 We made it, today is the Spring Equinox, the first day of spring. Already signs are popping up everywhere. The migratory waterfowl have come and gone, the wood frogs, chorus frogs, and peepers are calling, and the trees are beginning to bloom.
A new beginning, a call to reach up, stretch out, and move confidently forward into a new year. What have you been dreaming about all winter? Spring is the season to bring those dreams to reality. New life is all around, in nature and in you. Although it may not be the most idyllic springtime day, I would still like to encourage you to take a moment to welcome the new season. Go outside or look out a window, take four deep breaths, and observe (using all your available senses) all the springtime sights, sounds, smells, and so on. Write them down on a piece of paper. On the other side of the paper, consider the things you’d like to cultivate this year, write them down without judgement. Once you’ve done those things, take four more deep breaths and welcome the season. I hope this season brings you abundance in all the ways you need.
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Sunday, March 2nd 2025, 11:30-2:30 Overcast changing to partly cloudy. 26° We head towards the marsh, not sure what we would find. Would it still be frozen? Would the migratory waterfowl have arrived yet? We pass the water along state route 226, open water speckled with tiny black spots. They're here! Parking along cemetery road we gaze upon the scene. Large groups of ducks blanket the water. Cameras and binoculars come out. Drat, they're too far for my camera lens, but N has a great view with the binoculars. Ringneck, redhead, shoveler, bufflehead, ruddy, teal, pintail, canvasback ducks all grouped together. We wait patiently as they slowly move closer. Patience is the name of the game. Finally I'm able to see the distant ducks. Image 1- shovelers in flight. Image 2 - redhead duck in flight. Image 3 - a coot paddles along. We make our way to Force Rd. where the swans were making quite the ruckus. Many of the same ducks with the addition of swans and sandhill cranes. The winds cut across the open water so we decide to see the next spot. Valley road was, pleasantly, not nearly as rutted as usual. I had to make a stop to visit my favorite skunk cabbage spot. Everything growing right on schedule. A quote I love "Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished." by Lao Tzu brings me back when I anticipate nature's next step. Be calm, be still, everything in its time. In the valley, lots of ice remains over the marsh. At the intersection, the road is flooded and frozen so we park and watch the ducks. The vantage here was a bit closer than on Cemetery Rd., see image 7 to glimpse the number and variety of ducks we were able to spot. After a few hours, our fingers have become numb. It was time to head back. One last stop along Cemetery on our way home. The muskrats are actively running around, snacking on the remaining plants. As we were leaving a killdeer flew by. There's no denying it, the season's change is here. Here we are already, the first days of March. In like a lion, truly. Out like a lamb? We will see. This winter has been very wintery, cold, snowy, the pause we need to reset. I know many people live without the different seasons, I’m grateful we have them. The day the snows melt and the temperatures rise about 50 degrees you can feel a palpable change. Smiles on the faces of everyone, a spring in the step, in the air the call of the redwing blackbird. On February 21st the season broke. From the trees, the familiar “ker chee woo” call of the redwing blackbirds filled the air. They’re the first to tell you about spring. On the 22nd the wetlands began to thaw. As the flood waters receded under their frozen ice top, an echoing “crash, boom, splash” filled the Killbuck valley. The 24th I went to visit our local skunk cabbage area, while many are still sleeping, I was able to find 3 up and blooming, the hidden spadix covered in petal-less flowers in the red/green spathe attracting the earliest emerging flies and beetles with their skunky scent. The 25th our male bluebirds started showing off for the female sitting on the nesting box February the 28th the first large kettle of turkey vultures flew over the village of Shreve. Easily 75 split between two groups. I can’t say when it happened, but when you look close, the buds on the trees are noticeable. And now we’re here. Hello March. I know you’ll have lots to show us. JanuaryIt's been a snowy, icy winter this year. Below you can see some of the sights. The marsh icing over. Large rocks stand out in the forest under a dusting of snow. The