November 10

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The mid- day weather was cloudy, hazy with a temperature of 50 degrees and no wind. Today’s trek included my annual quest for chlorophyll. I planned to focus on the color of late autumn plants and leaves, especially those that retained the color green. At the crest of the hill, I gazed west at a brown and beige, green-less landscape. Descending the hill, I paused at Mallard Marsh for a stare down with a doe, nearly hidden in the cattails. I walked through Bobolink Meadow and entered North Woods where I spotted a small green Christmas fern sticking up through the leaf litter. Several North American Indian tribes used this plant to treat a variety of medical conditions. A tea made from the root was used in the treatment of chills, fever and pneumonia. A decoction of the root was massaged into rheumatic joints. The powdered root was inhaled and then coughed up in order to restore the voice. Further along, I noticed most of the leaves on a clump of Nut sedge were still green. Exiting the woods, I hiked along the edge of Succession Field where I noticed some Autumn Olive plants still had a few green leaves on them. At the west end, I saw some green leaves left on Multi flora rose. Continuing around the field, I spotted a patch of green Goldenrod plants tucked back in the shelter and shade of trees on the edge of South woods. I entered South woods and was surprised to see a dead, adult raccoon lying next to the large White Oak tree. After examining the body, I was unable to determine the cause of death. Walking along the edge of Swanson Swamp, I was surprised to see some Cattails still had green leaves. I exited the woods, passed Artist Overlook and followed the trail along the edge of Sora Swale where a few Black Raspberry plants still had some green leaves. Following the south trail, I looked closely at the path where there was a mixture of cool season grasses, green clover and broadleaf weeds. I turned south at Frog Fen, followed the path to Brady Cemetery and then walked over to the neighbor’s plowed field where lots of unknown weeds were green and growing. I turned and hiked past the cemetery and entered Native Grassland where I left the trail and found lots of green moss growing on an old cement slab where a barn use to be. Without a complex vascular system, mosses can photosynthesize at temperatures down to just above freezing and thus maintain a lush green color throughout the fall and winter. Heading north toward the barn, I spotted a Cottonwood sapling with some green leaves on it. I arrived at the Classroom Building where I spotted some green Hoary Alyssum growing over the drain field on the east lawn. Finally, it was back to the van for our trip home.

The stripped and shapely


Maple grieves


The ghosts of her


Departed leaves.

The ground is hard,


As hard as stone.


The year is old,


The birds are flown.

And yet the world,


In its distress,


Displays a certain


Loveliness


John Updike