Burgeoning spring

While all the leaves aren’t quite open yet on many trees, 

the forest floor in a Prince Edward Island is alive again with green. 

Last autumn’s leaves have fertilized new growth and wildflowers are in bud

or bloom, such as these Woolly Blue Violets. 

Ferns are unfurled and quite prolific in places.

Shrubs are in bloom, bursting forth into the grey of late spring,

changing it into a wonderland of beauty. 

Even the trees do their part with the early blooms. 

Meanwhile, the animals are busy tending nests or raising young. At Cavendish, this Osprey searched for food, 

periodically calling to its mate sat on the nest nearby. 

Spring is when the tiny fish, such as smelt or larger trout swim upstream to spawn. This draws large birds, such as Bald Eagles to ponds to feed in the early morning. Having gorged on fish, they sit in the trees nearby, as they digest it.

On our recent visit to Clarkes Pond at Cavendish, my husband and I saw five Eagles perched in old snags in the distance.

Meanwhile this young Eagle sat near the trail, digesting its meal and watching the walkers. 

Later that morning, a Goldfinch in Cavendish Grove, a fraction of the size of the Eagle, is a beauty in its own right.

We walked this past week during cold, windy, sometimes wet weather. Spring clothes were put aside one day for winter's warmest again. On a day when we walked half of our usual distance due to the cold, wind and rain, we met few of the regular walkers, except two. She will be ninety this year. He uses a tall walking stick and she has a cane. They have missed very few days on the boardwalk and walked in a sheltered area that day to complete their walk in spite of conditions.

They inspire my husband and me to keep moving. I hope you find your motivation to keep moving too!

A new trail at Bonshaw

On a recent visit to Bonshaw Park, my husband and I walked the new trail called Howel’s Hallow. This trail is well constructed and a great addition to the trail system at Bonshaw where 20 kilometres of such trails await visitors.

It was a hot humid day but the breeze made it bearable. The new trail is great for mountain biking as well so in areas, it has waves and berms which make the walking interesting too. 

The trail crosses one stream, then  meanders down to the West River and loops back.

The new boardwalk made the going easy in some areas. 

Ferns were luscious, catching the light occasionally through windows in the trees. 

We noticed several types of mushrooms, the most obvious among them, the Orange-gilled Waxcap. 

Lungwort, a lichen, was well established on this tree 

while bunchberries were available for picking. These bland berries are a good addition to other berries for jam.

We sat on a bench by the West River and listened as the sound of the water-filled hollow created by nature. 

A few deep breaths later and we continued on the loop. 

Nature takes back what she gives as moss covers the fallen trees in one area. 

Though we didn’t see or hear them, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers had been busy along the way.

Headed back through a meadow to the car, we passed these beauties, 

smiling through the grasses into the glorious sun. Perfect.

 

Green glory

Spring is in full bloom on the island. Over two days the leaves unfurled on some trees and within a week, all the leaves were open in their new green glory. I love this time of year.

We have cycled various trails recently and the beauty of the burgeoning new green of spring has caused my husband and I to pause frequently to take in the glory of the season. 

On May 29th, the leaves along the trail from Darlington to Charlottetown were bursting forth, 

creating a green hue along the sides and above the trail.

On June 2nd, on the Homestead Trail, the leaves were fully out and cast shadows on the trails which we cycled through 

and smiled as we rode in and out of the leafy shapes.

How fortunate for us the leaves are out in time for the warmer weather, providing a respite from the sun’s heat, if only momentary as we cycle by.

Nature is in a hurry. She knows her time in this condition is limited. A few short months and the green will be fading. For now, all over the island the unfurling of the new green of trees and shrubs is apace.

Combined with the quick eruption of ferns 

and wildflowers through the red soil, everything looks lush and green again. Now and then a splash of colour draws the eye to some pretty wildflower, such as this Winter Cress, which has been quick to stake its claim to a bit of the red dirt.