white-throated sparrow visits us in these cold months. The first buds appear on the silver maples. A lot of the witch hazels are still closed, but I found one at the arboretum that was blooming. The buds of the dogwood tree remind me of tiny dumplings. Robins eating whatever berries they can find this time of year. When cold, the common polypod, an evergreen, curls up and waits for a warm sunny day. FebruaryFebruary brought more snow, a beautiful coat of sparkles covering everything. By the end of the month it will have all been a beautiful memory. The first two images I found striking. This is the inside of a pine tree! The tree had split in two revealing how the branches and bark grew in tandem. Image one is up close, image two is a wider view. Curiously enough, this tree is still alive! Not thriving, but surviving. You can see it along the trail at Kidron Community Park. With the beautiful freshly fallen snow, I made my way to Brown's Lake Bog. I was the first to set tracks in the snow along the boardwalk. The snow clung to the branches and trees. On this same trip a bald eagle flew over. The next outing was an icy, snowy, stroll around Wooster Memorial. Visiting the wetlands, ice sculptures clung to trees. A chandelier of ice drops hanging from a branch over the Killbuck. Ice clings to the trees where it froze when floodwaters filled then froze in the area. As I walked along, loud "crash, boom, splashes" echoed out in the valley. Slowly but surely, these ice trays fall down. The first skunk cabbage I found in bloom was at Clear Creek! Many were up but not yet open. Everything in its time. The next hike was at Wooster Memorial one week after the first one, and what a difference! The snow had all melted and the low evening light gave everything a beautiful glow. Mosses are filling out, new hepatica leaves are emerging from the leaf litter, the turkey tail fungus is showing off its variety of color (in latin it's named versicolor, very appropriate). A pair of sandhill cranes were playing in the strong winds, flapping hard into the breeze, then catch the wind and go zooming back to where they started! A bald eagle gives me the side-eye as I climb a hill as high as it flys. Follow the Heartland Rail Trail a short distance and before you know it, you'll come across Wayne County, Ohio's newest park, the Robert Brooker Nature Preserve.  On the brisk New Years Day morning, we bundled up and made our way to the Village of Marshallville on the eastern side of Wayne County, Ohio. To get to the Robert Brooker Nature Preserve (RBNP) you must park at the Heartland Trail Trailhead - part of the Rails to Trails of Wayne County trail systems. From there you start walking north along the rail trail, cross the road, pass old industry, then follow the beautifully wooded path for about .3 mile. At the time of writing, when the paved trail trail ends and turns to a mowed path, turn left and you've arrived at the RBNP trailhead! Here you'll find the sign, a map, and a bike rack where you can park your bike while you hike (no bikes on this trail, but you knew that by reading the sign). A short paved path leads to the solar field which helps to illuminate the village, a paved and crushed gravel path that leads through the woods in a short loop, and a longer primitive trail which leads around gentle hills & valleys crossing bridges along the way. It's a simple but interesting trail, oak forest leads to maple forest, eventually ending at the solar field in a big loop. The environment is right for interesting spring wildflowers, frogs and salamanders in the spring, and bird watching. Though it was pretty cold and quiet on our visit, it will definitely be worth visiting again as the seasons change. Find more photos from our walk below. Robert Brooker Nature Preserve
Address for parking: 43 Euclid St. Marshallville, Ohio - follow trail .3 mi north to the Preserve Rules: Open sunrise to sunset leashed dogs are welcome no bicycles, motorized vehicles, or horses no fires, alcohol, hunting, camping, Trails: - Marshallville Tigers Trail .6 mi rustic trail - Dwayne Groll .4 mi gravel and chip and seal trail - Solar Trail .1 mi chip and seal Facilities: Portapots at the Heartland Trail parking lot  Happy new year to all of you out there in internet land. It's a brisk and breezy 33* here this morning. Where will this year take you? What do you want to make of the year? For us, the new year begins with our traditions: eating sauerkraut and sausage, noting the first bird we see, and our new year day hike.  To set the tone and to welcome insight on the new year we look at the symbolism attributed to the first bird we see on the morning of the new year.
