December 10

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The mid- morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 20 degrees and a light wind out of the west.  Before descending the hill toward Mallard Marsh, I scanned the landscape to the west where I could easily make out the ever-expanding, golden patches of dormant Reed Canary Grass. This perennial grass is extremely aggressive and forms persistent monocultures in wetland ecosystems. Considered an invasive species, it chokes out native plants and has little value for wildlife. Few animals eat the grass and the stems grow too densely to provide adequate cover for small mammals and waterfowl. Once established, it is difficult to control because it spreads rapidly by rhizomes. Next, I passed the pond and was struck by how the morning sun reflected off the overnight frost as if someone had scattered diamonds in Bobolink Meadow. Continuing through the meadow, I noticed the color beige was dominant due to the tiny, fuzzy seeds of the ubiquitous Goldenrod plant. I turned south at the entrance to North Woods and walked to Willow Wallow. Continuing around Succession Field, I ventured off the trail to see a large, dead, White Birch tree standing up straight with some unusual bracket fungi growing on it. This fungus, called Birch Bracket or Razor Strop, grows almost exclusively on birch trees. Technically, it is an edible mushroom, with a strong, pleasant "mushroomy" odor but a bitter taste. The velvety cut surface of the fruiting body was used as a strop for finishing the finest of edges on razors. Also, imbedded in the ground nearby was a dark rock about 30 in. X 24 in. with some unusual surface features. It appeared to be quartz-infused Metagraywacke that had weathered in such a way that the non-quartz areas had worn down, leaving straight, protruding ridges where the resistant quartz was located. Next, I returned to the trail and paused at Artist Overlook where I noticed a pair of Eastern Bluebirds hovering around a dead tree in Sora Swale. I hiked along the south trail and turned south at Frog Fen toward Brady Cemetery. I passed the cemetery and entered Native Grassland where I looked to the east and observed a dozen tall, dead flower stalks of Common Mullein sticking up like cattails. Near the ground were cream-colored dried Aster flowers and gray flower heads of Black-eyed Susans. I walked along and saw how the sunlight reflected off the clear ice layer on Grebe Pond. Finally, I passed the red barn and Classroom Building, got in the van and took off for home.

When winter winds are piercing chill,

And through the hawthorn blows the gale,

With solemn feet I tread the hill,

That overbrows the lonely vale.

O'er the bare upland, and away

Through the long reach of desert woods,

The embracing sunbeams chastely play,

And gladden these deep solitudes.

Where, twisted round the barren oak,

The summer vine in beauty clung,

And summer winds the stillness broke,

The crystal icicle is hung.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow