Acres Along the Wabash, Wells County

http://www.acreslandtrust.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=44551&PID=635743

      A week or so ago, the kids and I ventured over to Wells county to visit Acres Along the Wabash nature preserve.  As the name implies, the entire southern edge of this preserve borders the Wabash River.  It makes for some very scenic hiking!  

A view of the Wabash River from atop a tree-lined bluff.
Overlooking the river, it's easy to imagine a time when Native Americans roamed this land, and white explorers paddled down this river. 

We weren't the only ones visiting the river today!  

Calm waters today.
The lack of rain lately made it possible for us to venture out to the
middle of the river and rest on a stoney "island." 

      Although it's hard to imagine any explorers paddling down the river today (they'd have to carry their canoe most of the time), we did find some enormous trees that we decided are probably old enough to have been growing here when Native Americans called this area home.

Old trees have a way of making us feel small!
Tree trunks grow thicker every year by adding a new ring of growth.  New growth takes
 place in the cambium, the soft layer of tissue between the wood and bark of trees.
This tree has many, many growth rings, I am sure!

      Many of Indiana's forest tree species, like oaks, sycamores, maples, and elms, have lifespans of an average of 200 years.  And since the Native Americans occupied this area until 1846 (166 years ago), it is very conceivable that these trees shared this land with the Miami tribes who lived along the Wabash River. 

Hank found 3 trees in one!
Actually, there's a name for this!  When trees become conjoined during growth, it's called inosculation.  The trees first grow separately, but very close to each other. As they add growth
rings and become wider, the trees eventually touch. At this point, the bark on the touching surfaces is gradually abraded away as the trees move in the wind and rub against each other.  Once the cambium of the trees touch, they self-graft and grow together.  

    While playing down at the river, Hank found the shell of a river mussel. It is not uncommon to find dozens of these freshwater shells littering the banks of the Wabash. 

Mussels are simple creatures kept safe by two oblong shells connected by a hinge.  
There are 47 different freshwater mussel species found in Indiana, of which 24 are
 considered federally or locally endangered.  

      I love it when I find similarities in unrelated things, especially naturally occurring things.  It's God's little treat for me.  I love how these fungi and flowers resemble the shape of the mussel shell...

Turkey Tail fungi is a type of decay fungus,  feeding on rotten wood.  

These dry flower husks also resemble the mussel shell shape.

As usual, down every path we found many interesting shape patterns and textures in the foliage:

I love how these leaves appear to be lined up, one in front of the other.

We were thankful for a cooling breeze on this hot day.
 You can see evidence of the breeze in these blowing leaves.

Compound leaves, small and brilliant green

Patterns even appear in the shadows!

      We enjoyed our time at Acres Along the Wabash.  If you ever find yourself in Wells county, you should stop by for a stroll through Indiana's natural splendor!  By the way, just a few roads over is another Acres preserve, Anna Brand Hammer.  Guess where we're heading next?   See you there!

Fogwell Forest, Allen County

http://www.acreslandtrust.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=44551&PID=630213

     The latest stop on our nature preserve tour was Fogwell Forest in Allen county, near Roanoke, Indiana.  It was an easy walk, a good pick for my tired, borderline fussy kiddos as the trail was only 1/2 mile long.  However short, our hike was quite diverting.

     One of the first sights that met my eye were what appeared to be these magical glowing red leaves interspersed among the leaves of a normal looking tree.  Upon further investigation, it turned out that these leaves were not, in fact, glowing. Big surprise.  The sun was simply reflecting off of them in a way that highlighted their dynamic, rich redness.

     The magical red leaves were part of this stand of trees that were growing so close together that all their leaves appeared to be "mixed up," into one green-and-red-leafed conglomeration.  Pretty beautiful if you ask me.  

My kids just don't get it when I get excited about photographing things it seems only I can see.

     One of my favorite things to teach in my art classes is color theory: how and why the colors are arranged on the color wheel, and how colors relate and interact with each other.  The kids love it too because it's, well...colorful! Colors are easy to see and understand and are very relevant to everything we do in art.  Anyway, one of the color concepts we investigate is complementary colors, or color opposites.  

Red and green sit opposite each other on this color wheel. 

     The 12 basic colors are arranged in a circle called a color wheel.  Since there are 12, everyone has an opposite color, it's "complement."  Even though they are opposites, when seen together complementary colors "compliment" each other by providing contrast and are generally pleasing to the eye.  

Red-violet and yellow-green are complementary colors.

     I love finding examples of complementary colors in nature.  It's as if nature knew long before man which colors would work the best together and be the most eye-appealing!  The red and green mixed-up trees above are just one example of nature's complements.  If you open your eyes to complementary colors, you can find them all around!  

