Get Out: ‘Twas in the Moon of Springtime?!*

There’s nothing we can do about the weather (well that’s not wholly true, but that’s a vast and different subject!) so we might as well make the best of it. This mild weather simply calls us to poke our noses out and explore.

So close to home and so wonderful, we have Medd’s Mountain Trail and the area between the Old School and Medd’s Mountain Park. With very little effort and time we can relax away from anyone else and enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of Nature. If I had to choose only one trail I would without doubt pick the upper trail on Medd’s Mountain. It offers something beautiful and pleasant at every season. Right now the fallen leaves, the leaf litter (not in the derogatory sense), gives us a subtly varied carpet of browns and shapes. And against this subdued but beautiful covering the bright green of the Intermediate Fern and the rich green of the sapling hemlocks stand out in a healthy and solid way. At this time of year this path is bright (the many deciduous trees being bare) and protected from the winds. I urge you to visit it.

The boardwalk area between the park and the school simply gleams with the red stems of the dogwood. Why the colour seems more intense and so very enjoyable at this time of year is beyond me. But it does! A word though about the boardwalks: in this wet weather and especially with frost they can be treacherously slippery. Watch your footing!

The boardwalk between the Old School and Medd’s Mountain Park brightened by the red stems of the dogwood. Photo: Glen Spurrell.

The boardwalk between the Old School and Medd’s Mountain Park brightened by the red stems of the dogwood. Photo: Glen Spurrell.

In my yard the birds at the feeders make even the dullest day seem that much brighter. Chickadees, nuthatches, woodpeckers (3 kinds!), juncos, blue jays, sparrows and goldfinches entertain me and give me such pleasure–and all just looking out a window! And yes, if I’m very lucky, the male and female cardinal make an appearance, their colours adding that extra fillip to the spectrum.

Also in my yard, two small shrubs of spring-blooming daphne have been tricked into flowering now. Along their branches pale purple +-shaped blossoms are brightening my garden. I, of course, fret that this will probably mean no flowers in the spring; but I try to tell myself to simply enjoy it now–my fretting won’t affect any change! If I simply must fret about something, it’s my fruit trees, and fruit trees in the commercial orchards, that really spark my concern. If the flower buds develop too fully, the intense cold (if it ever comes) may likely kill the reproductive parts of the flower and destroy any chance of fruit forming.

The millpond’s surface is still ice-free and this is allowing many birds to hold off flying south. Ducks and geese (including a lone Snow Goose) are taking advantage of this place to eat and roost. A kingfisher too has yet to migrate and it gives out its laughing call as it flies over the pond. Its big head and sturdy beak make it recognizable even if you miss its call. If you’re very lucky you may be there at just the right time to see it hover, dive, and fly back up with a fish in its beak.

Nature is our Christmas present. And it’s a priceless one. Merry Christmas, everyone. Get out! And enjoy!

*adapted from the first line of “The Huron Carol”: ’Twas in the moon of wintertime….

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