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A Late Fall Adventure

10/17/2018

6 Comments

 
Yes, another 'walk in the woods' post! Not much is happening gardenwise now besides clean-up and bulb planting. It probably seems like I've been focusing more on nature and wildflowers than anything lately. I'm still as passionate about gardening as ever, but my interest in and love for plants has expanded greatly since I started this blog--in fact I've considered renaming it to something more all-encompassing, but don't want to confuse my readers who know where to find me! So if anybody was hoping for a more garden-related post this time, please bear with me! 😊 
When I entered the woods yesterday, I found them changed drastically since I'd been out a week before. All the wind and rain we've had has taken its toll on the leaves and most of the trees are now bare. 
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I was glad I thought to put on rubber boots before I went! And now I finally had a chance to try my hand at photographing reflections in water. It was fun but I don't think I did it justice!
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I'll always be fond of creeping snowberry, since it was after finding this that I inadvertently found out about the Orono bog! I'm not sure, but I think there is some twinflower (Linnaea borealis) in this tangle, too. 
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The top of a tamarack tree...
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Floating leaves...
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The words "haunted wood" came to mind when I arrived at this spot...it really was hard to believe how changed everything was! 
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Bunchberry dogwood leaves turning purple...
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And then...I got lost! Up until this point I had been finding familiar landmarks so I had a good idea where I was, but suddenly I came into this open area and I still have no idea where I was! 
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I thought maybe I was on Cypripedium Hill and it just looked different as all the rest of the woods did, but when I came upon this patch of cattails shortly after, I knew I had made a wrong turn somewhere, as I haven't seen these anywhere I've been exploring this summer.
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It was getting late and I was a little worried, but did stop long enough to do something I've always wanted to do! 😁
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Not sure what this was, but something tells me there were some beautiful flowers here earlier this summer!
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In the end, my wonderful dog Nellie saved the day. She was barking (it was past their suppertime) and I was able to follow the sound back home. It actually didn't take long at all to get back into familiar territory and before I knew it I recognized the huge rock pile that borders the woods (from many seasons of rock removal in the potato field!). 
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So that's the story of yesterday's adventure! Thanks for coming along with me again. I am hoping to resume the flower histories I had been posting during last winter soon, so that will bring us back to the subject of gardening...although the first flower I am planning to write about happens to be a wildflower too! Oh well! 😊
6 Comments
Eliza link
10/17/2018 04:44:38 pm

I love your wood walk posts - they add variety and there are all the discoveries you make. :)
I like the photos of the floating leaves and reflected sky, and the reddening bunchberry. Those seeds by the cattails I believe are Turk's Cap lilies. We always gather them to sow along our trails. They take about 5 years to grow a bulb and flower!
Please be careful in the woods, esp. this time of year, too cold to get lost! (But you could always cover yourself up in dry leaves to keep warm until the search dogs find you.) ;)

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Joanna link
10/17/2018 07:33:33 pm

I thought of you while taking those water pictures--yours are always so lovely! 😊I looked up Turk's Cap lily and it doesn't look like they grow wild in Maine, but Canada Lily does. Wow, I was clueless that such lilies grew wild up here! I will have to try to find that spot again next summer. :)
Normally I have no problem navigating the woods, but yesterday did show me how easy it is to get disoriented. I suppose if I just carried some dog treats with me my own dogs would find me before too long! LOL

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JanetLee
10/17/2018 08:11:02 pm

Thanks for taking us along! I also enjoy my hikes out in the woods. I usually start about an hour or so before daybreak this time of year. I love the watch the woods wake up and hear the birds starting to call out.

And seeing the deer and elk and black bear is fascinating!

Photographing reflections on water is difficult. If you are using a flash, place your hand in front of the flash so it reflects some of it back and you might be able to achieve the effect you are looking for.

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Joanna link
10/18/2018 08:08:54 am

Being in the woods before daybreak sounds magical! I would love to do it but think my family would be worried...maybe someday. 😊
You sure see a lot of wildlife! I've only seen a few deer and a coyote, although I see signs of bear and moose around. The most exciting thing I ever saw here was a couple of Canada lynx! That was about 5 years ago, in January. They aren't timid at all and I was able to get quite close for pictures, but I can't find those pictures anymore. :(
Thanks for the advice on photographing water! I will have to try that!

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Jason link
10/19/2018 02:40:28 pm

That's a real carpet of leaves on the forest floor. I have heard of Snowberry, but never Creeping Snowberry. I wonder if it is just two common names for the same plant.

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Joanna link
10/19/2018 06:53:23 pm

Yes, the forest floor is stunning right now! I did a little research and found out that Snowberry is a member of the Honeysuckle (Caprifoliacea) while Creeping Snowberry is in the Heath family (Ericaceae).

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    ​I am a passionate gardener and seed-saver, who also enjoys playing the violin and accordion, running, spending time with my 4 golden retrievers, keeping chickens, photography, and reading. ​
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