Summer Surprises: TWO Big Trees Go BOOM on Nature Trail!

Don't worry!  Old Man Poplar is not one of

the trees that took a tumble on the nature trail

this summer.  As you can see, my able daughter

Amanda (center) and my Georgia nieces Lindsey

(left) and Brantley (right) are in full support of

the Old Man.

But there are definitely things happening or

not happening on the trail these hot summer days.

For one thing, the stream has run dry.  If you 

care to do some dry stream hiking, now's the

time.  Unfortunately, you must watch out for

sharp objects in the stream bed.  Perhaps I'll

give it a good check before school starts.

One plus of a dry stream is that iconic

Big Rock is easily accessible.

Lindsey, Brantley, Amanda, and I took time

to document our visit-- and treacherous climb!

When we walked the trail Friday, we were

stopped short by a fallen tree across the trail

to the old bridge.  So today, I headed to school

with my chainsaw to re-open the path if possible.

I knew there was a strong chance of rain, and I

had just begun cutting when a steady rain began.

I was a long way from any man-made shelter, so

I took refuge UNDER the roots of this giant

tree which had fallen earlier in the summer

(not to be confused with the newly fallen tree).

Here is the view looking out.  I'm going to 

prune some of the low-hanging roots so hikers

can comfortably and safely walk under it.

As it was, I got a lot of dirt in my hair.  But

it served its purpose just fine.

The first shower ended and I got the path

open once again.  Then a much heavier

rain began.  I covered my chainsaw, but

decided to proceed with clearing the limbs.

I was thoroughly soaked, but at that point

it didn't really matter.

 The former "top" of the tree still extends

far across the trail.  I intend to clear the

area enough so that hardy adventurers can

walk it (at their own risk)!

 The "root" end of the tree had

been on the north bank of the

stream.  Its fall and uprooting

widens the channel of the stream

by several feet at that point, and

could have a lasting effect on the

stream's course.  I'll be watching.

I took this photo from the dry stream 

bed where the tree had toppled.  I'm 

sure many other trees are vulnerable

to the same fate, but that's part of nature.

Another observation I made is that kudzu

has run rampant over the summer months.

In places where it has sent out runners, but

hasn't attached, I can prune it and fight back.

But I have found sprigs of it in locations far

from the main source of kudzu, suggesting

that some has been spread by wind, rain,

and animals.  It's worth fighting to stop the

Evil Plant that Wants to Take Over the World!

The one thing in my favor is that the first

frost will arrest the onslaught of kudzu.

But that is a long way off!

Kudzu is not the only vine that relentlessly

seeks to extend its territory.  Here, honey-

suckle sends out several runners.  Some

vines are more problematic than others.

You may have seen galls such as the one

below.  They contain an adult gall wasp.

Read about the fascinating life cycle of the

gall wasp here.

I have not yet tried to identify the bright

yellow fungus I found around these alder

plants.  Maybe you can beat me to it.

Last spring, many students saw the distinctive

hooded flowers of Jack-in-the-Pulpit.  In the

fall, red berries will be found.  But for now,

the berry clusters are green.

I did treat myself to a sourwood snack

after working for a good while.  Some of

my brave hikers sampled it last week--

with few comments.

Two years ago, the Cub Scouts constructed

this makeshift dam to help with erosion

control.  Today, I saw that stronger measures

will be needed (as I already knew).

Rain run-off from the school parking lot

quickly became a small lake.  Perhaps a

strategically-placed drainage ditch will be 

our next project.  The scouts had proposed

a short boardwalk over the portion of the

trail where the problem exists.  We'll see.

Here's the drainage problem via video.

If you've only seen the nature trail in fall

or spring, or perhaps never at all, why not

work in a relaxing and refreshing evening

hike before summer is over.  I'll be sprucing

up the trail between now and the start of

school, but it's ready for hiking and seeing

the unexpected any time.

Spring Wonders of the Nature Trail, including a new Reptilian Resident!

These pictures will  give you a glimpse of 

some spring highlights on the trail.  Don't miss

the ending.  Spoiler alert: Sergeant Stripes is

a legless reptile.

These dainty bellwort plants thrive at the base
of Jack, Will, and Tom.

Lady ferns were emerging in April.

See how they've thickened up by May.  But
dainty Lady Ferns will never grow as tall as a
couple of other types of ferns we have: Cinnamon
Fern and Royal Fern (the latter have not appeared yet).

Netted-chain fern

Cinnamon fern, one of the taller and more rigid
varieties unfurl their fronds.

These maroon "fiddle-tops" are new ferns and
will soon turn green.

A view of the trail's canopy, not yet filled with leaves.

Spiny smilax, or catbrier, sends up
tender new shoots.  They will harden with age
and give a painful prick.

Everyone can identify dogwood when it's blooming.
Learn to recognize it by its paired leaves and you can
find it year round.

Sweetgum sends out new shoots and leaves. This
tree recently made a top ten list of what NOT to
plant in your yard.  This is due to the spiny gumballs.
But in the wild, it contributes to the marvelous blend
of greenery.

