Rotary Trail

The woodlands have come to life. The forest floor which had been covered in detritus, has turned green with the plants of summer. Our recent walk on the Rotary Trail on the east end of our city, gave us an opportunity to observe some of the smaller beauties.

A single dandelion flower is pretty by itself but millions are visible in the fields adjacent to the trail. Some bloom along the trail as well but the fields are a bee’s delight.

Violets grow along the trail and through the woods. These tiny little flowers are close to the ground and easy to miss as you go.

Ferns are growing rapidly now. The Interrupted Ferns are tall, already dwarfing other ferns which are slower to mature. 

Starflowers are early risers from the forest floor 

as are the Wild Lily of the Valley. 

At first glance one only sees the leaves, but both plants are worth a closer look.

Young trees are spread out in the June sunshine.

The air is filled with the sound of birds, but the only one visible is this Mourning Dove which takes a passing glance at the elderly woman taking its photo.

Along the way, we pass fields planted with potatoes and grass which will become hay. There is a softness to the countryside now as the leaves and blooms on the trees create pretty boundaries between the fields. 

Oh look! We can have a picnic.

Country road

The road is deep in the red dirt.

 

My husband and I were here last October when the leaves were almost spent, the red and orange remnants falling around us as we passed. Today, the dominant colour is green as we walk with the golden grand-dog, Georgie.

 

The Millman Road is in the center of the island, a heritage road which cuts through farmland over rolling hills. The canopy was magical. 

 

The sound of the earth on this day is the wind in the trees while the sunlight dances on the road as it filters through them. It is a feast for the senses.

 

Blossoms are falling today, not leaves. Mountain ash, 

 

pin cherry, chokecherry 

 

and apple trees

 

are in mid to late bloom and in places, petals cover the road. By the side of the road, lupins are in bud or blooming.

 

The forest floor is covered with Wild Lily of the Valley and Bluebead Lily but the blossoms are miniature in this setting. 

 

Their leaves are the dominant feature of the forest floor.

 

Robins land on the road and hop ahead of us until Georgie decides to run towards them. She soon learns how senseless is that endeavour. Woodpeckers have had their way with the trees along the road, as evidenced by the many holes left in the old wood.

 

At the top of a hill, you can look out over the countryside, past the fields planted with various crops, including potato. The countryside below is bisected by the Southwest River which flows into New London Bay on the north shore.  

 

At the end of the road, someone has a garden whose beauty matches what nature provides on the remainder of the road. We walked slowly back to the car, absorbing the essence of the earth as a world of green.