Barne's Preserve
September |
Early October |
The trees still green but beginning to change.
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The hickory nuts are ripe, you can watch the squirrels gathering and hiding the fallen ones.
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Late October |
November |
The leaves - fallen from the cold snap or still green. Will we have a colorful fall?
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The leaves are down, soon winter will be upon us.
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January |
February |
Although technically closed in the winter (no plowing or upkeep in the snow), many still brave the elements to enjoy the park. The leaves and bushes are now bare but you can look across the landscape and observe the subtle hills and valleys of the forest and meadow. This is a great time to observe winter birds on the various berry bushes and fruit trees in the park.
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A storm was on the horizon, all the birds and animals bunkered down. Anticipatory quiet and stillness set over the park. As I left, one by one, the flakes started to fall.
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March |
April |
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A lovely evening for a stroll, a few sprigs of green here and there. Most activity was out in the meadow as the bluebirds fluttered from tree to grasses, picking out the newly emerging insects.
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Although a cold front just came through, the trees have started to bud out, the peepers have been heard singing at the pond, and all through the leaf-litter sprigs of green are popping up. On this trip I was able to observe the wildflowers coltsfoot in bloom and toothwort in bud. Spring is here at last!
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May |
June |
And just like that, the view of the pond is almost completely obscured! April to May is one of the most incredible transitional periods, here we go from faint color to full on lush, the grasses are up, the leaves are coming out, the spring ephemerals are finishing, bedstraw and jewel weed are working on dominating the forest floor. Up in the canopy yellow and hooded warblers can be heard (and spotted if you're quick!). At the pond the very first dragonflies are making their inaugural appearances after molting from their aquatic stages as nymphs.
What a time of year! |
June has brought with it an entirely different world. Full trees, insects a plenty - the high temperatures and rain have made a glorious jungle of our modest Ohio forests. Summer in its blazing glory is upon us.
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July |
August |
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Jewel weed blooms, dragonflies skimming, meadow flowers blooming, mosquitoes buzzing. Long lazy summer days are here!
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The forest is changing ever so slowly, the ripened nuts are being eaten by the squirrels, the husks tossed across the path, the jewel weed is dying back, the Virginia knotweed is growing high. Out in the meadow high lush green plants surround you, the golden rod just beginning to bud.
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