The Northumberland Land Trust is comprised of 13 reserves throughout our county. Their stated mission is to preserve the natural heritage of Northumberland County. Last weekend, Ted and other volunteers spent some time cutting down invasive species on the Munn preserve, just east of Morganston. He wanted to show me what they'd accomplished. This morning we joined a walk into the woods, led by a member of the family who donated that land to the trust. And, what a woods it is!
From the road it looks like any other woods in this part of the province.
Today's sponsor shouted from the treetops to be chosen. It's the colour yellow. Yellow was everywhere today. I wondered if I'd set my camera's white balance wrong.
Tiny maple saplings had their moment in the sun on the forest floor as almost 30 interested folks tramped by.
It was wonderful to be led by the guy who planted a lot of the trees. He's seen the changes throughout the decades that his family owned this property. Many photos were taken along the way.
Red leaves were few and far between.
After Thursday night's frost, I imagine a lot of these leaves will be letting loose soon.
James Munn is the steward of this reserve. He's seen entire species of trees come an go over the years. Below, he is answering Ted's questions about what is happening to the beech trees. If you look closely, you can see spots on the two trees in front of them. It's a sign that they are dying. Beech Bark Disease. I always wondered what those marks were on the beech trees.
Majestic.
"Here I am!"
I think we spent more time looking up than looking anywhere else.
Our sponsor is looking particularly beautiful against the dark tree trunks.
The maple leaves were newly fallen. It felt like walking on a thin blanket. None of that crunchy, swishy sound you will get in a week or so.
The Munn Reserve should never have been farmed. The land ranges from the low-lying headwaters of two streams to sandy hills that were once the shoreline of the ancient glacier lake, Iroquois.
We even did some bushwhacking to get up the hills.
Isn't it wonderful when the long view is taken? Saving what is natural for future generations. Our grandchildren and their grandchildren will thank them.
I think the same can be said of yellow maple trees as was said of lighthouses by Anne Lamott:
“Lighthouses don’t go running all over an island looking for boats to save;
they just stand there shining.”
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