May 13

Tuesday was a good day at Forest Hill for a hike with my dog, Remi. The early afternoon weather was mostly cloudy with a temperature of 75 degrees and a steady wind out of the west. At the crest of the hill, I gazed at the western landscape to see lush green grass nearby, further away, Mallard Marsh was surrounded by dead cattails, still further, green Bobolink Meadow and finally, on the horizon far away, North Woods filling out with leaves. I descended the hill, passed Mallard Marsh and hiked through Bobolink Meadow where the color yellow caught my eye including: a mixture of Dandelions and Wild Mustard on the path, a buzzing Bumble Bee flying from blossom to blossom and Goldfinches flying from bush to bush. Continuing through the meadow, I was pleased to sight my first Green Heron of the season as it flew south and landed in Willow Wallow. At the entrance to North Woods, I spotted a few blossoms of Wild Strawberry and some vegetative stalks of Horsetail. Hiking through the woods, the leaf litter displayed purple Wood Violets and Downy Yellow Violets along with a few Jack-in-the-Pulpits. Exiting the woods, I was reminded of my first sighting of a Baltimore oriole earlier in the week perched high and singing in a tree nearby. I left the path and wandered around Succession Field where I saw a Yellow Morel Mushroom while the sky to the west began to clear. Circling the field, I noticed a 2-foot long Garter snake lying motionless on the path before it saw me and slithered into the tall grass. I entered South Woods and walked along the edge of Swanson Swamp where a few May apples were beginning to grow fruit. Looking at the water, I could see a Painted turtle resting on a log. Leaving the woods, I continued on south trail past Artist Overlook, around Sora Swale to Frog Fen where I turned south to Brady Cemetery and then north into Native Grassland. Under a grove of Box Elder trees was a puddle of water where I spotted a large American Toad sitting still waiting for a meal. I glanced north at Grebe Pond where I saw a few Redwings along the shore. Heading to the barn, I turned west and walked down by the dock where I could see a few Indian Hemp plants beginning to sprout. Finally, we came to the car and headed home.

Sun warms the earth

Spring arrives late

Creatures stop hiding

Nature ends her wait

Frog on the pond

Snake on the ground

Bee on the flower

Birds all around

Cattail shoots appear

Maple leaves unfold

Time has finally come

Wildlife can take hold

D. DeGraaf