Friday, September 1, 2023

Beaman Park in September


The Visitors' Center at Beaman Park      

Got up early this morning
and headed out to Beaman Park to walk the Henry Hollow Loop
trail. The angle of the sun was low and I saw some great shadows.
I like to walk here as often as possible.  

I parked at the Visitors' Center and immediately 
saw some Wild Grapes.
 Click here for information.


The Staghorn Sumacs had fruit on them.


When I looked closely at the sumacs I noticed
some galls growing under the leaves.  These
are aphid incubators.  Read about them below:
Info on Sumac Aphid Galls

My plan is to follow the Sedge Hill Trail to Henry Creek and then
 walk clockwise around the Henry Hollow Loop Trail...
a total of around 3 miles.  
The Sedge Hill Trail
After this pavillion it's downhill all the way to the creek.

White (Lactarius species?) Mushroom


Downy Lobelia.
Lobelia Information 



Heading down to Henry Creek
on the Sedge Hill Trail.


Partridge Pea
Click here for information.


Blue-stemmed Goldenrod.
with pollinator
(click any photo to enlarge it)


Beware...lots of spider webs along the way.
I always carry a stick to get the webs before I run into them
with my face!
Hoary Mountain Mint 
I like the spray-painted effect.
Click here for information.

Mountain Mint flower
Click any photo to enlarge it.

I can hear the running water of Henry Creek.


Very large Chanterelle mushrooms!
  Click here for general information about fungi.




The bridge going across Henry Creek. 



Red-spotted Purple butterfly
I love the colors.
Click here for info

Turn left at this sign to go on 
the Henry Hollow Loop trail. 

The Loop Trail will begin with a gradual incline, serpentining up 
the hill.  Some of you will think this is a rough climb, but just 
take it slow, remembering to stop, look, and listen often.

Cowbane (Oxypolis rigidior)
Close-up of Cowbane flowers
Click here for info


Mullein Foxglove




Turkey-tail fungus decomposing this stump.
What would happen to life on this planet without decomposers?

Fungi, and other decomposers, break-down dead things and place
the nutrients back into the soil for the plants to absorb.  They are
nature's recyclers.


Yule Ferns were everywhere!
aka Christmas Ferns
  

The tip of some of the fronds are smaller and have sori
under their leaflets.  These are the fertile fronds.
Sori are spore cases which hold the spores that will spread
and create new fern plants.
Click here for info

Any idea why it's called Christmas Fern?
(see the answer, below)


Heading uphill toward the Ridgetop Trail.

Around the Winter Solstice people used to take evergreen ferns
indoors to decorate their houses, or use the fronds
of these ferns to make wreaths...
Christmas Ferns.



This Orange Pinwheel Marasmius was only 
about 2 inches tall. 



A beautiful Fall Aster.


Broad Beech Fern

After a good walk up the hill you will run across an intersection,
which is where the Loop Trail overlaps with the Ridgetop Trail.
Take a right to continue on the Loop Trail.  You can walk the 
Ridgetop Trail at a later date.

Fungi can be beautiful, as is 
this White Marasmiellus. . 

Soon you will turn right again (at a sign) 
to begin your descent toward Henry Creek.  




The lighting is unbelievable at this time of the morning.  Descending toward Henry Creek. 


Heard an Eastern Wood-Pewee in the trees.
Photo taken from the Cornell Site.



Flowering Spurge
Click here for info



Asiatic Dayflower. 
Click here for info
Nice shadows. 



Tick Trefoil


Eventually, you'll run into the Creekside Trail, 
which runs along Henry Creek.  
You will be coming down the hill...the right of the photo.
Turn right at the sign and walk toward the bridge
that you crossed earlier on your walk.  This is my favorite section
of Beaman Park.  There are many spots along the trail where you 
can actually get in the creek if you want.  Try it.

You'll find many species of mushrooms
along the way. 


 I found 3 different Grape Ferns in this area next to the creek!
Click any photo to enlarge it.
 

 


They're called grape ferns because their fertile frond
(photo on the right) looks like tiny green grapes.


Henry Creek is on the left.
Soon you'll be back at the bridge, which is the end of the Loop.

Woodoats,   
aka Spangle Grass
Click here for Info


American Strawberry Bush,
aka Bursting Hearts



Jewelweed, 
aka Spotted Touch-Me-Not


To me, this is one of the best trails in the Nashville area!  My favorite trails have creeks nearby! 



A caterpillar of the Agreeable Tiger Moth.
Some forms have the stripes, some don't.
Click photos to enlarge them.
Video of this caterpillar


This Funnel-web Spider (Agelenopsis sp.) would love to have
a taste of the caterpillar, above.
(Of course, this is not the Sydney Funnel-web spider)
Click here for Information about this spider
Video of a Funnel Web Spider


The fruit of Spotted Wintergreen.
Click here for info


One of the many species of Boletes. 
Here is a great Bolete website!


An very small, inconspicuous plant called Liverwort.
It's a Bryophyte, which are plants
without vessels (xylem and phloem).  
Mosses are also bryophytes.
Bryophyte Information



Black-eyed Susan


A Five-Lined Skink (aka Blue-tailed Lizard),
however, the blue pigment fades with age...
the adults will not have the blue in the tail.


Leafy Elephant's Foot
Close up of Elephant's Foot flower.
Click here for info




Take a little break here and listen...
lots of birds, cicadas...moving branches...running water.


Aquatic Snails everywhere.


The sound of these small waterfalls is one of my favorite
sounds in nature.

This is the end of the Henry Hollow Loop.
At this point turn left and head up the Sedge Hill Trail
 to the Nature Center. 



This was a very enjoyable walk in the early 
 morning light of NW Nashville.  It's a little
 strenuous going up to the ridgetop, but just take 
it nice and slow and appreciate what's around you.  

 Occasionally, stop to listen to the insects 
and birds. There are many species to see, if you 
just observe. 

 Try Beaman Park at any time of the year. 


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