Return to the Glen

Sunday afternoon was a rather warm, high 50ºs day so I decided to grab the camera this time, put on my boots and head down to the glen where I visited on Saturday.

The glen is on the south side of our property.  Our backyard borders the top of the glen and with the leaves off the trees we can see into glen when we stand on the edge.  Come spring the view will slowly disappear.

I headed down the path way and down to the creek.

I can see just a bit of the house once I get down the path.

Tree trunks are scattered in the woods victims of the summer derecho.

I was in luck.  More artifacts, here displayed on a mossy tree trunk.

I headed up stream and spied these.  A canning lid seal made of ceramic or porcelain and it was whole.



And another pottery shard.

 On the trip back up the path way this snail shell caught my eye but I left it in place.

 An old tree stand built before we owned this property.

 Almost back to the house and this is perspective I have of my house.

And back to the top.

Connecting to Our World Tuesday.

Almost Wordless Wednesday - Japanese Lanterns

I have always been enamored with Japanese lanterns.  I have one small one that I bring out each Spring and put into a new spot depending upon my whim that year.  When Fall comes I put it away because I'm afraid the cold weather will make it crumble.  This year the lantern is nestled amongst the ferns, heucheras and hostas in the glen garden. And as the season progresses it blends more and more into its surroundings.

 

 But my lantern is miniscule compared to these I spied in the Japanese Garden at Butchart Gardens in Victoria, Canada.

 

What Was That Cry In the Woods?

We don't know. The haunting cry came into our consciousness as we were enjoying a late breakfast on Saturday morning. "Annhhh..." It must have sounded several times before we turned to each other and said "What is that?"

I headed out through the garage because I thought it was coming from the east. Dan headed to the back deck because he had the sense it was coming from the glen. He was right as we joined up on the edge of the glen to listen to the mournful cry "Annhhh..." What was it? It was a single cry, a long silent pause and then it would come again. It definitely was down in the glen. Some animal crying in its own way for help. "Annhhh.."

Dan was barefoot. I had on clogs, but we headed down the path to see if we could find it and the tree that we heard fall one night this past week during dinner. You know that saying, if a tree falls in the woods ...

The cry stopped as we neared the bottom of the glen. No animal or bird in sight that conceivably could have made that sound. A lot of bird songs though, almost deafening in their intensity. We gazed up in awe at the canopy formed by the trees. Some of them must be 10 or more stories high. But no recently fallen tree or large limb. Maybe the saying should be if a tree falls in the woods can you find it?

We walked the entire length of the trail through the glen coming out on the driveway. Whatever it was stayed silent while we were there. Up the driveway and back to the yard bordering the top of the glen. Then we heard the call again. Was it a bird? Was it a young fledgling lost from its parent? Do fawns have mournful cries? What was it? Will we ever know? "Annhhh..."

Ferns

I have the perfect habitat for ferns since I live on the edge of the woods. I call that garden area the Glen and have planted an assortment of ferns there.
Many of the ferns have come directly from the woods.

This painted fern is a purchase and a slow grower compared to some of the others.

This is one of the strangest ferns and I have no recollection where I got it: woods or store.

The ostrich fern grows well in this wet weather but when it gets hot and dry it dies back.

This is one from the woods and easily transplanted.

At the Philadelphia Flower Show I purchased this fern. It came as tubers. I planted five in one bed and they are in different stages of growth.



Here it is flowering. I wonder what color the others will be?