January 14

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi.  The early morning weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 18 degrees and a slight wind out of the northeast. First, I paused to scan the western vista and noticed that snow cover had returned after a long dry spell. I followed the trail past Mallard Marsh and through Bobolink Meadow where I blazed a path through the powdery snow. A few crows welcomed me with their loud caws. I entered North Woods and continued along the trail where I looked up to see some blue sky through the leafless canopy. After exiting North Woods, I observed an unusual snow mound just off the trail.  I walked over and brushed the snow away to reveal a dead deer lying in the grass. I examined the body and noticed it was a button buck with no external signs to indicate cause of death. A button buck tends to be a buck that is only 6 months old. Since it is within the first year, it only has little nubs where the antlers will develop. While lamenting the passing of this magnificent creature, I was reminded of nature’s ageless cycle that from death comes life for others as carnivores and scavengers will gain sustenance from the flesh and the surrounding vegetation will gain soil nutrients. I continued along the far side of Succession Field where I paused at a bench and measured the snow depth at 5 inches. I passed through the stand of white cedar and saw a squirrel’s nest up about 30 ft. in a tree. Heading toward Artist Overlook. I changed my usual route and turned north toward Willow Wallow. I walked down to the edge of the pond to see a muskrat lodge out on the ice. I followed the trail along the edge of the pond and ascended Reflection Hill from the west. Circling the hill, I gazed down at a snowy Grebe Pond.  Heading south, I descended Reflection Hill and hiked past Frog Fen toward Brady Cemetery.  I walked up the slope into the cemetery and gazed west at the surrounding landscape. I left the cemetery and turned north into Native Grassland where I observed the dried flowers of Aster, Queen Anne’s lace, Thistle, Black-eyed Susan, Milkweed and Burdock.  From the east side of Grebe Pond, I noticed a stand of cattails with their fuzzy flower heads. Finally, I arrived back at the Classroom Building where I spotted some birds at the feeders including Buntings, Goldfinches and one Mourning Dove. Finally, it was time to hop aboard the minivan, turn on the heater and head for home.

Amongst the quiet of Nature with wooded hills around

The harsh cawings of the ravens the only living sound

In the nice Winter sunshine it is a pleasant day

From life's many cares and worries a place for to hide away,

Of an Earthly Utopia 'tis not hard to visualize

Where Nature in all of her splendor is beauty to the eyes

I too am part of Nature like all creatures great and small

And memories of Nature's beauty are marvelous memories to recall,

An artist on her canvas would try to capture such a scene

And I enjoy remembering the beauty I have seen

And the unmistakable sounds of Nature on a sunny Winter's day

Like the clear flute of the magpie on trees not far away

A lovely day in Winter of around eighteen degrees

And in the stony valley there is scarce a puff of breeze.

Francis Duggan