My bird this year is the Cardinal. The unmistakable brilliant red bird, familiar to all, even those uninterested in birding. What the cardinal brings to our awareness is a call to live up to your fullest potential and encourages you to explore new directions and take risks in order to grow as an individual. Its energy brings passion, warmth, and fire and urges us to realize our hidden talent through our actions. Declare your own self worth, be confident, assert yourself, take risks, and stand up for what you believe in. We can not wait for change but must create change ourselves. There is a fiery energy that drives the soul from one good deed to another, expressing that energy is most important this year. This year we can fly to our goals and reach new horizons. Everything will work out for the best. As opportunities are presented, boldly take advantage of the offerings. Keep a positive outlook on life and all your projects will be successful. This is a year of artistic expression. It's important to not worry about the opinions of others, but to find pleasure in the creating. The cardinal seeks to infuse life with aliveness and joy. My dear cardinal, I'm ready for it! Greetings from the morning of the Solstice! Looking across dark fields lightly dusted with a thin layer of snow, the dark and the light, I'm reminded how everything balances. The sun will return, the birds fly back, the seasons will change. Hold that reminder close, but don't forget to be in this present moment. Move slowly and with intent, take stock of the things you're grateful for.  Below are a number of ways to embrace this change of seasons and I encourage all of you to make a little time to slow down and reflect. - Sit by a fire and contemplate the light returning to your life. This can be a bonfire, a fireplace, or a candle, whatever works for your life. - Take a relaxing bath allowing the warm water to release the stresses of the previous year so you may emerge recharged and ready for the next turn around the sun. - Write down your intentions for the coming season, reflect on what brings you joy, take a moment to see where you are. - Enjoy a quiet walk outdoors. Feel the cold air on your skin, observe the light of the returning sun, quiet your mind for the duration of the walk, you don't need to be anywhere but right here in this moment.  I hope you all have a beautiful Winter Solstice.
 Found all across Ohio, this native member of the bittersweet family enjoys stream banks, moist open woods, and thickets in light shade to dappled sun conditions. This specimen was found along a manmade channel growing in the understory of silver maples. It goes by a number of different names: Wahoo, Eastern Wahoo, Burning Bush (not to be confused with the invasive winged burning bush), Spindle Tree, Arrow Wood, and Hearts Bursting With Love. Wahoo is a word from the Dakota Tribe meaning arrow-wood. While out hiking in southern Holmes County this weekend, I came across a sight I’ve never seen before. I could tell I was in the presence of Bob, and by Bob, of course I mean the elusive Bobcat. Morning, noon, or night, bobcats can be found roaming around but they prefer the dawn and dusk hours. Very shy and rarely spotted in real time, they often show up on trail cams or, unfortunately, after being hit by a car. Take a look at your house cat, or your friend’s house cat, or your neighbor’s house cat, now double it in size - that’s how big these elusive wildcats are. Making my way down the trail, admiring the lovely leaves that seemed to glow in the late morning light, I noticed this bare spot amongst the fallen leaves.  Leaning in closer to see if I could spot any tracks or digging or anything that might give away what this bare patch was the scent hit me. Having had pet cats my entire life I knew that scent well. Strong ammonia that makes your eyes water. A cat, a large cat by the size of the bare spot, has left their mark. There are three ways bobcats communicate, visual signals, vocalizations, and scent. They use scent by urinating along travel routes, depositing feces in latrine sites and scraping urine and feces along trails (this last one is what we see here). It’s a little more difficult to decipher what this big cat is trying to tell us as sometimes it means:
Though, marking scrapes in the ground is often attributed to mark a cat’s territory. We are fast approaching bobcat breeding season, although it can occur anytime throughout the year, the peak time occurs from December - May. The ideal location for a natal den is rock outcroppings. After 8 weeks, the young will be fully weaned and will disperse to begin life on their own in the fall and late winter. Once common throughout Ohio, bobcats were extirpated from the state by 1850. Repopulation efforts began in the mid-1900s and sightings have become more frequent since the early 2000s. The data below is from a survey conducted from 1970 to 2021.
While bobcats are adaptable to a wide range of ecosystems, they do avoid areas of intense agriculture, highly developed areas, and areas with lots of human activity. Instead they prefer areas with adequate prey and cover. These include conifer and hardwood forests, deserts, swamps, and brushy fields. Dense vegetation and topography such as rock outcroppings are important areas that offer resting and den sites. Another 50 feet down the path I came across another scrape, nearly identical to the first. Were these scrapes from a female at the beginning of mating season or a cat establishing a territory boundary or maybe a young bobcat who just left the den and is trying to find their place in the area. Whatever the answer may be I’m excited to see evidence of these big cats moving back to the area. How time flies when we're out having fun. This summer, this whole year really, has been so rich with curiosity and exploration. I've spent the last six months deep in the Killbuck Swamp areas, photographing the sights, keeping track of the species of interest. Though I'm not ready to share about all that just yet, do know I've been keeping extensive notes, potentially for a big future project.  Much like the leaves on the trees, life sheds what is no longer needed. This can be a door closing, a heart changing, silence where there once was sound. Things are falling, and while we might not be able to see it yet, they are falling into place. I hope to join you all here again soon. 