The red and green complementary pair is quite prolific in nature.

Orange and blue (I doctored this photo a little, I confess.) These teasel pods were photographed at Bock Nature Preserve in Kosciusko county.

     Complementary colors aside, we passed many other eye-catching artworks of nature on our walk.  

I love how the sunlight illuminates the interior of this trail entrance, as if it is beckoning us to enter.

An interesting  juxtaposition of shapes and colors.

I've been seeing these green berry things at every preserve we've visited, always
curious as to what they are.  They are the fruit of the dogwood tree. It turns out
we've had three of them growing in our yard for years!

Yarrow, also called "nosebleed plant" for its ability to stop bleeding.
It is said that you can apply the leaves of the yarrow plant directly to an
injury and it will staunch the flow of blood.
 I'd still recommend a nice clean band-aid. 

This patch of Sensitive Fern creates a nice pattern of lines and shapes. 

     When we started our hike, Hank and Evelynn were grouchy and tired.  They tend to fight a lot on any given day, so you can imagine the interplay of dirty looks and sneaky swats aimed at each other as we approached Fogwell Forest. But nature has a way of calming one's soul. It's nothing new...a slow leisurely walk surrounded by dappled shadow, cool breezy air, and the calming green colors of dancing leaves and plants will improve your mindset in just a few minutes.  There's actually word for this..."forest bathing."  This is the English translation of the Japanese term, "Shinrin-yoku," which means to literally surround yourself with forest air. According to research, the airborne natural chemicals that plants emit to warn off insects and strengthen their immune system has benefits for humans, too. The forest air leads to lower concentrations of the stress hormone cortisol, a lower pulse rate, and lower blood pressure, leading to a much better attitude!  Even for tired, grumpy kids.

It works!

See you next time!

Bock Nature Preserve, Kosciusko County

http://www.acreslandtrust.org/templates/System/details.asp?id=44551&PID=701967

    My family has been a member of Acres Land Trust for a few years now, and during those years we have enjoyed only the nearby preserves of our own county. The comfort of the familiar, you know. Shame on us!  Up to now my hiking adventures and blog entries have taken us to those same familiar preserves.  So now...we venture into unknown (to us) territory!  

An addition to our usual merry band of hikers: General Lee

     On this day my entourage and I (plus our dog, General) traveled over 100 miles to visit two nature preserves we had never enjoyed before.  And it was well worth it!  Our first stop was to Bock Nature Preserve in Kosciusko county.  

On of my very favorite things about springtime is looking through the trees, my sight unimpeded by the future's leafy growth, and appreciating the vastness of the space surrounding me.  I love this illuminated view of the woodland floor's green carpeting.

An impressive vernal pool.  Find a description of a vernal pool in my last post, here: http://www.unearthingmycreativeidentity.blogspot.com/2012/04/wildwood-koskiusko-county.html

So large, one photo just wouldn't do!

     It was a beautiful day for a hike, and we saw so many indicators of spring.  I think I'm usually too busy and distracted to notice and appreciate nature's gifts that are able to be seen only in the springtime. 

The sun was behind this tree, effectively "lighting up" these leaves.  I love how they glow!

Blue Eyed Mary
When winter's chill has scarce left earth
And April winds blow "Hey down derry !"
Comes gaily dancing down my hill
Sweet, laughing, Blue-eyed-mary.

She wears a dress of bronzy green
Draped round her light and airy;
She lifts the loveliest face I've seen
Brave, tender, Blue-eyed-mary.

Her eyes shine like the azure sky, Her step light as a fairy; Her face, no crystal drift so white,
Dear, steadfast, Blue-eyed-mary.

My hat is off to Bouncing Bet,
Gill-over-the-ground runs quite contrary,
Black-eyed-Susan is my pet;
But I'm in love with Blue-eyed-mary.

~Gene Stratton Porter

Dutchman's Breeches.  Named for their resemblance to the historical Dutch sailor's pants.  Only upside down.

I wonder what he's drinking?

    The Bock Nature Preserve is 47 acres, but is only half covered with forest.  The other half is an agricultural field that is being converted into native grassland. Tall-grass prairie plants have been established here, and it makes for a very diverse hiking experience.

We could see that the grasses had been very tall.  Today they were mostly flattened from the winter snows and rains.  

    In it's past life, this preserve was a portion of a family farm for over 100 years.  The windmill on the property remains as a reminder of the land's past use.

A memorial of a past life.

Next stop: Glennwood Nature Preserve!  See you there!