Springtime has arrived everywhere, and on the Sandhills
Farm Life Nature Trail, that always brings exciting changes.
the next 8 to 12 weeks will feature new plants emerging
virtually every week. And it will be a shady place of refuge
as the weather gets hotter.
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| We're still celebrating the 35th year since the trail was dedicated, so what better time for YOU to get acquainted or re-acquainted with this special place? |
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| When trees fall, we just clear the path, and say "Forward, hike!" |
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| Heavy rains over the last year may haul tons of rock out of the stream, but interestingly, the mason jar I found a couple of years ago and placed beside this stump remains undisturbed. |
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| One of our earliest emergent wildflowers in the spring is Green and Gold. Yes, that is its name. |
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| These fiddletops of cinnamon fern signal the "coming-out" of thousands of ferns of at least seven varieties (three of which are beyond the stream and off of school property). |
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| For a trail to be enjoyed and used by humans, it needs to be a little user-friendly. This problem area has been victim of much standing water with numerous heavy rains causing the stream to overflow more often in recent years. |
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| I decided now was the time to offer a more lasting solution to that puddling problem. No one wants to get muddy shoes to enjoy a trail. Especially not a kindergarten teacher with 15 to 20 children! Here are some of the materials I assembled. I had already hauled one load of 2x6 boards, which I had pre-cut and pre-drilled to simplify my task. |
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| These 4x4 timbers will give a firm foundation to a new "baby boardwalk." |
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| I've used these satchels for many years to haul firewood at home. Now, they aided me in hauling paving stones down to the work site. These stones will keep the timbers out of the mud and prolong the life of the boardwalk. |
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| It looks like my measurements are going to work. All those years of 3rd grade math really came in handy! |
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| Judy had given me a cordless drill this year and it proved invaluable on this project. I needed only a short while to screw in 128 3 and a 1/2 inch screws. |
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| Here is the finished product. You'll still have to watch for mud in other areas. I'll be waiting to see if the next flood floats the boardwalk out of position. If it does, it will be a simple matter to anchor it, but it may not be necessary. |
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| The very next day after I completed the new boardwalk was Easter, and I was thrilled that my Kirby grandchildren got to visit the trail. Ryan is now an old friend of Jack, Will, and Tom, venerable poplar(s). |
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| The trail is no longer blocked by fallen trees from a year ago, but with supervision, children can test their balance on several tree trunks that are not dangerously high. |
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| Evan finds a comfortable perch on the one tree I didn't totally clear away. You can either DUCK or take a very short detour. Hence the name, Low Bridge. I got that name from the folk song "The Erie Canal." |
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| Claire, Evan, and Ryan will have many memories of this trail as they grow up. Like all my former students, my grandchildren have a responsibility as "Keepers of the Nature Trail." |
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| Before you get your gold-panning gear together, let me explain that it's iron giving the stream its golden hue. In the sunlight it's quite striking. |
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| Pay heed to this disclaimer: Big Rock can be both slippery and hazardous, whether wet or dry. I do NOT encourage teachers to allow students to attempt to climb on it. Adult supervision (and liability insurance) are mandatory! That said, parents can safely assist your own children for a photo op. Just use all due caution and move slowly. Getting wet is a possibility, but we don't want anything worse to occur! |
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| For a while, Ryan was content to study the waters. Maybe there IS a trace of gold!? |
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| Ah, temptation! |
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| What!? How did he do that! Where there's a will there's a way. And not a single injury! |
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| Almost at the end of our trek. Ryan and Claire ascend Old Man Poplar, who is still sprouting new growth this spring. |
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| I don't know how many more years we'll have this opportunity. Old Man Poplar lost 40-50% of its trunk to rot. Can the rest be far behind? |
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| This was Ryan's day for big challenges. And his balance was flawless (it's a good thing!). |
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| The SFL Nature Trail is happy to welcome a new generation of hikers and nature lovers. Maybe you and your family will find your way there in the coming weeks. Weekends and after- school hours are recommended for all but school classroom groups. You'll find the trail refreshing, inspiring, educational, and surprising! |
