Backyard Trails - Local Flora and Fauna

At the risk of appearing boring, I decided to post a few pictures of my backyard walks that didn't make it into the previous hubs. It was such a difficult decision finding the perfect shot, and like a nervous mother I didn't want the rest of my work to go unsung.

Once you start taking pictures of your surroundings, you never look at things the same. Photo opportunities leap to my eye as I survey the countryside - never mind that the subject matter is similar, the simple act of changing the viewpoint gives each photograph a unique quality, and I find myself taking picture after picture! (It's a good thing I have a digital camera - I would need a second mortgage to develop all my photos!)

I didn't realize how much I enjoy photography, and have thought one day I should purchase a good camera. By good I mean one that you can change lenses. I am always seeing a bird or some other small animal that is too far away to see with a regular camera unless you enlarge the picture. Sometimes that works, but the majority of the time the picture turns out grainy. Maybe for Christmas this year I might hint at a camera in my stocking...

But I digress. The reason for this hub is to show off what I think are really interesting pictures. I'm sure many of you will agree, if only out of politeness, but that's alright, I'm just happy to be able to share them with you.

So without further ado, I would like to present a few of my favorites. I hope you enjoy them.

I was so amazed by the amount of fungi on this tree, I just had to capture the image! No matter how many times we travel the same trails, I always find the scenery captivating - the way the light filters through the giant trees, the carpets of moss and lichen that cover the undergrowth, or the myriad fungi that flourish under the rain forest's canopy.

They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and nature clothes her children in elegant, timeless attire that these eyes find irresistible.

I couldn't believe that there were so many types of fungi - from mushrooms that grow on the ground to the different ones that grow on the trees. I don't know their names but they are beautiful none the less.

Every time I turned around, I saw something else that I had to take a picture of. I was fortunate to find the dewdrops still clinging to the outgrowths. We had gone for our walk earlier in the day and I was amazed to see the differences in the forest paths.

No gallery would be complete without the addition of a timeless joy - a boy and his dog. Watching these two traipsing along the trails makes my heart happy, and obviously gives both of them much enjoyment as well.

This picture in particular tugs at my heartstrings. The boy is now eighteen, and the dog has since crossed the rainbow bridge. It's wonderful to look back and see how much we enjoyed life. Every weekend we would troop out to our favorite haunt - Golden Ears Park, and 'trip the trails fantastic'!

It really was a lot of fun, and we couldn't wait for the weekends.

We weren't the only ones who loved the walks. Logan (the dog pictured on the right,) lived for walks...and food, but that is another story. He would not be denied his walks. If we happened to be lazing around, he would 'jones' at the door, waiting until one of us opened it, then he was down the stairs like a shot and waiting expectantly beside the van.

It really was funny to watch. We could sometimes cage a few more minutes of relaxation if we let him lie down in the van, but that would never hold him for long. So whether we wanted to or not, we were forced to enjoy the wonderful parks and pathways in our "backyard".

This picture reminded me of a fairy ring. When I was a little girl, I was a Brownie. (This was long before they had the younger group called Sparks.) I used to think that the toad stool that we danced around at the meetings was magical, and imagined fairies peeking out from under the top.

I didn't see any fairies, but these little toadstools brought me back to a time when I believed.

The pathways are so peaceful. Most hikers are quite considerate of their surroundings, and refrain from yelling back and forth as they jog past, their walking sticks sounding muffled thuds in time with their feet.

Most people who stroll along these pathways appear to be meditating or contemplating the serenity that surrounds them. It is so quiet and peaceful, you can almost believe that you're the only one in the forest. It is almost a disappointment when you round a corner and see another person walking along ahead of you.

We rarely have the opportunity to visit Golden Ears Park now. We moved across the river and we hardly seem to find the time to make the drive. Of course, our remaining dog is now thirteen, and she has arthritis in her hips and knees, so the walk through Golden Ears is too much for her now.

There is a nice wooded area closer to home that she enjoys. Part of the park used to be a man made lake that has since been planted over. Because it used to be a beach, there is a trail that circles the place where the lake used to be that is just the perfect distance for Bella.

Some of the trails are a bit more generic than Golden Ears, and are well used by many other dog lovers, but there are a few that take you deep into the woods where, if you are quiet, you can imagine that you are all alone in the forest.