Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was mostly sunny with a temperature of 66 degrees and no wind. A nearly quarter moon was visible high overhead. Today, I would reverse my course and begin at Grebe Pond. I walked to the end of the dock where I could see five ducks of unknown species swimming near the far shore. A Great Blue Heron was wading and then took off. Three Green Herons flew off from the near shore. I measured the water surface to be 19 inches below the top of the dock. I headed south through Native Meadow where I observed a few clumps of Big and Little Bluestem prairie grass to the right of the trail. Under the large Box Elder trees were several Burdock plants with huge leaves. I measured the largest leaf to be 22 inches long by 15 inches wide. Burdock is a traditional medicinal herb that is used for many ailments. Burdock root oil extract, also called Bur oil, is popular in Europe as a scalp treatment for dandruff and to combat hair loss. The leaves are used for pain management and to speed healing time in natural burn treatment. The seed is a known antibiotic. Next, I entered Brady Cemetery and walked up to the place where one of our former guides, Larry Kerr was recently buried. He will be remembered for his dedication and hard work including the building of our wigwam. I exited the cemetery, followed the trail west around Sora Swale. I passed Artist Overlook, turned west and entered South Woods where I immediately noticed that due to recent rains a variety of fungi, including molds and mushrooms had emerged. First, I spotted a few, small red-capped mushrooms. Then, I spotted some large orange and brown shelf fungi on the ground. I hiked along the edge of Swanson Swamp and approached the boardwalk where I saw some beige, Coral Fungi on a decaying log and clumps of large brown, toadstool-type mushrooms on the ground. The largest cap measured 8 inches in diameter. At the exit to South Woods, I saw the small, white, non-chlorophyll plant called Indian Pipe. Continuing along the south side of Succession Field, I glanced down to see dozens of small pale-orange mushrooms called Birch Milkcap growing on the trail under the Birch trees. I circled the edge of the field, entered North Woods and saw a few beautiful yellow-cap mushrooms. Then, I turned east and crossed the boardwalk where I observed some white-cap mushrooms. Further on, I saw some interesting white slime mold as well as some white shelf fungi growing on a large, decaying Beech tree. Near the exit, I heard the long whining of Cicada. I exited the woods, hiked through Bobolink Meadow past Mallard Marsh and climbed the hill to the Storage Building. Finally, I got in the van and took off for home.
Walking in the woods,
A step beyond,
That tantalizing threshold,
That guards our minds from the unseen.
Walking in the woods,
No sky above,
That wide expansive canvas,
Replaced by canopy of green.
Walking in the woods,
No path below,
No endless concrete river,
Just this wilderness pristine.
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