We've hit that glorious time of the season, the time the early spring wildflowers start to bloom! We call these wildflowers Spring Ephemerals as they are only with us for a few short weeks in the spring, some only blooming for one day, then they fade back until next year. Yesterday I was out on the trails and my eyes delighted in the first fully open spring beauty! Its leaves stretched out on either side, like arms stretching with the morning yawn. As this is my favorite time with my favorite flowers, let's take a look at what we'll be seeing in the next few weeks/months. This is your reminder to walk slow, look down, you might be surprised at some of the lovely tiny flowers you see. This is part of our Hike Wayne Series  Clear Creek ParkThe City of Wooster’s newest park is located at 668 Venture Blvd, tucked between the Aspen racquet club and Clear Creek. Opened in 2022, Clear Creek Park has 3/4 of a mile paved walking paths that meander through woods, wetlands, and lead to a platform overlooking Clear Creek. You can also find a pavilion, restrooms, and (coming soon) a playground. This 11 acre park was inspired by the vision by Seaman Corporation Board Chairman, Richard Seaman to create a green space for the community and a safe place for workers from near by industries to walk during their lunch breaks. It has done that and so much more. A favorite walk for those with walkers, strollers, and dogs (on leashes thanks) people are enjoying this new park. This is part of our Hike Wayne Series  Brown’s Lake Bog Brown Rd., Shreve, OH - between Aylsworth and Funk Rds. no pets please Owned and maintained by The Nature Conservancy in Ohio Featuring a kettle hole bog as well as a glacially-formed hill called a kame, our Brown’s Lake Bog is one of the few high-quality bogs left in Ohio. Follow the boardwalk out onto the bog mat where you can see the kettle hole lake, make sure to stay on the boardwalk to protect the sensitive species that grow here. Then head back and turn down the marked trail up and around the earthen loop trail that traverses the glacial kame. Please note, the boardwalk may become slippery when wet or snowy so walk with caution. You can learn more about Brown’s Lake Bog at https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/browns-lake-bog-preserve In the SpringIn the SummerIn the AutumnIn the Winter The yellow spathe sits inside the redish/purpleish spadix Beginning in late winter, the eastern skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) is first of our wildflowers to emerge from the cold snow covered ground. Through its rapid growth, its cellular respiration can melt the snow around it reaching up to 60 degrees Fahrenheit! The skunk cabbage gets its name from the smell emitted from the spathe (reddish brown thing generally after disruption or bruising. This smell is important as it attracts the flies that will then pollinate the spadix (round yellow ball that sits inside the spathe). By late spring, a tight roll of bright green leaves emerge from next to the spathe, slowly unraveling into huge green cabbage-like leaves that will blanket the wet and wooded area where it grows.  An early season grouping of skunk cabbage. The spadix here is a deep red/burgundy color with bright green/yellow speckling.  Later in the season, the spadix dies back and the leaves come out. As the snow starts falling from the sky, your first instinct may be to lock yourself inside with a warm cup of tea and put away your hiking boots until spring. Do not do this! (except maybe enjoy the tea, yum!) Hiking in the winter can be just as enjoyable as any other time as long as you are properly dressed and prepared for any and all the elements. Honestly, for many years I dreaded winter, I hated not being outside, I felt my body deteriorating due to lack of physical activity (sure I could go to the gym but ugh), the lack of natural light would stoke the flames of winter depression, but most of all I could not stand being cold. All of these problems I was able to fix in one easy step.... dressing properly for the outdoors! Once I made this one little change, winter was no longer a daunting task; being outside, getting my muscles moving, enjoying the sharp winter sun, all helped alleviate the seasonal depression. Before I knew it I was enjoying winter hiking just as much as summer. Winter posed a challenge to me, all the trails I could fly through in the warm months were once again challenging, I had to push myself physically and mentally through drifts of snow, up icy hills, down steep slopes. Tips for safely enjoying winter hiking.
 Today you may find yourself coming across some extra 'crunchy' spots along the trail. When you do, take a moment to look closer, you may have just come across a patch of Needle Ice!  Needle ice is a natural phenomenon which occurs when the temperature of the soil is above freezing and the surface temperature of the air is below freezing. The subterranean liquid water is brought to the surface via capillary action, where it freezes and contributes to a growing needle-like ice column.
