Walking Through Autumn: Beaman Park on the First Day of Autumn

The Nature Center at Beaman Park on
August 1st, the First Day of Autumn

There are eight landmark days on the solar calendar

and today, August 1st, is one of them. According to

ancient tradition this day is the First Day of Autumn.

We've been losing more and more sunlight with each
passing day since June 21st (Midsummer), slowly moving
toward the dark and cold days of winter. Earlier cultures
realized this and took time to celebrate this day, the
beginning of Autumn, appreciating the warmth of the sun,
and enjoying the first grain harvest.

Click here to read about ancient traditions
related to the solar calendar.

Every August 1st I find a good hiking trail to celebrate the occasion,

and today I chose Beaman Park's Henry Hollow Loop.

Click here for Information about Beaman Park

and to see a Trail Map.

Our plan (see the map) is to begin behind the Visitors' Center and take the Sedge Hill Trail to Henry Creek, then walk counterclockwise on the Henry Hollow Loop, then head back to the Center, a total of about 3 miles.

Soon, while walking on the Sedge Hill Trail, you'll run
across this shelter. At this point (stay left) you'll be
descending toward Henry Creek.

Before hiking in any woods you must know how to identify

this plant, below...Poison Ivy ! Each leaf is divided into 3 leaflets.

"Leaflets three, let it be!"

If you think you have touched this plant, don't touch someone else,
because you'll rub the oil (urushiol) onto them, giving them the rash.

Some people think this is poison ivy, but it is Va. Creeper,
which does not give you a rash if you touch it.
Notice how many leaflets it has.

This Sedge Hill Trail is marked with yellow.

This trail is named after this plant, Boote's Sedge,
which grows all along the trail.

Boote's Sedge makes a neat looking flower in the Spring.
Click here if you want to see it.

August 1st is a Cross-Quarter day, falling midway between

the Summer Solstice and the Autumnal Equinox.

At the bottom of the hill is the bridge that
spans Henry Creek.

According to ancient tradition the 4 cross-quarter days
are the first days of each season...August 1st being

the first day of Fall.

On the other side of the creek turn right at this sign.

The solstices and the equinoxes are mid-seasonal days...

the Summer Solstice is Midsummer...

the Autumnal Equinox is Mid-autumn, etc.

This Blazing Star was growing right next
to Henry Creek!

Click this photo to enlarge it.

Now, you're on the Creekside Trail, which is the lower part of
the Henry Hollow Loop. The creek is on your right.
This Henry Hollow Loop is marked with white paint.

Soon you'll see a large cliff on the other side
of Henry Creek.

Take the side trail to get in the creek, then return to the
Creekside Trail to continue the walk.

I like to wear sandals on creekside walks so that I can feel the water on my feet and explore the creek's biodiversity.

Sara, Kai, and Marilyn explore Henry Creek.
The water is nice and cool...just be careful, some of
the rocks can be slippery.

You'll see many dragonflies, and other flying insects.

Kai spotted a salamander.

Liverworts grow beside the creek. This plant is closely
related to mosses. They're both non-vascular plants.

After exploring the creek head back to the trail.
Be sure to turn right and walk with the flow of the creek.

The flower of a plant called Starry Campion.

At this point turn left to continue on the Henry Hollow Loop.
Going straight will take you to a parking lot with a port-a-potty, if you need it.

Click here to see a trail map.

In this area we spotted a beautiful wild orchid,
called Cranefly Orchid.

Close-up view of the Cranefly Orchid flowers.
Click here to see a great video about this orchid.

You will now be climbing a hill until you reach
the Ridgetop Trail.

Walk up this hill slowly.
Stop, look, and listen, often!

A plant called Agrimony.

It has some very tiny beautiful flowers and a very
distinctive leaf which is shown below.

Notice the tiny leaflets between the larger ones,
a distinctive characteristic of Agrimony leaves.

Click here to read about Agrimony as a remedy for ailments.

The canopy gives you a relatively cool walk
the entire way!

We saw and heard
a Pileated Woodpecker.

Photo taken from the website.

Click here to learn about this woodpecker and hear it's call.

You'll see these millipedes along the walk. They are harmless.
Pick it up, carefully, and you will smell the cherry-like fragrance that it secretes.

Tick Trefoil
Many of the trefoils have produced seeds at this time.
Click here for info about tick trefoils.

At this point we've climbed pretty high. You can see the valley
down below on the left side of the trail.

A plant called Tall Bellflower
Click here for information.

You can celebrate here...you've made it to the top of the hill.
Turn left here onto the Ridgetop Trail.

Lots of butterflies called Red Spotted Purples, today.
Click here for info.

A plant called Asiatic Dayflower.

The very common Christmas Fern.

The leaflets on the undersides
of the frond tips
produce sori, or spore cases.

The Ridgetop Trail

A yellow Amanita mushroom.
Most Amanitas are poisonous, so beware!

Look down at the Mosses, occasionally, and
you might see their sporophytes,
or spore cases, their spore producing structures. Each spore case will release many
spores, each growing into a gametophyte, the plant that produces sperm and eggs.
A sperm will fertilize an egg and produce a sporophyte...the life cycle of mosses.
Click here to see an animation of the cycle.

The fruit (on the right) of Solomon's Plume.
Click here for info.
(Some literature refer to this plant as False Solomon's Seal,
but I prefer this name.)

We turned left here to make our descent to Henry Creek.
If you want a longer hike, go straight and continue on this Ridgetop Trail, which is a
there-and-back trail, a total of 4 miles.

Click here to see a trail map.