last night’s walk in the park
—
“it is the life of the crystal, the architect of the flake, the fire of the frost, the soul of the sunbeam.
this crisp winter air is full of it.”
-john burroughs
—
argo park, ann arbor, michigan, usa – february 2021
a collection of treasured magic crystals found a frosty playground
—
“every particular in nature, a leaf, a drop, a crystal,
a moment of time is related to the whole,
and partakes of the perfection of the whole.”
-ralph waldo emerson
wondering who in the woods calls this fallen log, ‘home’
—
“there is something in the trees awaiting discovery.”
– steven magee
Remember to space it out, watch the waving, and recreate responsibly.
—
those zany park rangers are at it again
i love their method of getting the message across
—
National parks across the country provide endless opportunities for recreational activities for everyone from the casual sightseer to the experienced adventurer. With your help, we can enjoy these special places while preserving them for future generations to enjoy. Learn more ways to recreate safely at https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/recreate-responsibly.htm
—
“one thorn of experience is worth a wilderness of warning.”
-james russell lowell
oyster mushrooms at play in their natural habitat
—
foraging for mushrooms in the late autumn shade in the woods
hunting in nooks and crannies, logs, trees, mossy patches
there we met a few fungi along with their mold and lichen cousins
luckily my daughter and grandies have studied a lot about mushrooms
why i’m here to tell my story.
—
“on the subject of wild mushrooms,
it is easy to tell who is an expert and who is not;
the expert is the one who is still alive.”
donal henahan
there is one spectacle grander than the sea,
that is the sky;
there is one spectacle grander than the sky,
that is the interior of the soul.
-victor hugo
—
Arcadia Dunes, C.S. Mott Nature Preserve, on the shores of Lake Michigan, hiking Old Baldy Trail – October 2020
one of my favorite author’s
beautiful words
about my favorite season
as we slip from summer into autumn
happened upon
this friendly-looking tree
deep in the woods
so content and jolly
i think it would love to share its jokes.
—
“i never saw a discontented tree.
they grip the ground as though they liked it,
and though fast rooted, they travel about as far as we do.”
– john muir
—
bird hiils park, ann arbor, michigan, usa – summer 2020
National Park Service Notice –
READ: Please don’t run from bears or push your slower friends down in attempts of saving yourself.
As a follow-up to a previous post, if you come upon a stationary bear, move away slowly and sideways; this allows you to keep an eye on the bear and avoid tripping. Moving sideways is also non-threatening to bears. Do NOT run, but if the bear follows, stop and hold your ground. Like dogs, they will chase fleeing animals. Do NOT climb a tree. Both grizzlies and black bears can climb trees. Do NOT push down a slower friend (even if you think the friendship has run its course).
Stay calm and remember that most bears do not want to attack you; they usually just want to be left alone. Don’t we all? Identify yourself by making noise so the bear knows you are a human and not a prey animal. Help the bear recognize you as a human. We recommend using your voice. (Waving and showing off your opposable thumb means nothing to the bear) The bear may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell. A standing bear is usually curious, not threatening.
P.S. We apologize to any “friends” who were brought on a hike as the “bait” or were sacrificed to save the group. You will be missed.
#FindYourPark #RecreateResponsibly
https://www.nps.gov/subjects/bears/index.htm
—
“i’d rather write about polar bears than people”
-mary oliver
—
image credit: Bear resting on a log thinking bear things at Katmai National Park & Preserve, NPS/ J. Ehrlenbach
hard to tell from this shot
but these benches
were sitting
back to back
slanted at a downward angle
on the side of a hill.
is this a geometry puzzle?
is this a statement?
is this art?
is this science?
is this_______?
—
“if the track is tough and the hill is rough, THINKING you can just ain’t enough!”
-shel silverstein
I didn't have my glasses on.... 