Central Ohio NatureWaiting
Posted on December 12, 2018
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In the clear cold of a December morning,
as a last leaf gently floats down
from a branch reaching high toward blue sky,
(click images if you’d like a better view)
while below water battles ice for rule over silver ribbons
that mark now too obvious wooded ravines,
and a piercing sharp sun
leaves behind deep shadows
exposing naked trees and fading leaf covered hillsides,
the land quietly waits for a warm blanket of snow.
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Thanks for stopping by.
Richer In Nature’s Moment
Posted on December 10, 2018
Not long ago, after a few days of rain, I found myself walking through an area with numerous wooded ravines. Many of them spoke with their unique faint song as water flowing down from above burbled and gurgled over rocks and logs. Each nameless song affected me as music of the purest kind. Certainly not rich in tonality and melody like that encountered in a concert hall but perhaps with a more quiet seductiveness. The next day while walking in the same woods that song was gone.
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That same rain caused river levels to rise then after a few days of dry frigid weather they started to recede. As with the burbling and gurgling water there was no deliberate intention and no audience was requested but the receding water level in backwater pools left beauty in the ice. The message in this “art” was undoubtedly as varied as the people who might chance upon it. I smiled realizing that it’s beauty rivalled anything I could create. Today the weather is warmer and I haven’t been back to look at the ice.
Spears, (click on images for a better view)
Six Dots
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Much of nature’s beauty is subtle, fleeting, and then gone. I’m blessed to be here just long enough to share in the celebration. Contemplating my being on the cosmic scale of space and time it’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that I’m here at all, but here I am, listening to the flow of water over rocks, looking at nature’s hand in ice, richer in nature’s moment.
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Thanks for stopping by
December Quiet
Posted on December 7, 2018
Recently we had an opportunity to spent a few days at Salt Fork State Park. It’s located in eastern part of the state and is Ohio’s largest state park at 17,000 acres encompassing a landscape of forested hills, open meadows, valleys, winding streams and a large serpentine lake. It’s a park that’s new to us with a name that is said to have been derived from a salt well located in its southwest corner that was used by Native Americans. Early December is not the busiest time and the park system was offering a senior discount in an effort to rectify that problem. With leaves mostly on the ground and their colors fading fast it is not the best time of year to experience nature’s beauty, but if one loves to hike and explore we thought “the deal” was too good to pass up.
Morning landscape, from the lodge, (all images may be clicked on for a better view).
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A short afternoon hike after our arrival revealed that recent wet weather had resulted in trails that were wet, and in spots very muddy, but perhaps what was noticed most was that, with the exception of the call of a distant crow or a nearby chickadee, the woods were completely silent.
Along the trails the lake can often be seen.
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During our stay we had the opportunity to explore various trails and the playful sound of small streamlets could often be heard as they made their way down gullies and around moss-covered rocks.
Oak leaves on moss-covered rocks and a very small waterfall.
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Fortunately there were “wildflowers” to enjoy but not the kind one goes in search of in early spring woods.
Red-orange Mycena, (Donna).
Turkey Tail bouquet, (Donna).
Interesting but unidentified, (Donna).
Cypress needles on moss.
Crowded Parchment, (Donna).
Unidentified polypore.
Perhaps Ground Pholiota
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Moss covered rocks and fallen cypress needles provided the most vivid color seen.
Now moss-covered this sandstone rock broke off from a nearby cliff.
Bald Cypress
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A longer hike took us by an old stone house on our way to Hosak’s cave and waterfall. The house was built by Benjamin Kennedy, an early settler to the region, around 1840. With the exception of the lake the surrounding landscape probably looks a lot like it did then.
Old Stone House
Hosack’s Cave. Notice the small waterfall that is probably non-existent most of the year.
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The morning of our departure we were greeted by two inches of fresh snow. In the stillness it was magical.
View from the lodge.
Sycamore
Holly, (Donna).
In the fresh snow a small stream stands out.
Like powdered sugar the light snow graced park trees.
Snow covered branches reflect at water’s edge.
A Great Blue Heron seems out of place.
Blooms of a different kind, Tulip Tree.
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The lodge, all decorated for the holidays with the warm glow of fireplaces in cozy locations, was lovely. The food, be it breakfast, lunch, or diner, while not French cuisine, was reasonably priced and very good. The staff was very friendly and helpful.
Late autumn snow, Salt Fork State Park.
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At times nature’s beauty, found when not expected, speaks to us in a whisper.
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Thanks for stopped by.
