The light in the woods has changed so abruptly. Last week, the trees and shrubs still wore their bright, light green spring coat, betraying the high quantities of nitrogen permeating everything as the land became suffused with life. Now, after all the heat, and with added rain — voila! — like the everyday sort of magic which it absolutely is, the forest is now shrouded in the cool, dark green of summer, its canopy filled in for the season, mysteries temporarily hidden by the mother’s verdant mantle. This time is the epitome — the very definition of — fecundity, of fertility. Following is just a partial list — a sample — of what is happening now and of what is yet to come.
Florid flora — (this season never ceases to amaze us — nor should it be any other way). The leaves of the forest are fast unfolding now, fairly leaping out on to branch and limb. The spring ephemeral flowers are finished for the season. Other plants will take their turn, ones that are tuned to thrive in the newly-dark understory of summer (if they survive the over-browsing of white-tail deer). One such example, our easiest to find native orchid — the moccasin flower (most call them pink lady-slippers nowadays) is up now in its secret places (I’m not telling). Another common denizen of our dark woods is the false solomon’s seal. More rare is the true Solomon’s seal, with their small pretty white bells hanging. Our myriad different ferns are here to stay – sensitive fern (which I thought was a new agey nickname, but it does indicate wet places), hay-scented fern (if you bruise it, it smells like fresh-mown hay), New York fern (unlike other ferns, pointed at both ends — local lore says this is because — like New Yorkers, they don’t know whether they are coming or going) and others. Once this change occurs, and the newly-bright-green, high-nitrogen vernal color of the forest changes to the darker green of summer, then most of the flower-action will switch over to the more open, sunnier fields and meadows.
Endless June — Glorious June days begin early, the Sun rising about 5 o’clock, possibly because there is so much to do (?). There can be as much as 15 hours of sunlight now, as we approach our magical midsummer – the summer solstice (6/20) — the longest day of the year. June days begin leisurely and quiet, as insects slowly wake sluggishly from the nights chill. It is a generous month, a flowery month — the culmination of spring. We will see a surge in growth this month which is basically what makes late summer so fruitful. Essentially, June sets up the fecundity of July and August, but never gets any credit for it. Perhaps it doesn’t need the credit because it knows it’s one of the most gloriously beautiful times. Birds sing as if they never sang a song before (some haven’t), crooning their hearts out like the world’s most forlorn lovers, intent on wooing their chosen one (or at least any one that is nearby). Singing songs seemingly written for this moment alone.
Every form of life abounds right now, all rapidly on the increase, as every creature and plant jumps onto the band-wagon we call summer, ready to go on that wild ride we call life.
Thank you all, “Ranger” Dave Holden, call 845-594-4863 or email woodstocktrails@gmail.com; also see Woodstock Trails on Facebook; rangerdaveholden on Instagram or www.woodstocknytrails.com.
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