It was a warm spring afternoon and the Friends of Metro Parks gathered in an empty lot off of Cambria Lane. We snacked and fueled up for what was promised to be an exciting off-trail hike through one of the newest properties obtained by Metro Parks in Blendon Township. Last April, we took a hike through the same property, but with it being later in the year, we were all excited to see what spring would bring to the space.
Our Naturalist and guide for the afternoon, Bruce, gathered us around, told us to stay close and explained that the land we were about to hike through was a little muddy due to all of the rain we had recently, and that there were no real trails throughout the property. We would be stopping at the eagles nest, and also stopping along the way to talk about some of the other cool things that were popping up over the springtime.
Photo: A. Jackson
So we set off! This time around, as we entered the wooded area of the property, we were immediately shaded by the fresh leaves sprouting from the tips of branches high above us. One of the interesting characteristics of this new land are the huge mature oak trees that create so much shade that the understory is mostly clear of invasive plants such as the Japanese Honeysuckle.
Photo: J. Bethea
This spring, pockets of sunlight hitting the ground allowed small patches of wildflowers to bloom, and the weather was perfect for finding all sorts of unique fungi sprouting up at the bases of trees, along the tops of downed logs, and hiding out in the damp recesses of the forest floor, the vibrant orange and red splotches peeping out from the mud and moss.
Photo: J. Bethea
One month made a world of difference in the scenery of the property. On our last hike, it was cold, grey, and most trees were still completely barren, really allowing you to focus on the hills, creeks, and all of the vast open space between the trees. One month later and the entire property was engulfed in bright green leaves, the beginnings and ends of early spring wildflowers, and evidence of people exploring and hiking throughout the land after a year of Metro Parks ownership.
We stopped along a ridge and looked out at the Big Walnut Creek, stopped to see the eagles nest, and then headed back through the fresh spring growth. We lost our trail for a while, popping out in a driveway down the street while trying to find our cars, but quickly turned ourselves around and trudged back through to familiar scenery. If we didn’t get lost at least once, it wouldn’t have been an adventure!