Daylight walk - thoughts of "Faster Daddy, faster!"

Dried mud with tracks (deer and maybe dog) at beginning of the dirt track

The pups and I have been walking in  the dark lately. It is fall and the sun is late. And we do not have time to wait for the sunrise.

We have seen neighbors picking up their newspapers. We have missed the singing birds (few sing in the dark). The only "wildlife" were the few cats seen wandering home after their nights out.

We have avoided the park as we do not walk there alone - in the dark. We only walk in far enough to drop trash in the closest garbage can and then turn for home.

But today was Saturday and, finally, we had the opportunity to walk in the light. We dawdled a bit as all the sights and sounds and smells of the day distracted. But the traffic was constant and fast. Where were these people going?

A few things have changed in the neighborhood. Some folks have started decorating for Halloween. And the crows and grackles add to the holiday feel...black birds...we just needed a few black cats...

When we reached the park we realized our error - we had waited too late to walk. It was not yet 8, but the park was teaming with ball players. Cars were turning into the park from the east and west. We waited and waited for our turn to cross our road into the park, all the while wondering where we would walk.

We noticed one car make a U-turn and leave the park. The dog owner inside (two cute dogs peered at us through the windshield) must have thought better of her idea of a walk in the park on this day.

So we decided to try the dirt road. But we didn't want anyone to see us head that direction. We don't want to invite trouble...followers or what have you. Still the traffic did not abate and we gave up. We would take our walk and take our chances - watching for unwanted company as we went along.


At the beginning of the dirt track we could see the mud (from the rain of two weeks ago) had finally dried.. The road was dry - and wrecked. A large vehicle attempted the road before it was safe to do so. Huge ruts reminded me of the times I had been out in the wilderness with my dad...we always wanted him to drive fast down those rugged roads. We got stuck a few times too. "Faster Daddy, faster!" echoed in my head as the pups and I picked our way through the rougher places.

Torn up road 

Deep ruts in the dirt road

We immediately noted purple/pink wildflowers across the meadows. These were new - a bright by-product of the rains. I debated trying to identify them from memory and picked a few instead. I have at least three wildflower books, but they are of no use if I cannot remember the details of the plants. And my photos are often too blurry to be of any use. [Flowers were duly identified at home - see below]

I was planning on harvesting wafer ash seeds and cuttings anyway. I brought clippers and a bag so that I could bring home the plant materials needed to propagate this delightful tree. [Watch this space in the spring to see if we had any success.]

Purple Gerardia ( Agalinis purpurea)

More Purple Gerardia

The dew was still on the grass and glimmering on the spider webs throughout the fields. They were mostly tiny weavings holding together the seed heads of the grasses.

At the edge of the park the raw cuts on the mulberry tree showed where it was badly pruned. But I scarcely had time to mourn or curse when the oldest child drove up and stopped. She offered to carry the clippings home to free up my hands for the rest of the walk.

We hurried home - too many projects were waiting for us. Some might even be accomplished before this weekend was over.