Saturday, April 23, 2016

Getting Serious (An Earth Day Celebration One Day Late)

"The great pulsation of nature beats too in my breast, and when I carol aloud, I am answered by a thousand-fold echo. I hear a thousand nightingales. Spring hath sent them to awaken Earth from her morning slumber, and Earth trembles with ecstasy, her flowers are hymns, which she sings in inspiration to the sun... "
- Heinrich Heine

Mama Gaia is finally getting serious about Spring in these parts. The daylight temperatures seem to have settled into the mid 60s to mid 70s (18º - 24º C), with no more freezing or sub-freezing nights. And the non-domestic, native flowering trees have finally started to bloom, most notably Redbud and Dogwood. And as yesterday was Earth Day, the timing was perfect. Unfortunately I was working yesterday, so today's walk through the Dykeman Spring Nature Park is my annual post to celebrate the glory of our planet. Enjoy!

Branch Creek by McLean House; note the Dogwood to the right
Entering the park on the Dykeman Walking Trail
A view of the Dykeman Walking Trail
The newly lush forest floor along the Dykeman Walking Trail
A view across part of the Dykeman Spring wetland, with blooming Redbud
A Gray Catbird merrily nattering away in the Dykeman Spring wetland
The creek in the Dykeman Spring wetland
My favorite corner of the north duck pond, with some visiting Canada Geese
A forest floor scene in the woods by the upland meadow
© 2016 by A. Roy Hilbinger 

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