While growing, they may lift or push away small soil particles as you can clearly see in the photo. On sloped surfaces, needle ice may be a factor contributing to soil creep. This is part of our Hike Wayne Series.  Barnes Preserve 3396 Sylvan Rd, Wooster, OH 44691 76 acres owned & operated by the Wayne County Park District. 1 mile of paved ADA accessible trail through mature forest, overlooking a woodland pond, and wanders through a meadow. A number of additional mowed and boardwalk paths cut through the woods and meadow. Open dawn to dusk (trails are not maintained in the winter months, hike at your own risk). Facilities: pavilion, grill, overlook, port-a-potty (April-November) Best use: walking, birding, nature observation. Special rules: - Take trash home with you (no trash pickup service at park). - All dogs must be leashed & cleaned up after. EXCITING NEWS: Recently the Park District was awarded two grants to develop the lower ponds and surrounding area. The general concept includes a fishing pond with bump-out natural pier while the surrounding land will be restored back into a quality wetland /stream. The project is slated for completion in early 2024 (though the timeline is always subject to change). Barnes in SpringBarnes in SummerBarnes in AutumnBarnes in Winter January: Named from the Roman god Janus, who is represented with two faces looking in opposite directions - as retrospective to the past and prospective to the future.
A new year, let it start slow, soon the cold, muted snow will come, then bit by bit will begin unfolding new traits, the rains come, a flower opens, the skunk emerges from its slumber. While it's easy to get caught up thinking about the future, don't forget to pause and enjoy this ever so brief moment of stillness. Let yourself stand out in the elements today, breathe in the cool stillness, only now, right now, on this day (whenever you're reading this) this breath is just for you and only you and will never be exactly like this, these scents, these sensations, ever again. How full yet fleeting a mindful moment can be. Wishing you all a wonderful 2024.  It is in the darkness that the fire shines brightest. Tomorrow is the winter Solstice, the day with the least amount of light. Nine hours of daylight compared to the fifteen in June. In our ever active world this season can feel like a burden. The darkness cutting into our activities. But it might be the most important time in our seasonal cycle. We are on the cusp of winter, the trees have gone shed their leaves, the plants are all dormant, the mammals have cozied up in their dens to hibernate, it’s time to rest. While it’s not entirely practical to hole up in your house for days on end, there are ways we can embrace the season and enjoy what I call active rest. Beginning today, through tomorrow (the Solstice), and continuing to the next day I would like to invite you to see and participate in these darkest of days.  December 20th Shadow Watching The sun hangs low in the southern sky casting long shadows through the day. In the morning look out and see the shadows, follow them across the landscape, do you notice the utility pole shadow, a nearby building, how different they look this time of year. At noon, observe how the shadows still stretch, much longer than at summer’s high noon. In the evening, go outside and cast your own shadows as you bid goodnight to the sun.  December 21st Take a Walk Instead of trying to run away from the cold and darkness, take a slow walk and welcome winter. When you can, bundle up and find your way outside to take a slow, intentional walk. Breathe in the crisp air, observe how the shadows stretch out before you, listen to the sounds around you - there may be birds, squirrels, or even no sound, the silence of the season. Think how it is only now, in this season, when things become still and quiet. Take that stillness with you.  December 22nd
Welcome back the sun From now until June 20th the daylight slowly starts to return. Greet the morning, welcome the sun (even if it’s cloudy, it’s up there somewhere). The darkness brings lessons, good or bad be thankful for them, the light will add more perspective. If all of that sounds too “woo woo” then welcome the sun by eating an orange. The golden orange fruit to nourish your day, to welcome the sun’s return.  Ilex opaca (American Holly)
Leathery evergreen leaves, 2-4 inches long and 1-2 inches wide, with a sharp-pointed tip and spiny-toothed margins (occasionally smooth). Growing up to 50 ft tall, this slow growing, shade tolerant tree has thin, gray, warty bark. Branches forming a pyramidal crown. Light green/greenish white flowers. If both the male and female trees are present, the flowers will produce the bright red berries that adorn so many living rooms this time of year. American Holly is native to the eastern/south eastern US. There are many different varieties of holly (ie winterberry, possumhaw, even Yerba mate - Ilex paraguariensis) as well as different cultivars of each species. The very similar looking English Holly (Ilex aquifolium) has become a noxious species along the West Coast of the US but doesn't seem to be able to grow well in the Eastern States. Uses The wood has been used for many, many, different things throughout history: inlays in cabinetwork, carvings, rulers, handles. The berries were used by the Native Americans for buttons and to barter. Holly is toxic to humans but birds and woodland mammals enjoy the bitter