A Sudden Serendipity

 

Whilst I was enjoying my first cup of coffee this morning, I asked Alexa for the day's forecast. She told me it would be 14 and sunny today. As the sun was actually shining outside, I decided that since Alexa would not knowingly lie to me, that it would be the perfect kind of autumn day to head to the forest. (If you don't have an Alexa at your house, she is a magic ball that sits on a chest in my living room and she knows things. She will turn on the light if you ask her and when my four-year grandson said to her the other day, 'Alexa, do something', it turns out she can moo...amazing! Sorry, wandered off the trail there.)

We have had several really dismal days but they brought some much needed rain, so I was hoping to see some woodland fungi friends who have been largely missing in action all summer. The Sudden Forest tract is one of my favorite places to walk and is less than a half hour's drive away. I can take the back roads all the way there which is such a bonus; country scenery and no traffic which makes it okay to do less than the posted speed and sight see. The trees are still rather muted in colour, with more yellows than vivid oranges or reds. The soya bean crops in the fields are ready to be harvested. The corn fields show that this year's crop has struggled.

On my way I paused by this soya field to admire a pair of Sandhill cranes. Their plumage is reverting to the grey tones that they arrive with in the spring. There are only patches now of the russet that they turn when they are nesting here. There was no youngster with this pair so maybe these ones are not old enough to breed yet. They are such a beautiful sight.

I was met at my car by low flying greeters. This lovely red seraphim with its angel wings facing forward might be an Autumn Meadowhawk dragonfly, one of the  three red-bodied Meadowhawks common to this area. It is interesting how many ancient belief systems find the dragonfly symbolic of transformation and adaptability; emerging from life in the water to become graceful creatures of the air, an amazing metamorphosis.  

Lovely things were waiting just along the path...

A bolete mushroom that was clearly tasty,

ancient liverwort fruiting,

a floating frog,

a scorpion-like Pelecinid wasp,

crimson patches in the canopy,

uniquely scarred tree trunks,

a green stink bug in its 4th nymph stage,

and a disgruntled ribbon snake that I came upon it while it was sunning in a warm spot on the path. It reminded me of deer, who when startled run a short ways off then stop to peer at you from that safe distance ...or maybe glare.

On weekdays this is a really quiet place where it is possible to walk without seeing another soul, at least not a two-legged one. On this particular morning I heard voices, and rounding a bend in the path saw three people approaching. I prepared to pass a 'Good Morning' or 'Nice day' and carry on. It was obvious that they were enjoying one another's company and the forest, which I thought was lovely. As I passed several other things clicked; they all had cameras, they were looking at the underside of a log, they may be looking for mushrooms, and one looked really familiar. I decided that it was worth finding out, so I inquired, 'Tony?'

Then the tumblers all fell into place; these were my friends Tony, Rachel and Luke. Why didn't I recognize them? Because we had never met before. In person that is; we are all members of a special interest group on Facebook for those who photograph and study mushrooms, mosses, ferns and lichen. We had admired each others' photos and exchanged comments for several years now. Within this large international group are these three who live relatively close to me in Ontario, so I watched their posts more carefully because we might see some of the same things. 

serendipity

 noun

​the fact of something interesting or pleasant happening by chance; a happy accident

It was liking meeting family...I was so thrilled. I feel that I know Tony a little better as we had spoken more often online. He has such a passion and transparent enthusiasm for the beauty of nature in all its forms. He is always helpful and encouraging and set the tone for my participation in the group. I knew he had mourned the loss of his beloved dog but unexpectedly been adopted by a very special feline and fallen completely in love. I know he does beautiful work as a contractor, loves to camp up north and comes from a big family. As my elderly aunt would say of my late uncle, 'a lovely man'.

I knew less about Luke, but he was always kind, accessible and ready to help. Rachel lives north of Guelph, owns and clearly loves, horses, and struck me as independent, fun and feisty. I was also aware that these three had met several times to explore together. 

