April 21

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 35 degrees and a brisk north wind. Before starting out, I gazed west to notice the continual greening of forest and field. I walked down the hill and paused at Mallard Marsh. While hiking through Bobolink Meadow, I noticed some yellow blossoms of Wild Mustard popping up. At the entrance to North Woods I saw some white blossoms of Wild Strawberry. Western Indians made a tea from the dried strawberry plant leaves to treat kidney trouble and helped relieve stomach trouble. Indians made bitters from wild strawberry roots and used it as a tonic and blood purifier after a long, cold winter. Also, I noticed the vegetative stage of Horsetail plants beginning to appear. I entered the woods where I spotted some fresh shelf fungi at the base of a tree. Continuing west along the trail, I could see some young ferns beginning to grow. Exiting the woods, I followed the trail around Succession Field where I could clearly hear a Field Sparrow singing. I entered South Woods and paused at Swanson Swamp. Exiting the woods, I headed east and observed the beautiful pinkish-white blossoms on a Wild Apple tree. I headed toward Artist Overlook when I heard the call of a Pied-billed Grebe by Willow Wallow, so I turned north and headed in that direction. I walked along the edge of the pond just as the Grebe dove under the water and disappeared. In the meantime a Muskrat swam rapidly across the pond. Also, I saw a pair of Geese with 4 goslings swimming quietly. I climbed up the west side of Reflection Hill just in time to see a Tree Swallow perched on the birdhouse. Walking south down the hill past Frog Fen, I headed toward Brady Cemetery where I could clearly make out the brown needles on the White Pine trees due to heat damage from the recent grass fire. Passing the cemetery, I entered Native Grassland where I wasn’t surprised to see the deep-rooted Burdock plants beginning to grow in the burn area. I hiked north along the edge of Grebe Pond and stopped by a small cattail marsh where I counted 3 Common Snipes taking off. This bird is well camouflaged and shy, concealing itself close to ground vegetation and flushing only when approached closely. When flushed, they make a distinctive sound and fly off in a series of aerial zigzags to confuse predators. They forage in soft mud, probing or picking up insects and earthworms as well as some plant material. I finally reached the Classroom Building and concluded another hike. So the dog and I got in the van and turned for home.

O give me the woods, the budding woods,


In the gentle time of spring,


When her dantiest robe o'er tree and shrub


With a noiseless hand she flings;


When the warbling notes of the birds do float,


As from their southern home


To their place of rest in the olden nest,


On gladsome wing they come.

Mary T. Lathrap