Nature makes room for all of them to our delight.

From my last post, David M. Gascoigne at https://travelswithbirds.blogspot.com/ asked

What kind of breeding habitat are they using on PEI so close to humans? Is your house close to a coastal marsh perhaps? 

We are several kilometres from the coast here. We have trees in our neighbourhood and a variety of birds live around us, including the Song Sparrows. They have nested among our hedges for years now. Many people in the area have similar landscaping, so there could be other sparrows in the area. 

We have heard and/or seen them everywhere we’ve been on the island, except the beaches. Along the length of the Confederation Trail which runs through farmland and is bordered with trees, we’ve encountered them singing their hearts out. Their repertoire is familiar.

An autumn ride

It is a beautiful fall morning. The heat and humidity are gone now and temperatures are seasonal. A jacket is in order. The colours of autumn brighten the way as we cycle on the Confederation Trail.

We leave from Emerald this time, a pretty farming community in the centre of the island. Many fields are already harvested though some have equipment turning over the soil today. Gulls cover the newly exposed earth, gathering the spoils of the ploughing.

The trail is leaf covered in places and they crunch as we pass through. 

In some areas, large ferns are rusty now. They catch the sunlight filtered through the trees and lower in the sky on this autumn morning.

There are many red maples along this trail and we ride over perfect Canadian flag specimens spread out under the colourful trees. 

Through the trees, we see horses grazing in a field not far from a farm house. 

There are large farm properties along this section of trail. 

In another area, an old barn has succumbed to the elements.

As we approach the turning point for us today, we see a herd of cows, many large with calf. 

They graze on one side of the trail, while on the opposite side rolls of hay for the coming winter are ready to go.

Every so often I stop to take photos, one foot on the ground, the other on a peddle. However, every so often, I get off the bike and take a look around. Some scenes require your full attention. 

 

Look down

About this time every fall, a walk through the woods causes us to look up at the coloured beauty of the deciduous trees as they relinquish their leafy greens.

However, if we only look up, we will miss the beauty of the forest floor.

Recently along the trails at Rotary Friendship Park, the undergrowth drew the attention of my husband and me. Summer green has paled or become a combination of yellow-green or yellow. 

Taking in the full scene spread before us, the hint of orange-red with some summer green fills the spectrum for autumn colours right at our feet.

My favourite autumn scenes include ferns. Some stands of the feathery plants are almost completely yellow. A hint of green around the perimeter is the only remnant of summer’s colour. Red in the plants in the background enhance the scene. 

Young trees add their own beauty to this stand of ferns.

Coniferous trees line the trail in some areas and ferns in various stages of colour fill the spaces between the trees.

Some species of ferns have yet to “autumnate” and their green adds another layer of colour which includes trees in the foreground and background.

While I love the new green on spring, the vegetation of autumn makes my heart sing. 

October shadows

It is after 11:00 a.m. and there are long shadows across the boardwalk. 

Soon, time will fall back an hour and the dark will close in earlier every day until it is dark at 5:00 p.m. Before long, the harbour will freeze as December’s cold overcomes the sea. For now though, geese still chat to each other and float around at high tide.

Today, the shadows distract from the colour overhead, though some of the trees are bare now. However, stripped of their colour,  the intricacy of limb and twig is filigree against the blue sky.

A side path to the harbour draws us in as the shadows show limbs 

and leaves. 

In the undergrowth, a play of light on fern 

and rose bush creates glowing colours.

Along the main path, a person in the distance is about to emerge into the light.

The bench, in partial shade, provides enough sun to be comfortable to sit for a time and listen to the birds.

They are particularly busy today.

A small flock of cedar waxwings is busy munching berries by the stream.

They are new to the area.  

In the stream, a yellowlegs is busy in the shallow water along the shoreline. 

American black ducks sit on a log in the shadow of the bulrushes. 

The lengthening shadows are changing the flora and fauna along the boardwalk again as Autumn marches to meet her sister, Winter.