A Walk In The Park

Autumn in the Park.  Ducks in the Park.  My Romeo looking at ducks in the Park.  Great morning

to be in the Park

Friday's Hard Frost

Friday's hard frost after a relatively warm September and October cause some trees unprepared!

 Here the ground is littered with the leaves of White Mulberry, Morus alba, unable to turn color before being zapped by the cold.

And here a lot of large Paulownia, Paulownia tomentosa, tree leaves lay among the autumn foliage--likewise ambushed by sudden temps of 20˚ or below.

Rosh Hashana Snap Shot

While I'm not Jewish, today is a blessing for me in that I have it off of work as a Holiday. To my dear Jewish friends, "G'mar Hatima Tova"! And know that you are sealed in the book of my heart, too.

Poor Romeo's been such a trooper with me in my present malaise. He can't possibly know that he's the vector of my distress--though I have taken to washing his paws! So we took a nice long walk today. The jingle of his harness makes him swoon. And in spite of his enthusiasm it would probably be easier to train a seal to leap through a hoop than get him to hold still while I slip the harness over his neck!

On the way down we ran into a fawn on the edge of the woods in the lot on the other side of my neighbor's house. It was covered in spots and seemed rather small to me for this late in the summer. There was no sign on a doe anywhere. Romeo finds these creatures uninteresting, but is patient while I stand a speak gently to it. The fawn looks up, flicks its tail, and returns to eating. Greets made, we continue on down the hill.

In the park I am amazed by the moisture in the ground. By this time of the year the creek is often a dribble, and the ground is parched and hard as slate. This year the soil remains dark and clearly moist--and it hasn't rained for about a week, which makes this even more unusual. It's owing to the constant rain we received throughout the end of July and especially into the latter weeks of August and early September. Another benefit is how lush and verdant the woods are. Trees that have normally started losing their foliage for want of water are still full. Notably the sycamores, which are always, a harbinger of early autumn stress.

Asiatic Daylily

Knotweed

The flowers are also in full glory like I've never remembered before. The Asiatic Daylilies and Knotweed are snaking there way up through the tall grass in a veritable battle for pathway supremacy. But the jewel of the trail is my favorite autumn wildflower, the Trefoil Tickseed. And all together the three make a lovely boarder to the path.

Trefoil Tickseed

On the way back we pass a neighbor working in the flowerbeds that frame the walk to her front door. She remembers my desire to start a patch of Cleomes in my own gardens and has shred the seeds of hers with me in the past. "Did they ever take?" she asks.

"No," I report.

"Would you like some more seeds?" she asks.

"If I thought they'd grow, I would. But I don't think I have the right conditions," I say.

"You might need a sunnier spot," she offers.

"That's true," I say, "So I think I'll just have to settle for enjoying yours."

She smiles and we leave it at that.

Back home I drop Romeo off and drive over to a nearby grocery for some odds and ends for super. When I drive back onto my street, I notice my neighbor standing in his front door, and I wave. 

Once I get out of my truck, I see what has captured his attention. The fawn is now grazing in our neighbor's yard across from us. With relief I see her mother is with her, but to my surprise, she is scarcely larger that her offspring--and this in a year of such abundance.

The Day After The Flood

 The waters rose and the waters fell.

New Wild Flowers from Sligo Creek Park

Ground Ivy, Glechoma hederedea

Spring Beauty, Claytonia virginica

Henbit, Lamium purpurea

Creeping Buttercup, Ranunculus repens

Eastern Daisy Fleabane, Erigeron annuus

Down To The Creek...Sligo Creek

 Down for a walk in the park with my boy, Romeo.  It was good to see the water up a bit, just Sunday, I was thinking that it was low as I can recall in quite some time.

 While there we chanced upon a herd of deer--8 in all!  And a fine, and very shy, 6-point buck was among the group.  They skirted the ridge for the most part, keep a watchful eye on us.  Romeo was oblivious--too much to smell in the here and now to notice deer 50 yards away.

A parting glance at the last deer.  Can you see her?

Vultures Are Beautiful--in Their Own Way

 Over the years, Romeo and I have encountered all manner of creatures in the park--many up close and personal, and some like the squirrels and deer on a regular basis. Today's gift was an unusual first look and Vultures! A pair working over the carcass of some small animal right next to the hiking trail. They were nearly completely non-plussed by us--although they excited Romeo in a particularly acute way. I had to reprimand him 3 or 4 times when he no longer gives deer or even squirrels the time of day. I half wondered if they awakened some memory in him from his younger days fending for himself. The smell of bile and shit was strong in the air to further stimulate his senses.

Some people think these birds ugly. But I have to say I found their appearance rather noble--the untouchables of the avian world. When we got at our closest to them, while still remaining on the trail, they stopped their work and turn their attention to us. And not in a way that was threatening, they both began to "bark" at us! I was so surprised. The call they made in little bursts sounded exactly like a low-pitched dog's bark. Who knew? The identity of the carrion was undistinguishable, though it was mammalian from the fur and set of the ribs, hip and femurs.

On the way to the park we passed a young Hispanic man in a hoodie and carrying a skateboard. I didn't give him a close look, something about his stride suggested an anger in him. Long after we'd entered the park, encountered the vultures, walked the trail to the field with the high power eletrical towers, and were half way back to the park again; we met him a second time. As he approached, I could see that he'd been crying. Far from the "angry" 20-something I assumed him to be from my initial casual glance, he was clearly younger, maybe 15 or 16. He said, "Excuse me, sir."

Romeo and I stopped and I said, "Yes?"

He asked, "Have you seen a dog? A Golden Lab? His name is Buddy."

I said, "No. The only two dogs we've encountered today were with people."

He looked dejected, and I added, "But if I do, I will call the Takoma Park Police and let them know. Okay?"

He tried to smile and said, "Thank you."

Christmas Day Sligo Creek

Christmas Day was quiet around here.  Romeo and I walked down in the park along the creek.  It's nakedness a thing of beauty in and of itself.

In The Park With Romeo

On our Sunday morning walk, Romeo and I saw a beautiful Pileated Woodpecker.  We often hear them with their amazingly loud echoing bock, bock, bock sounds as then either explore trees for hidden insect delicacies or carve out their "homes".  They are beautiful birds for sure!

Sligo Creek Respite!

The sanctuary of my heart.