned a pale green color as the new leaves were beginning to sprout. I walked past Mallard Marsh through Bobolink Meadow to the entrance to North Woods where I observed several colorless, jointed stems of Common Horsetail (Equisetum) poking up through the soil. I entered North Woods and followed the trail west where I saw the unusual wildflower, Jack-in-the Pulpit with its large hood-like striped leaf poking up through the leaf litter. Arriving at the big boardwalk, I noticed some dainty, 4-petal, pale-lavender flowers of the Purple Cress plant growing in some muddy soil. On the other end of the boardwalk I saw seven crayfish chimneys; the tallest one being four inches high.  I exited North Woods and continued around Succession Field where I noticed the white, silky web of the Eastern Tent Caterpillar attached to the crotch of a small tree. I walked over to investigate and saw dozens of half-inch long, toothpick-thin caterpillars crawling on top of the tent. Later in the summer they will form cocoons and turn into Lackey Moths. I entered South Woods and followed the meandering trail where I observed a patch of Pennsylvania Sedge with their pale-yellow bristly flowers popping up from the forest floor. I exited South Woods and continued toward Artist Overlook where I was quite surprised a few days ago to see the pure white silhouette of a Great Egret standing motionless next to Willow Wallow. Then, from on top of Artist Overlook I saw a second one of these majestic birds standing on the shore of Sora Swale. I suspected they were a mating pair on the way to their summer breeding grounds. I followed the south trail and turned at Frog Fen toward Brady Cemetery. I passed the cemetery and entered Native Grassland. I hiked north where I noticed six pair of geese swimming on Grebe Pond. One pair was swimming with 3 small fuzzy goslings and another pair was swimming with 5 goslings. Also, to my left I saw a small depression in the ground with four mottled eggs of a Killdeer. The mother bird was watching nervously on the trail just ahead of me. On my right, I observed some Wild Mustard plants beginning to show their yellow blossoms in the meadow. Finally, I arrived back at the Classroom Building where I saw some 6-inch tall plants with tiny white flowers, called Shepherd’s Purse growing on the east side.  So, I got in the car and took off for home with good thoughts of nature in spring and another wonderful hike.

In the glow of the dawn,

Welcome a new day,

Greet the golden sunlight or rain,

Nature in all its subtlety.

Whip of the wind,

Earth unfolds,

Softly falling rain,

Growing plants and buds blossoming.

Visions of the earth, with glories of nature,

Beauty of the daffodils, 


Sunshine and rain from a rainbow,

Awe! Nature in full bloom.

Blanche Black