No Expectations
Posted on November 26, 2018
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Walking in the wood’s morning stillness,
Click on any photo for a better view.
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on late autumn fallen leaves
that recent rain left damp with saturated color,
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as kinglets with their quiet sounds
teased
flitting from branch to branch
never pausing quite long enough,
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I found myself with no expectations
content to listen to the voice of the day.
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Thanks for stopping by.
Enchanted November Woods
Posted on November 22, 2018
A half an hour before, we were standing in a cold wind just below a dam that has created one of central Ohio’s larger reservoirs trying our best to spot, and perhaps photograph, the Black-legged Kittiwake that was reported in the area. A unique opportunity because it’s a gull not usually seen in these parts. We finally did get a very average binocular view of the bird, another one for my “life list”, but in the process managed to journey pretty far down the road to hypothermia. Now we were looking forward to a hike in the woods with the thought that it wouldn’t be windy and the modest exertion might be enough to warm us up.
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Char-Mar Ridge Park, is not far from the dam so it seemed like a good choice. The park is home to numerous species of large trees as well as a pond that usually contains waterfowl. A plus is that next to the pond is a nicely situated observation blind for undetected viewing. This time of the year finds most leaves, a significant portion of which are oak, on the forest floor as the bare branched sentinels, once their home, tower overhead. The lack of leaves on branches promotes a rather barren landscape but made it easy to spot a Pileated woodpecker just minutes into our walk. It insisted on maintaining its position between us and the sun foiling efforts to obtain a really good photo.
Pileated Woodpecker, all photos may be clicked on for a better view.
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Once in the park it was hard not to notice the uniform blanket of leaves. They accentuated the park’s large rocks and fallen trees giving the sense that one was walking through a sculptor garden.
Oak leaves on log.
Large glacial erratic.
Recent rains darkened fallen trees, further contrasting them with the leaves.
Fallen leaves and branches.
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While I was amusing myself with stumps and fallen trees my wife was doing her best to locate fascinating fungi.
A study of leaves, tree bark, and fungi.
Resinous Polypore, (Donna).
A type of spreading fungi, (Donna).
Lichen and jelly fungi, (Donna).
Common Split Gill just starting out, (Donna).
Colorful Turkeytail.
Perhaps young Cinnabar-red Polypore.
Another look, (Donna).
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It was just a short distance to the blind overlooking the pond and despite the fact that the resident Red Headed Woodpecker was not seen the time spent there did not disappoint. A neighborhood of usual suspects was more than happy to entertain us.
White Breasted Nuthatch, (Donna).
Another look.
Male Cardinal.
White-throated sparrow, (Donna).
Another look.
Tufted Titmouse, (Donna).
What are you looking at?
Downy Woodpecker
Take 2.
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There was also activity on the pond.
Male Hooded Merganser.
Male and female Gadwalls
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It is hard not to be enchanted when one finds color suspended in an otherwise drab gray landscape. Most leaves were down but those on the smaller beech trees hang on and even though their color is no match for the brilliant reds of a maple they did their best to supply color.
Color suspended among slender trees.
A closer look.
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Recent rains meant that some areas still contained “ponds” of standing water on and along the path creating a challenge for dry feet but also provided a unique “looking-glass” into the late autumn woods.
November reflection.
November reflection, black and white.
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November reflection 2.
November reflection 2, black and white .
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In the cold November woods there always is more going on than we know. We move too fast and miss much, wishing for warmer days.
Char-Mar Ridge Park.
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Thanks for stopping by.
The Wisdom of The Moment and Time Passing
Posted on November 17, 2018
Recently on a cold blustery day, after a storm blanketed the landscape with ice and snow, we found ourselves walking through the woods along a high ridge where for thousands of years people long since gone, had come with all their hopes, dreams, aspirations, and those they loved, to quarry flint, for arrow heads, knives, and other tools.
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Around now flooded quarry pits, in the magic of frozen crystalline beauty, it was hard not to sense their presence and hear their voices as they spoke the wisdom of the moment and time passing.
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Ice and snow, Flint Ridge State Park.
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Thanks for stopping by.
First Ice
Posted on November 11, 2018
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Today as we walked along the river,
the hard dry frozen ground
held wilted still green plants.
Out of the north
the wind had a bite
as fast-moving clouds
playing with the sun
and us
giving first
just a hint of warmth
then not.
While ducks swam in frigid air,
small birds hid,
and the river continued its flow
leaving near waters edge
the seasons calling card.
RSP
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