Come Walk With Me

This is something I wrote months ago, and forgot to post...

On a cold morning in late winter, I was overcome with an urge to take Carter to the forest, and to walk as slowly and exploratively as I wanted. I did not expect nor desire to go far. I simply didn’t have the strength yet. So, I grabbed my phone, my walking stick, and my dear walking companion and headed off. Often, I post the photos with brief descriptions on my FB page, but this time, I wanted to go deeper into how I “see” and experience the forest when I am alone.

Here, we head into the woods.

There is something so special about stepping out of the paved and mowed and sprayed ball park, and putting your feet on dirt and old roots. Silence suddenly surrounds as the tree bark muffles the sounds of cars and and street noises.

Carter kept his attention on me, trotting up ahead a few yards and then turning back to check on me.

Ivy, ivy everywhere

Yes, this forest is flooded with ivy, and many of the trees have been overtaken and killed. But many are saved every year. We have a group called “the Ivy League” who voluntarily patrol these woods and on certain times of the year, work to cut the ivy off of the trees, and keep the few trails open.

A country of moss and lichens

Many times, I tromped through the ivy to reach a tree I hadn’t “met” before. Look at this beauty! A whole garden of green beings thrive here. I’d love to “wallpaper” my house in slabs of this bark, it is so gorgeous. Look closely as I did, and feel the awe in your heart grow.

These English daisies are called weeds here. Silly people!

Here in the empty parking lot to a local closed lake (where I sneak in all the time), I found this strong, determined bloom. She just made me smile! Here in the worst of winter, this daisy shouts of spring!

Here was a surprise!

I had to get off the path quite a way to meet this fully hollow, fern-topped, ivy-tangled gift to the forest. I’ve written before that a dying tree offers the forest creatures 10-times the benefits of young, thriving trees. The many nooks and hollows, the ferns, the tangles of branches—some possum somewhere has noticed this tree! And I’m positive it’s a squirrel’s cache tree, as there are so many nuts and seeds stashed there.

Turkeys of the Forest

You all know I am a zealot for mushrooms, and I found this lovely log full of fresh turkey tail mushrooms. These are medicinal powerhouses, but I rarely gather them. I don’t need them, but I get giddy each time I find them.

The whole log was rimmed with these fresh beauties.

This is also the time I notice sap drops from many trees. I often collect some of this resin each year. It smells heavenly, it is a fine incense, and a great firestarter. This tree looks like she is making a white lace dress for herself!

Lace, snow, you decide!

I wandered and the only words on my lips where “Thank you.” Just thank you for being, and for showing your beauty to me.

Every  journey must come to a stop and mine ended up here with a stone and a few blooming  daisies. I love seeing that in all the brown, dead, compost making stuff, green things are poking through to tease of spring. Thank you for walking with me!