New Stuff

Reading the notice from Goodwin Forest, I thought, Well, I should be around to do that as long as the weather is good.  So on Thursday I headed over to Goodwin State Forest for a short hike on the yellow and white trail with a few other devout walkers.

Although I haven't seen the folks at Goodwin in a long while, it seemed I never left.  I really wish that my other activities didn't conflict with programs I want to attend.  Today though the guided hike fit right in the time slot.  

Walking through the Norway pines growing on the ridge near the towering White pines, Emma, the center's program director, stopped suddenly and stooped to pick up a piece of brown, dry pine straw lying on the ground and a nearby bough.  Then pointing out some Red pines nearby, she referred to the clump of pine needles and said, "A simple way to determine if you have a cluster of White Pine is simple.  Although difficult to see in the pic below, there are five needles per fascicle.  So just remember five means W...H...I...T...E."  The word "white" has five letters just like the pine needle fascicle!

 For general Tree Identification, this is a great source...Exploring Nature.
Did I ever tell you I took Botany in College and loved it?

Did you know that foresters no longer cut down the dead pines?

They are a valuable resource to all sorts of burrowing animals, birds and insects so they are now spared.

Proven to be invaluable to a myriad of critters, they provide nesting, roosting, storage and feeding to many.  Forest Management remains in tune with ecological needs, treating them with the utmost respect.


Do you know what the symbol means on this tree?

If you don't, don't feel bad.

I had no clue!

I was told the two horizontal lines mean:

The end of the Yellow & White Trail

But I'm always open to learn something new and it seems that every excursion I go on, I do!

When was the last time you followed a trail through the forest?

Sharing my new stuff with you and those at 

Natures Notes

SOOC

Shadow Shot Sunday