Early Fall Walk

We took a stroll in the last week of September at a local university’s nature preserve. One of the first sights is the vernal pool, where salamanders – efts as well as large spotted salamanders the university considers important enough to close the roads for during their breeding season in early spring.

No salamanders, but a frog sat quietly, ruminating.

This dragonfly posed hospitably, too.

The next part of the trail follows a stream dammed up years ago by beavers.

This tree always catches my eye. It’s been totally gutted by woodpeckers.

Nevertheless, it still produces at least a few leaves.

The base of this tree caught my eye because it, too, testified to staying power. Beavers have gnawed around the base, and bracket fungus proliferates. The riot of mosses and fungi produce beautiful textures and colors.

On to the boardwalk across the pond/marsh.

Just a touch of fall color so far.

We paused to look back, imagining how brilliant the hillside will be before long.

Asters were growing everywhere.

We headed back along the other side of the pond, looking through trees thinned, years ago, by beavers, and feeling refreshed by the return to a familiar place.

There’s something satisfying and stabilizing about observing these trails as they undergo seasonal change and natural succession.