berries. Lore Holly is rich with symbolism Romans would send boughs of holly and gifts to their friends during Saturnalia*. In Britain, people decorated their homes with holly in the winter to invite sylvan spirits to shelter there. Christian legend says that holly sprang from the footsteps of Jesus, its thorns and red berries representing his suffering and blood. Symbolism in heraldry, holly represents truth. NeoPagan lore, the Holly King rules the dark half of the year (from the autumn to spring equinox) being strongest at midwinter, his counterpart and adversary the Oak King is the inverse. The Druids regarded holly as a symbol of fertility and eternal life, thought to have magical powers. Cutting down a holly tree would bring bad luck but hanging the plant in homes was believed to bring good luck and protection. Holly is also believed to protect homes against lightning strikes. *Saturnalia: Ancient Roman holiday to celebrate the God Saturn, held December 17-23rd. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn and a public banquet, followed by gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival-like atmosphere that overturned Roman social norms: gambling was permitted, social status was equal, gag gifts or small figurines were given. The poet Catullus called it "the best of days".  I don’t know about you, but this autumn, though it has been one of beautiful and long lasting foliage, one tree has stood out among all the others… The Sweetgum The American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua L) goes by many names: Sweetgum, redgum, sapgum, star leaf-gum, bilsted. As it is found in the Eastern United States from Connecticut south to Central America, it’s likely you’ve encountered this tree before and probably remember it’s unique seed pods - round and woody with spiney tips and scattered all over. The leaves are palmately lobed with five to seven points resembling a star. In the autumn the leaves turn a brilliant range of color from pale yellow through bright orange all the way to a deep burgundy or purple. The leaves are very sensitive to frost so if it frosts before changing, they turn directly brown. Native Americans used parts of this tree, especially the gum, bark, and root, for antidiarrheal uses, dermatological aid, gynecological aid, sedative, and as a fever reducer. A balsamic oleo-resin is formed when the inner bark of the tree becomes wounded or gashed, called American styrax. This historically has been chewed as a sweet, natural gum, but has found other uses in soaps, cosmetics, perfumes, adhesives, lacquers, and incense. The wood is used for lumber, veneer, and plywood and is often used for cabinets, furniture, barrels, baskets, and interior woodwork. Seeds are a food source for birds, squirrels, and chipmunks .  As the leaves change and fall, the fog rises in the mornings, and the air turns crisp and sweet, we know fall is here.
Although the weather has yet to make up its mind as to if it's still summer or not, these cooler mornings have me feeling the fall. This is one of my favorite times to think about how the summer's growth has changed me for the better and to let that which does not serve me any longer fall away (see what I did there?). Today is a great day to consider how you've changed this year, how you want to grow in the future, and what you want/need to let go of to make that happen. Sipping a warm apple cider while doing so is advisable!  Observations: A heavy rain flooded parts of the boardwalk, but let up just long enough for me to take this photo. The fungi and slugs were having a great time soaking up all the much needed rain. I made it to the bend at the end of this image before the rain started in a heavy downpour that didn't let up for about 30 minutes. By that time I turned around and made it back to the car, wading in murky brown rushing water all the way.
Although damp and rather uncomfortable, there's just something beautiful about being in the woods in the rain. Sunday, 8am | Overcast and rainy | ~67* | it's perfect The best kind of day is the day you wake up early, full of energy, nothing on the calendar, and in good health. Today was that morning. Rainy walks in the forest have a way of revealing more than you might otherwise notice. The sounds - rain or maybe footsteps. The foliage - how many different shades of green are there? I don't know but you can find hundreds as you walk along. Mosses glow. A heavy warm musty fragrance blankets everything. Click through the slideshow to see what I found from the prairie, down the switchback hill, across the run, and along the Spangler trail. Not quite as catchy a title as Delia Owen's wildly popular book but I'd still read it. A fair amount of my youth was spent playing in creeks and 'discovering' all the fascinating creatures that lived there. It was always a real treat to come across a crawdad/crayfish/mud bug (all different common names for Cambaridae) and watch it dart from stone to stone in the shallow waters. 30 years later I 'discover' them again but this time on land!  Mud chimney formed by a terrestrial crawdad, found June 1, 2023 at Johnson Woods SNP.
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AboutSince 2015 we have been exploring and sharing all the amazing things we’ve found in nature. AuthorEmily is an Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist who is most often found out in the woods. Archives
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