Carolina Yellow Jasmine is one of numerous vines
apparent on the trail in spring.  Virtually all the
flowers have now fallen.

A view looking straight up at Old Man Poplar,
our leaning landmark.

In this panorama of the trail you can see Old Man
Poplar leaning at the left.  Note that the forest canopy
is only beginning to fill in with leaves.

Wild ginger, a low-growing herb, is actually only
found across the bridge, which is technically not
on our trail.

The brownish green flower, called a pignut, is quite
elusive, often found under a light layer of leaves.
Its main pollinator is ants, so it doesn't have to attract
flying insects.

This healthy ginger boasts several of the pignuts,
which I sometimes refer to as "little piggies."

Just across the old bridge, bushes of Horse Sugar
have two sets of leaves.  The old, leathery ones seem
to be bowing down to the new tender ones.  Plants
that keep their old leaves until the new ones appear
are called semi-deciduous.

Christmas fern is another plant found only on the
far side of the bridge, not on our marked trail.  It's
interesting that the stream itself seems to be a barrier
that prevents some plants from spreading more widely.

Just to the side of the footbridge is a beautiful
shrub called Pinkster Flower, or Wild Azalea. I've
located four specimens of this bush.  They bloom
only for a brief time during early spring.

Another Pinkster Flower near the stream.

Jack-in-the-Pulpit, a favorite, is a late
arrival, but is starting to pop up everywhere.

This Jack-in-the-Pulpit is shooting
skyward.  Some of the healthiest
specimens grow quite tall.

This fallen poplar branch shows both leaves and
flowers.

The yellow-orange blossom of the poplar is one
of the prettiest in our common nature trail trees.

Near Jack, Will, and Tom, the wildflower
known as Green and Gold mingles with
the five-leaved vine Virginia Creeper.

Green and Gold has been in bloom for
a full month.

This spot is off the trail.  It is where our stream
comes under Farm Life School Road in a
bubbling swirl.  The stream has not run dry this year.

Just across the stream from that spot (you may view it
from a car when passing), is this unusual tree.  Yes,
that is a natural hole in the middle, where a tree
divided into two trunks, then grew back together.
Any suggestions for a name?  I thought of The
Holy Tree.

Have you visited the trail to try out the comfortable
new benches?

It was wisely suggested that I add a center support
to the benches so adults wouldn't make it sag.
That task has now been accomplished, so have
no fear.

We love to point out how the trail is in a constant
state of change.  This moss-covered log is one of
the few remnants of a giant tree that fell near the
water's edge at least 20 years ago.  Most of it has
now decayed, enriching the soil for other plants.

Part of the same tree is now on shore.  It lay across
the stream for many years, but had rotted to the
point that heavy rains washed it into the creek.
Scouts helped give it a "permanent" home overlooking
the stream, so people wouldn't be tempted to walk
on it and be injured.  Of course, in nature nothing
is really permanent.  The rest of the log will gradually
rot away.

This is the trail's canopy in May, about five weeks
after the earlier panorama.  Quite a difference.

The trail is a shady, cool refuge now that the canopy
has filled in.  Most of the time it will feel several
degrees cooler than unshaded areas of the campus,
and there is often a breeze.

One plant that I try to control but not eliminate is
poison ivy.  I try to contain it to areas where those
sensitive to it will not accidentally come in contact
with it.  But it's a good reason not to touch every
thing you see on the trail.  Those berries remind us
that it will spread when allowed.

Learn to identify if, whether you think you're allergic
or not.  You may be able to save a friend or yourself
from painful itching.

The old adage "leaves of three, let it be" has long
been a warning about poison ivy.  But it is not
sufficient and may keep you from enjoying other
harmless and pleasant plants.  The plant pictured
here is KUDZU (the plant that wants to take over
the world).  Though I will try to control its spread,
I cannot eliminate it. It's another example of how
man has affected nature by bringing non-native
plants into our environment, with unexpected and
unpleasant results.  Our little favorite, Jack-in-
the Pulpit, also has three leaves.  Study hard to
learn the differences.

Now to meet our new trail resident.

A new black rat snake has been painlessly removed
from a chicken house in Wedgewood to a new
home on our trail.

He had recently eaten a large hen egg, and you can
see the bulge in his middle.  As a constrictor, he is
comfortable twining around my arm.  I have a firm
grip on his head.

The same evening I captured-- or rescued--
him, I released him on Old Man Poplar.

Rat snakes are great climbers.  He uses the muscles
which line his entire length to cling to the rough bark.

I have handled hundreds of black rat snakes, and
this one, more than any other, seems to be a hybrid.
His markings resemble those of a corn snake as well
as a black rat snake.  He could be quite a rare specimen.

I decided to call him Sergeant Stripes, due

to his highly visible markings.  Here is a

40 second video of his release on the trail.

Don't let uneasiness about snakes keep you

away from the trail. Chances are slim you'll 

see one, but even if you do, it will most likely

be a harmless one.  Instead of making an excuse

not  to visit the trail, why not find a reason TO

visit the trail.  And soon.  This is prime time

on the Sandhills Farm Life Nature Trail!