2021 SFL School Heritage Day

 Sandhills Farm Life's 2021 Heritage Day arrived last

week, and I was privileged to be invited to take all 2nd

and 3rd graders on the SFL Nature Trail. The weather was

perfect, and even better on the trail.

The trail is in excellent shape for spring visits. And
when school is out, it's open to the public.

A year of healthy rainfalls has led to a lush, green,
and healthy glow to our trail.

There were a variety of activities for Heritage Day,
but this dairy activity was the one closest to me.

With my father having grown up on a dairy, I was
fully supportive of the message of this presentation.

At 8:30 I had my first group of eager learners on
the trail. This group has just gotten closely acquainted
with Jack, Will, and Tom, our iconic 3 in 1 poplar tree.

Up and around, then back to the main trail gives
everyone a good look.

And no one should miss looking skyward like this.
An amazing view.

As a group leaves the trail, they can't help but look
back and wish they could stay a little longer.

Everyone also has to do their part to try to elevate
dear Old Man Poplar. And when I say everyone, that
includes Principal Julie MacPherson. In her first year
she has already proven herself an avid supporter of
the nature trail and the learning it can foster.

It may seem futile to hope we'll ever straighten Old

Man Poplar's bent back, but he told me he appreciates

the effort.

One look is all it takes to see how The Slingshot
Tree got its name. It's a blackjack oak, one of several
varieties on the trail.

This crew has just ducked to come under Low Bridge,
one of several trees that fell in storms that swept through
our area in 2020. 

This is another feature of Low Bridge that was just
christened on the day we hike: The Copperhead.
Can you see it? Look for the eye and the open mouth.

We christened another new feature in the same area.
Our trail has its very own Traffic Circle, where you
can go round and round to your heart's content. Once
you make up your mind where you want to go, pick
your "exit" and proceed in any direction on the trail.
I usually head for the stream.

The plant varieties change gradually as we approach
the stream. This cinnamon fern is an eye-catcher. We
saw four fern varieties, and there are seven in all on
our trail or slightly beyond.

This fern thrives on some prime real estate just across
from Big Rock, where it is well watered.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit is another interesting plant the
children enjoyed meeting. This one has a pale green
hooded flower, with "Jack" standing inside the "pulpit."

This young scholar isn't moving on until he sees
"Jack" face to face. Good for him!

Here's a bonus. A small percentage of Jack-in-the-
Pulpit have a recessive gene that gives them a deep
purple flower. If you find one, you're likely to find
more nearby, something like four-leaf clovers.

I haven't yet identified this beautiful flowering shrub,
but it's right beside the trail. I told the children that
it's easy to miss things that are right in front of us if
we're not paying very close attention. And the students
pointed out numerous things that they saw before me.
Especially "snake holes."

Though our 1985 nature trail did include territory 
across the stream, it was never school property. Now
there is still a bridge, but only with teacher or parent
supervision should children cross the stream at any time.

The tour doesn't include sitting on Big Rock, but
with parental supervision, it might be permissible.
Warning: slippery when wet OR dry!

Yet another new attraction is "The Diving Board",
adjacent to Big Rock. Just two years ago this tree
was still alive, after falling across the stream. Now
it had begun to rot, so I "pruned" it to remove the
hazard of having to walk under it.

As we left Big Rock and The Diving Board, I suggested
that all students who wanted to make a wish should pick
up a "stickerball," the seed containers of the sweetgum
trees. Here, they toss it in as they make their wish.

Green and Gold is a simple name for a simply breath-
taking wild flower that grows near Jack, Will, and Tom.
Every year it spreads, but blooms only for a few days.

It took a little research to identify this baby. It's a
gall, or growth created when a wool sower wasp lays
its eggs on a white oak tree. Some students in Texas
saw some and said it was a Truffula tree from Dr. Seuss's
book "The Lorax." Before you know it, the story was
on CBS News! Well, don't tell everyone-- that's not the
publicity we're looking for! 

This is Sourwood Sally, one of many juvenile sourwood
trees along the trail. There was only time for the last class
to have a brief sourwood snack, chewing a juicy, but sour
leaf. The other classes had a schedule to keep. Like all treats,
it isn't for everybody.

In 150 minutes, every 2nd and 3rd grader got a 
brief but enriching intro to the trail. Most expressed
a desire to come again and stay longer. Mrs. MacPherson
and my niece and former student Ms. Emma Short pose
with me for a parting shot. Emma is a perfect example of
how the nature trail is not something for one year of school.
It's multi-generational. Children and grandchildren of
students I taught since 1975 are already sharing their
experiences with a new generation. I invite you to come
for your "next" visit or your "first" visit, whatever applies.

By the way, Emma presented me with a gift of jellybeans.
How appropriate.
I took them home and immediately planted them, hoping for more!