We didn't actually visit long, just long enough to enjoy some discoveries together, take and share some photos, and chat a little. It was so wonderful! I found out that Luke is to be married soon and Tony had just returned from a camping trip up north having left some of his heart there. Rachel wanted to know what was on my camera from the day and took a photo of all of us together. 

It was the best surprise to come upon them in this way.

It was a joyful reunion of kindred spirits.

It filled my heart and lifted my spirits.

It was truly a serendipity...a Sudden Serendipity.

A 'Sudden' urge

All the faces of Spring have been seen this week; wet flurries, a final goodbye to winter; warm rains conjuring green out of brown, vibrant life out a barren ground in a seeming instant; and the brilliant smile of the sun which gladdens the heart and assures us that cold weather is indeed behind us. And all the people said..Amen!

Some cold seasons seem especially long so when the first warm day finally arrives, it feels everyone heaves a collective sigh of relief. We have survived another winter and the sunshine brings a renewed sense of hope and optimism. After long months of dark days, bad weather and winter ailments, you just want to shed heavy coats and feel the sun on your face.

On this first glorious day, the need to be outside was overwhelming so I headed out in my faithful green chariot. She is a lady of a certain age, somewhat like myself, but always up for an adventure. The wonderful thing about living in an area for a while is that its roads and trails become old friends. You know where the osprey nests are, or where you can see a muskrat or a bobolink or the first coltsfoot. 

I chose the Sudden Forest Tract because it has so many of my favorite things like boardwalks, water and wildflowers. Perfection. It is a little drive north but I chose the back roads so that dawdling and pulling over to take photos does not cause road rage in any other motorists. 

On the way I was excited to discover that the osprey have returned to our area.  There was one perched at the top of a communication tower where a nest remained from last year.  Ospreys are true 'fish hawks' so they nest where there is good fishing available, and their presence is said to indicate a healthy river system. 

 

This platform is near a large field that bobolinks nest in. The first indication of their presence is usually a sighting on the wire fence. On this day the only fence sitter was a lovely Savannah sparrow, identified by a vivid yellow face marking. 

It was a delight to be greeted at the entrance to the forest tract by a Mourning Cloak. These butterflies, as well as the lovely Comma, overwinter as adults in the leaf litter or a tree crevice so are usually the first butterflies that you will see in the spring. 

This is an area of wetland so one of its wonders includes Snakeskin liverwort, also called Great scented liverwort or more formally Conocephalum conicum. There are thousands of liverworts, but interestingly, a Harvard University blog spoke of research being done with a a cannabinoid called perrottetiene (PET), found in the liverwort plant Radula perrottetii to see if it has new benefits which would make it an alternative to medical cannabis. Who knew?

It is easy to see why it is called Snakeskin liverwort, but the 'conicum' part of its formal designation comes from the little cone-shaped structures that are the female reproductive structures.

This is one of the boardwalks and it previously connected to another raised walkway by a wooden sidewalk through the woods. On this particular day that section was really muddy and I had to pay attention to staying upright and keeping my boots still on my feet. On the opposite side the wetland gives way to hills and vernal ponds. On this side I saw Wintergreen that still had berries,

the first open Hepatica blooms, 

gorgeous mosses,

and the first of the season's snakes...sigh.

The trail circles back to the wetland and I noticed that Marsh Marigolds leaves were emerging and even saw a few early buds.

There were patches of tiny trumpets which are a lichen species called Cladonia,

a fungus flower,

and unique perched trees.

Sometimes it feels so self-indulgent to spend this much time in the pursuit of solitude. It is however, not recreational so much as something visceral and as necessary to me as breathing. The forest is a spiritual place; a place to marvel at design and form; to allay anxiety for a time; to take a deep breath. One can set aside the big worries in life like climate change and the willful disregard of the human condition in the world, as well as the personal worries about health, finance or family matters. It is a chance to wonder at beauty and make a new furry friend when you are missing your own.

The forest soothes the hurts and calms the spirit; gives hope and re-energizes.

For my dear husband, who still brings me flowers, and sets me free to roam.