September 3

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The early morning weather was overcast and humid with a temperature of 71 degrees and no wind.  There was a distant sound of thunder coming from the west. I descended the hill, walked past Mallard Marsh and continued through Bobolink Meadow. I turned at the entrance to North Woods and headed south toward Willow Wallow. As I turned west at the pond and started around Succession Field, I saw some white blossoms of Turtlehead on my right. Turtlehead plants are used in natural medicine. Traditional practices create a tonic from this plant that is beneficial for indigestion, constipation, and stimulating the appetite. It is also an anthelmintic (de-wormer) and a salve from the leaves may relieve itching and inflammation. Nearby, I was surprised to see a Purple Loosestrife plant. To prevent this invasive plant from spreading, I will cut off and dispose of the flower head and then kill the rest of the plant with herbicide. I continued around the field and spotted some white blossoms of Flat-top Aster next to South Woods. This perennial native plant is an important host plant in the life cycle of Pearl Crescent butterflies. Several Native American tribes used the smoke from burning aster plants to assist in reviving persons who had fainted. Other tribes brewed a tea from aster plants to relieve headaches. I paused at Artist Overlook and was reminded of the beautiful, white Egret I observed a few days ago standing on the far shore of Sora Swale. Continuing along the south trail, I saw some small, white mushrooms on the ground called Spiny Puffballs. Like most other puffball species, it is edible when still young, white and firm. Consumption of older specimens that turn into a powdery spore mass may cause stomach upsets. I turned north at Frog Fen and headed up Reflection Hill where I noticed the Red Osier Dogwood shrubs had lots of white berries on them. This fleshy fruit is not edible but is very valuable to wildlife. Birds known to eat the berries include: cardinals, orioles, robins and tree swallows.  When I reached the top of the hill, rain was beginning to fall. A northwest wind was blowing in storm clouds while a bolt of lightning appeared off to the north. It was time to head for the van. I walked rapidly toward the Classroom Building where I paused briefly to pick and eat some Wild Grapes from vines clinging to an Aspen tree next to the trail. These small, purple grapes taste quite sour and have many seeds. However, they can be processed into jam and wine. They’re also a favorite food of many birds. Finally, I found shelter in the van and took off for home.

The golden-rod is yellow; 


The corn is turning brown;


The trees in apple orchards


With fruit are bending down.



The gentian's bluest fringes


Are curling in the sun;


In dusty pods the milkweed


Its hidden silk has spun.



The sedges flaunt their harvest,


In every meadow nook;


And asters by the brook-side


Make asters in the brook,



From dewy lanes at morning


The grapes' sweet odors rise;


At noon the roads all flutter


With yellow butterflies.

 

By all these lovely tokens 
 

September days are here… 

With summer's best of weather,


And autumn's best of cheer.

Helen Hunt Jackson,