J will lead, Indian style. He likes to sneak quietly through the woods and has recently spotted deer, fox, and owls — but I'm afraid with me stumbling over every root and snapping every twig beneath my (sandaled) feet, it's unlikely we're going to be sneaking up on much.
Though something was here, doing some shedding. A deer I think.
Enormous trees were standing here as well, before the woodsman felled them, littering the woods with their limbs. Not to worry. The sun will shine, unobstructed, on the forest floor and a new generation of trees and shrubs will rise to take their place. At least that's what I'm told.
This summer's rain has rolled out green carpet along he sloped sides of the muddy trails the woodsman digs with his tractor.
And though I find a smooth frog in some shady underbrush, he hops away before I can focus the lens. While I'm chasing him, J spots a snail.
When speaking in the woods I tend to forget consonants and mostly stick to vowels.Aaaaaaaa: beautiful. "Aaaaaaaa! Look at the light filtering through those leaves."
Ooooooo: I've just found something I really like. "Oooooo! A frog! A mushroom!"
Eeeeeeee: scary. "Eeeeeee! A snake!"
Uuuuuuu: tired. "Uuuuuuu! Are we on the way home? I'm starving."
And as we do get closer to home, we pass under what I like to think of as the St. Louis Arch of trees, bent perfectly over the trail.
6 comments:
I love when you go for walks in the woods. It reminds me of when I was a child and lived in Alabama!
We had a large natural wooded area behind the house that stretched on forever (at least to a 9 year old) and I would loose myself out there for hours, sitting on mossy logs, picking my way through the brambles and discovering hidden flowers.
Those woods were an oasis for me because at that time, my parents were divorcing. Please keep taking those pictures, I love them. :)
No photos from me, but I too, blogged today about observing wildlife/nature. Your walk sounds lovely, but I never had to leave my lawnchair. Don't know which pic I like best - that brilliant colored fungus or J's bare foot. :)
Thanks Sarah and Sheila. Sarah, it's funny, I've been walking through the woods behind the house for 9 years now but since I started sharing the walks on the blog I see them with entirely new eyes. I try to imagine what my readers would want to see or what would catch their attention if they were out there...otherwise I begin to take the walks for granted because I'm so used to them.
But I'm also thinking I need to hike in different places so we can all see something different!
Sheila, I am coming over to check out your post right now!
Oh Miss M! I dream of walking in deciduous woods, with the changing dappled light, gorgeous trees, mysterious creatures and unassuming little plants emerging from the forest floor.
One of my fabourite books is Rick Darke's The American Woodland Garden - do you know it? He brings a wonderful perspective to observing woodlands and thinking about their influence on garden design.
I think one day you might like to go hiking in New Zealand or Australia ..... the 'bush' landscape here is like another world. I'm sure you'd love it!
I love walks in the woods...when i was growing up, our house had woods on two sides and i spent hours out there, looking at animals, plants, flowers...the wonderful deep rich smell of the leaf litter from oaks and a few residual American chesnut trees. I for sure wouldn't want to do it barefoot, though, between rocks, sticks, and deer ticks. Thank you for taking us along!
i really enjoyed the walk!
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