Landscapes

  • Landscapes,  Ponds & Streams,  Walks

    Summer Falls

    This is a 3/4 mile walk along a gorge, but that short span includes something like a 600 foot rise in elevation. We climbed a lot of stairs, then walked down the other side on a more gradual trail. It was an absolutely lovely day.

  • Landscapes,  Plants,  Vernal pool,  Walks,  Woods

    Salamander Season

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    We discovered yesterday that we’d completely missed a chapter of spring. It seems early, but there were lots of signs of the season advancing, including salamanders cruising about among the dead leaves in one of our favorite pools.

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    Eggs had already hatched into plump tadpoles.

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    Some frogs were floating about. This one’s trying to remain incognito, and she almost succeeded in getting stepped on.

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    There were various signatures of creatures who were out and about and carving their names on trees.

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    The wind had left its mark too. This tree had been split in two and turned into a drinking trough.

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    And this was one of many that had been plucked up by the roots.

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    We saw some kinglets, and a few geese squabbling endlessly over their own patch of pond. We also saw a new beaver lodge, and lots of signs of the beaver’s activity on trees along the bank:

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    It was sunny and mild, and the green was just starting to show in the landscape.

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    On the whole it was a thoroughly enjoyable walk! Even though our winter has been unusually mild, the sight of new growth always marks a welcome change.

    Coltsfoot
    A friend tells me this flower is called coltsfoot. It’s one of the earliest spots of color to be seen in the mud along the roadsides.
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  • Landscapes

    Watkins Glen

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    Though it was absolutely mobbed with people, its spectacular falls, heights, depths, darknesses, brightnesses, grays and colors were on display. It was great that so many people were out appreciating the wonders of a state park on a holiday weekend. I heard wonder expressed in many languages, by people of all ages. It was well worth the trip on a prime fall weekend.IMG_1411 IMG_1412ed IMG_1415

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  • Landscapes,  Walks

    Bald Mountain

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    Another place we visited on our Adirondack vacation was Bald Mountain. It was a popular place the day we were there! There is a fire tower on the granite crest of the hill that you can climb to look out over the Fulton Chain of lakes. I’ve climbed it in the past, but not this year — the nice solid ground provides a sufficient vantage point for me!

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    Bloom where you’re planted!

     

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    Touches of fall
    Touches of fall
    Our most sure-footed hiker
    Our most sure-footed hiker
  • Landscapes,  Plants,  Walks,  Woods

    Revisiting Ferd’s Bog

    Lucy, our trusty hiking companion, urges us on
    Lucy, our trusty hiking companion, urges us on

    One of the places I love to visit in the Adirondacks is Ferd’s Bog, a 50-acre tract of boreal forest surrounding a black spruce bog. I first visited it in 2011, and the bog was filled with pitcher plants; I posted a picture of them here, at my other blog. I haven’t seen the pitcher plants for the last three years, though, and I suspect that people may be venturing off the boardwalk (judging from the many trampled trails I saw into the grasses) and taking them. It’s both foolish (since they won’t grow anywhere else — they grow in the bog because it’s acidic) and selfish (since it alters the ecosystem, prevents others from experiencing it, and even breaks the law by taking plants from a protected area). I hate to sound so negative, but it’s sad to see. I’m not sure whether the process can be reversed or not.

    Nevertheless, the walk through the woods into the bog retains its primeval character. There are apparently many interesting birds that inhabit the area, but I haven’t seen any of them: gray jays, boreal chickadees, black-backed and three-toed woodpeckers, for example. But the many plants, trees and mosses always grab my attention and make the walk seem magical.

    Here are a few pics from my most recent foray in.

    Trail
    Trail
    Lichen
    Lichen
    You descend into the bog -- and climb back out
    You descend into the bog — and climb back out
    A stump beautifully furred with mosses
    A stump beautifully furred with mosses
    Wood between the worlds
    Wood between the worlds
    Boardwalk into the open bog
    Boardwalk into the open bog
    Micro-world
    Micro-world
    Creeping snowberry
    Creeping snowberry
    Stump host for all kinds of plants
    Stump host for all kinds of plants

     

    Open bog -- the black flecks are dragonflies. The air was thick with them.
    Open bog — the black flecks are dragonflies. The air was thick with them.
    Quietness -- no sound but a single white-throated sparrow
    Quietness — no sound but a single white-throated sparrow
    Big sky country
    Big sky country
    Boardwalk leading back into the woods
    Boardwalk leading back into the woods
    Follow the yellow -- er, white -- brick road
    Follow the yellow — er, white — brick road
    The trail back out
    The trail back out
    Red toadstool
    Red toadstool
    A tree bearded with mosses
    A tree bearded with mosses
    Red berries -- not sure what kind
    Red berries — not sure what kind

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    Polished roots
    Polished roots
    Evergreens
    Evergreens
    Baby evergreens
    Baby evergreens
    Log overtaken with other plants
    Log overtaken with other plants
    Decomposition
    Decomposition

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    Woodland benediction
    Woodland benediction

    Some pics of Ferd’s Bog from last year are included here. Some from the year before are here.