Thoughts on a Saturday walk

Arboretum Docent Al Moored led the First Saturday Guided Walk on August 4. These are his reflections.

Would you believe that there were five adults and two children at the First Saturday walk in August? What a treat!

Dad knew all the bugs in the world, and his son was close on his heels. Backpack and stroller formed the younger part of our walk, and five adults rounded out the group. What a blast!

If you have not noticed the paw paws at the first bridge, please do. There are plenty at the first bridge, "way down yonder in the paw paw patch." Pickin' up paw paws...they are not ready yet, but there are a lot of them.

The Blockston Branch looked to be DEAD, but as we moved down it, there was more and more water.  The art in the woods was attention grabbing. Tulip trees and the possibilities for hiding in a tree seemed feasible, eating paw paws, and what about all the nuts that were found along the walk?

At the second bridge there seemed to be a frog convention going on. A little bit of encouragement resulted in a whole lot of croaking and splashing, too much to see all at once, but fun. 

It was nice to point out the devil's broomstick (with blooms), the seeds on the ironwood, and native azalea. 

As we emerged from the woods, we were confronted with the blue-black berries on the tree (with the bug catching device)...we thought that the sassafras tree was the host, but???

Goats are of interest, being in the woods is fun, having a community/family experience is inspiring.

Thanks for the opportunity.

Reflections on Good Work

When I think of Adkins Arboretum, I can't help but think of my children and grandchildren. Like many of us, when I travel back to my childhood neighborhood, I hardly recognize the place. What used to be woods is now condos. What was once meadow is now a shopping mall. What once was a swimming hole is now a marina filled with power boats and a water sheen from leaking oil or gas. I remember the first time I took my kids back to show them the old place. They took a breath and asked, "What's that nasty smell?" It was, of course, just the smell of city air.

It's experiences like this that help me value Adkins Arboretum, where the good work of preserving the native land is going on every day. It is so relaxing and refreshing to take a walk at the Arboretum. This month, there is lots to see, like the paw paw ripening, the summersweet with its fragrant white spikes of flowers, the cranefly orchid along the Upland and Tuckahoe Valley paths, and the trumpet vines that hummingbirds love so much, just to name a few. When I get out in the woods, I love to smell the fragrances, hear the birds calling, and see the dappled light through the trees. It never fails to rejuvenate me, and it fills me with a sense of wonder and appreciation.

Knowing that Adkins Arboretum is fostering conservation and preservation is as worthy a cause as anyone could want. When we consider the strange weather we've had this year, you can't help but wonder what is going on. And while you're wondering, you know that preserving our green spaces and protecting our land is the best thing each of us can do to protect our environment. So come to the Arboretum and get some ideas on how to preserve your green space. Learn about native plants to enhance places big and small. Don't forget to take a walk and let your senses fill you with peace.

by Diana Beall
Assistant Receptionist