Only Twenty Years - Oops Forty Years**

In recent years, entomologist Doug Tallamy blipped on my personal radar. His book and organization, Homegrown National Park inspired us to plant 3 oak trees along the edges of our property. Since hearing him interviewed on my favourite podcast, Cultivating Place, we have made conscious effort to combine re-wilding, food growing and pretty gardens on our little lot. A tagline from his website is both inspiring and sobering:

"In the past,

we have asked one thing of our gardens:

that they be pretty.

Now they have to support life,

sequester carbon,

feed pollinators

and manage water."

The Homegrown National park idea is this: “Our National Parks, no matter how grand in scale are too small and separated from one another to preserve species to the levels needed. Thus, the concept for Homegrown National Park, a bottom-up call-to-action to restore habitat where we live and work, and to a lesser extent where we farm and graze, extending national parks to our yards and communities.”

Imagine my delight to find a kindred spirit just around the corner from where we live. Yesterday's joint hike between Northumberland Land Trust folks and Willow Beach Naturalist people took place on this property that, 20 years ago, was a pasture.

This was a hilly pasture 20 years ago.

We were astounded at the diversity of plant and animal life in this young forest. Isn't that a cutie?

Twenty years. This was a pasture 20 years ago.

It's mushroom season. One part of the forest was dotted with giant puffballs.

And, look at these intricate fungi! I think this might be called coral fungus.

We took our time - two hours meandering over the paths. There was so much to take in.

The Godfrey property is somewhere around 40 acres. 40 acres of diverse habitats. Great Blue Lobelia decorated the edge of a wet spot. They get more and more interesting as you scroll down, don't they?

And look at this luscious coral one. My guess is that this is orange peel fungus.

A pond was dug in the early years. Every winter, the family clears the snow daily, if necessary, for their ice rink. Remember - 20 years ago, this was a pasture.

I've made a mental note-to-self to go back with my camera and with time.

I think this property would make Doug Tallamy happy. Hundreds of species have been observed and recorded here in recent years. It looks like they are happy too.

I think I heard one of those species respond:

I am guessing all 28 of yesterday's hikers would resonate with these words from another conservationist, John Muir:

“And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul”

John Muir

Addendum: ** Clearly I am not a numbers person. Here are the real facts from the owner of the property: " I thoroughly enjoyed the stroll yesterday and I believe most did as well. I read your blog. The property is over 21 acres and was purchased in 1984. There was some plantation conifers there, but mostly open pasture. We immediately began planting a lot of species for biodiversity and for safeguarding the stream for clean water. As you saw yesterday, there is no end to promoting biodiversity which is threatened in many ways in southern Ontario."