New Year's Day Nature Walk

White seed heads of Golden Rod dancing in the breeze.

On this first day of 2012, my husband and I headed out for a leisurely hike on the Monticello trail system.  We decided instead to walk the trails of the 215 acre Ivy Creek Natural Area because it is just a few miles away from Forsythia Hill.  It was fairly busy but most of our 1.5 mile walk was peaceful and relaxing.  I so enjoy walking in the quiet forest removed from the man made noise of the world.  You don't realize how much sound you have to contend with until you get in a totally isolated place where all you can hear is the rustling of leaves and chirping of birds.  Quiet has a certain sound to it that is very hard for me to describe.  All I can think of is "white" or sssshhhhh - a blankness but a sound that I crave.

Running Cedar or Clubmoss.

Being a plant lover and collector, I love walking the woods in the winter trying to discover what the forest is hiding beneath the layer of fallen leaves.  I tend to think that most people focus downward on the foot path and miss many of the plants that are less than a foot off the trail. 

Navite Wild Ginger, easy to spot.

I spotted a nice clump of one of my favorite woodland plants, Gound Cedar,  Diphasiastrum digitatum.  Quite commonly spotted along our walk was native Wild Ginger and Striped Wintergreen.  There were many pretty seed pods such as Golden Rod and one red berry that I could not identify.  Pine cones and tree fungus were a common theme.

The coolest of cool tree fungus.

As I write this I hear the wind picking up outside and the forcast is a deep dip in temperature.  It was so nice getting outside today exploring in just a sweater, in JANUARY.  Now there is no sound of "white" and more of a sound of howling cold dark winter finally approaching.

Dream of Spring! 

-Rebecca