June 17

Wednesday, Remi and I hiked at the former Horizon Education Center property owned by the St. Louis Public Schools. This 70-acre parcel is located 1 mile south of downtown St. Louis and half mile east off Jackson Rd, the first driveway after the Burnham Outdoor Center. The early morning weather was mostly sunny, with a temperature of 59 degrees and a slight easterly breeze. From the parking lot, I wandered to an open area where I paused to enjoy a serenading House Wren perched in an old apple tree. Continuing to the edge of the woods, I noticed two well-established invasive plant species: Wild Privet and Oriental Bittersweet. Next, I headed south on one of many mowed trails and immediately stopped to watch the wind-blown leaves of a Trembling Aspen tree. Continuing south, I came upon an extensive grove of Tulip Poplar trees, a species that I’ve never seen on my other hikes in the area. Following the path, I hiked into a dense woods dominated by mature maple and oak with some Witch Hazel in the understory. On both sides of the trail were swollen vernal ponds due to above average June rainfall. Exiting the woods, I circled back toward the parking lot where I noticed a sign indicating the trails were used by the high school cross-country team. Approaching the car, I passed a blossoming Catalpa tree and Smooth Sumac shrubs. Finally, we found the car and headed back to Alma.

Hiking a trail

Piece of ground

Bones & flesh

Carcass found

Mass of maggots

Devouring

Organs & tissue

Decomposing

Putrefaction

Smell of decay

Mother Nature’s

Wondrous way

D. DeGraaf