August 3

Saturday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early morning weather was party sunny with a temperature of 59 degrees and no wind. From the crest of the hill, I walked down past Mallard Marsh and entered Bobolink Meadow where I stared at a doe that was staring at me. Also, I looked carefully for Bobolinks. Despite having seen a flock of a dozen or so fledglings the last two weeks, there was none visible today. Approaching North Woods, I noticed some lovely blossoms of Bull Thistle. Near the entrance to the woods, I spotted a few Milkweed Tussock Moth caterpillars eating a milkweed plant. Like Monarch caterpillars, they incorporate the toxins of the plant which makes them poisonous to predators. I entered North Woods and headed west where I kicked up dozens of tiny Wood frogs hopping on top of the leaf litter. At the boardwalk, I noticed the large vernal pond was finally dried up. Exiting the woods, I circled Succession Field where I first spotted blossoms of Narrow-leaf Meadowsweet and then Joe Pye Weed. Entering South Woods, I hiked along the edge of a silent Swanson Swamp. I exited the woods and arrived at Artist Overlook where I was reminded of hearing, for the first time, the raucous call of a Great Blue Heron earlier in the week as it took off from Sora Swale. I followed the south trail to Frog Fen and turned north to climb Reflection Hill where I looked down on Grebe Pond. At the north end of the pond, I could make out a pair of Canada Geese standing on a log. Circling the hill, I descended the south side, passed Frog Fen again and headed toward Brady Cemetery. I passed the cemetery and turned north into a flower-filled Native Grassland where I was surprised to see only one butterfly-a Viceroy. Arriving at the grove of Box Elder trees, I noticed a patch of delicate blossoms of Water Parsnip. Next, I paused and gazed at a duckweed-covered Grebe Pond. Heading north to the barn, I walked around to the east side to see the blossoms of Common Tansy and smell it’s minty leaves. Finally, we arrived at the car for our trip home.

Green, green, everywhere green
Mother Nature’s summer scene
Blades of grass on the path below
Leaves on the trees put on a show
Carpet of moss on weathered rock
Patch of duckweed near the dock
Fields and forests display the color
In August there can be no other
I hike the trail and look around
Color green is quite profound

D. DeGraaf