Monday, June 6, 2016

Chatfield Hollow State Park

It was six am. I’ve had my coffee, read my news, caught up on social activities and fixed myself an omelet with sharp cheddar cheese, downed a second cup of coffee and knew I needed to get out of the house. After getting dressed and grabbing a pair of socks, I put on my flip flips, filled a water bottle and off I went to Chatfield Hollow State Park. It is one of my favorite places to walk in the woods. The trails are well marked, the vegetation is always changing and I was in search of mushrooms. It had rained most of the day yesterday and after finding a cauliflower mushroom growing in the yard, I thought that I would seek out more and take some photos.
It’s a short drive to Killingworth where the state park is located and being so early, it was not difficult to find a parking spot. I put my socks and hiking shoes on and I was off in search of mushrooms. Just about everyone at the park that early in the morning, is there to walk their dogs. There’s every kind of dog imaginable, most very well behaved and leashed but there’s always a few that bark incessantly. The light was filtering down through the trees, still wet from the early morning rain shower. The forest floor was soggy and slick and I thought it best to stay on the road for a while. Passing the swimming pond, a grey herring was perfectly still, eyeing it’s prey in the still water. The fragrance from all the flowering shrubs and trees was intoxicating and although I was ever watchful for the mushrooms, I did not spy a single one.
The stream was full from yesterdays rain and the sound of the water cascading over the rocks made me want to sit for a while. The ferns were changing color as the breeze, drifted them in and out of the sunlight.
I thought back to a time when our family would come for picnics in the park. The children would run and explore, fall in the stream, roast marsh-mellows on the campfire. I wonder now, if we could get everyone together with the grandchildren and do the same. Times have changed. Reflections and water plants make me hover for a bit and take more photos. The bright green moss slowly creeps along the rocks and up the trees. The wild iris’s are just past their prime by the stone wall.
it’s one of my favorites.
A yellow butterfly, stops for a rest at my feet and then circles me a few times before fluttering away. I’m thankful my niece Jen is enjoying the walk with me. I think of her often.
The pines, so straight and true are sending billowing clouds of yellow pollen, that comes to rest on everything.
The rain puddles that have slowly seeped into the ground have been outlined in the sticky yellow powder.
Circling the red clapboard nature center with its massive stone chimney, overlooking the pond, I’m dreaming how nice it would be to hunker down inside, during the long winter months by a warm fire.
As I walked out, along the road to the parking area, I realized I had not found one mushroom anywhere, but was not disappointed. I passed a small group of students, embarking on their end of school field trip, backpacks hanging heavy, bug spray and suntan lotion permeating the air. I climb up the hill, turn and snap a photo, smile and hope they love their time in the forest as much as I do.

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