NATURE WALK

Went on a nature walk in the  Catoctin Mountains this morning.  This walk had been scheduled for many months, but happened to coincide with the G8 Summit that had been rescheduled from Chicago to our own small town. Our community had just 8 weeks to prepare for any contingency that may have occurred.  There were actually PROTESTERS in Thurmont.   Thurmont!


A few roads were closed because this area is very close to the Camp David retreat used by our Presidents dating back to Dwight Eisenhour. No problem, we found back roads. This was private land so we had little concern of the police or military being worried about us.



I love doing walks like these because I always see things I have never seen before and always learn so much.

Part of the group

Started out in a fenced garden that used to be a vegetable garden many decades ago.  It is fenced to prevent deer and rabbits from invading.  Over the years, the owners have added many beautiful flowers and trees.  Some native, some from other continents.

Baptisia

Poppy

Pink Poppies

Tulip Poplar Blossoms

We then moved into the woods.  Since this is private, the woodlands are pristine.  Trails are maintained, but there is an abundance of moss on the paths that surely would have been worn away in the public park.

Cinnamon Ferns

Close up of moss

Fern

Meadow Rue

Skunk cabbage

Small Fern

Squaw root - a parasitic plant that doesn't produce chlorophyll

Holes from Yellow Bellied Sap Sucker

Whole tree is affected

Evidence of Witch Hazel Leaf Roller

There are many springs, ponds and streams in these mountains:

Old Log Home

Willow trees

FLOWERS

The flowers are starting to bloom.  I started my flowers from seeds in my basement and the perennials I bought were small and cheap.

butterfly weed

zinnias started in my basement

Sunflowers.  I bought a large package about 6 years ago.  They still germinate and grow every year!

Zinnias.  I threw seeds in the ground on May 8.  They are getting ready to bloom

purple cone flower - echinacea

On the home front:

I found a cute caterpillar when I was weeding a flower bed this morning.  Looked him up, he will be a pretty white moth in the future.

Talk about between a rock and a hard place!

On the farm:



Added some equipment a few weeks ago.  When we find farm equipment that we need at a good price, we buy it.  We want to be more self sufficient and not have to borrow equipment if we don't have to.

hay wagons

zucchini

Stood in my hay field and took a couple of pictures.  One is the view of the Catoctin Mountains, turn around and the other is all the round bales lined up for the winter.  What is good about this is, it reduces the temptation of teenagers joy riding in our field.  The bales block road access to the field.  The only way in from the road is where my car is parked.

You need to scroll on the bottom to see the next image

Tried out the panorama option on my camera.  Cool, right?

Stuck in the mud in this mom's 2 week old car

Not great pictures, taken on my cell phone

Took him weeks to fix the field.  In the winter, shoveling many dump truck loads of top soil into the ruts.  Truly a life lesson.    (I hope)