No question - this is where the hike is. I love the added assurance of a sign when hikes are on private property in the countryside.
And, I really knew I was in the right space when the homeowner/hike leader said, "Did you see the spider web?" Apparently, there was a spider web near the sign and I TOTALLY MISSED IT! Sorry about the poor image, but isn't it amazing??? Isn't it a treat when a friend shows you wonders like spider webs?
This morning's hike was at Oak Hills Farm, a property which has been partially restored to its former self - a tall grass prairie. The owners have re-introduced native plants like these Prairie Smoke flowers. Aren't they beautiful?
This morning's thick fog was receeding towards Rice Lake when we started the hike.
I was delighted to see one of my favourite spring trees blooming in abundance - Red Bud.
Last year's prairie grasses made a nice contrast to the foggy scene above them.
The owner, John spent a lot of time mowing his trails this week. It was much appreciated.
Another type of spider had collaborated with the moisture in the air to create a screen so that seedlings could put on a shadow show. You never know what you'll see when you go on a hike.
Mosses were blooming....
.... and trilliums were still in their glory. Even though this property is 20 minutes north west of our place, the trilliums were a few days behind ours. Still perfect.
Somewhere around this part of the hike, something happened that made my soul sing. A fellow hiker quoted John Muir:
“And into the woods I go,
to lose my mind and find my soul.”
How perfect.
Peanut butter/chocolate chip cookies were offered and accepted. We were resting because we knew that we were going to be going down a hill and then back up the same one. Nothing like a little sweet sustenance to make it through to the end.
Back up the hill, the farmer who rents this field from John must be happy. His corn is up and looking good.
Circling back to John's house, we got to admire these Tamarack trees that John planted in the early years of owning their place. They seem to be thriving.
And, back at the car, the fog was gone, the flag was flying and all was well
I'll end with another thought from John Muir:
“When one tugs at a single thing in nature,
he finds it attached to the rest of the world.”
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