A West Mill Easter

[RednekF350]

After sunrise service this morning at church my wife and one of my son's decided to head out to West Mill Road to do some geocaching. West Mill is like a mine field if caching is what you're into.

My son's dog Hank (named after Hank Williams, who else?) was along for the ride and quickly sniffed out every water hole and puddle he could find. He is a very well trained 9 month old yellow lab and is attached at the hip to my son.
On our way to an area north of West Mill Road near the Great Swamp we passed throug a wet section of secondary road that presented many beautiful photo ops in just a short stretch.
The water crossing the road was connected to a little draw with water about 3' deep and as clear as glass.
The dog wanted in.

My wife didn't wear her Lacrosee boots. Big mistake and we tried to leave her behind with the dog.
Here she is bribing him to stay.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/11291

He wasn't impressed after the treat and quickly deserted her.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/11290

Then, the water crossing and the scenic draw connected to it.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/11289

One happy Hank.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/11287

Then my son helped his mother, as any good boy should and we continued on our way.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/11288

Finally a treat for Mr. Moyer.
Although I have had dendrology and botany, I never pay attention to the little guys.
http://gallery.njpinebarrens.com/showphoto.php/photo/11286
What am them? Piney daisies?

Well it was a crisp, beautiful day in the woods and certainly a fitting Easter reminder of God's beautiful creations.

Scott

 

[HawkinNative]

All posts have been deleted

 

[RednekF350]

Your last botanical shot:

Pyxidanthera barbulata
Family: Diapensiaceae (Diapensia Family)
Common Names: flowering moss, flowering pixie-moss, pixie-moss
Taxon Synonyms: Pyxidanthera barbulata var. brevifolia, Pyxidanthera brevifolia Wells

Thanks Hawkin!
Now I know why I ignored the little guys.


You just can't beat a Pinus strobus, belonging to the pinaceae family, for making more Latin sense.
But then.........
Liquidambar styraciflua will keep you beard scratchin' too for a tree with such a simple common name.
Don't even get me started about Chamaecyparis thyoides!

 

[james ungehajer]

What a great day to be in the woods Scott with the wife, the son, and the dog, excellant photos. Happy Easter.

My dog will go to the woods with me any day, you can count the wife out though. Any bloodsucking ticks encountered ?

Jim

 

[RednekF350]

What a great day to be in the woods Scott with the wife, the son, and the dog, excellant photos. Happy Easter.

My dog will go to the woods with me any day, you can count the wife out though. Any bloodsucking ticks encountered ?

Jim

Jim, more ticks than you could imagine.
We left the woods at 2:30, ate and went back out for a little while around 5 into Parkdale. We are still finding them on us and the dog was loaded.

 

[james ungehajer]

Scott

How far did you travel down West Mill Road ? The reason that i am asking is that i might be going to the Nescohague Geodetic sometime this week and i was wondering how the road conditions are, washouts, etc.

Jim

 

[RednekF350]

Scott

How far did you travel down West Mill Road ? The reason that i am asking is that i might be going to the Nescohague Geodetic sometime this week and i was wondering how the road conditions are, washouts, etc.

Jim

We went all the way to the back of Pleasant Mills.
The water holes are pretty deep in most spots but all hard bottomed and passable.
The worst were around the half way point.
In my son's Cherokee we were plowing water up to the headlights in a few spots.
On Saturday, I saw a deuce and half and a an older Blazer with 44's come out of West Mill. That's never a good sign.

 

[glowordz]

Your last botanical shot:
Pyxidanthera barbulata
Family: Diapensiaceae (Diapensia Family)
Common Names: flowering moss, flowering pixie-moss, pixie-moss
Taxon Synonyms: Pyxidanthera barbulata var. brevifolia, Pyxidanthera brevifolia Wells

I like the little guys, Scott! Glad you found the pixie-moss, and my thanks to you, Hawkin, for identifying it. I've admired pixie-moss in my Geller (Key) and it's nice to see it up close. I get the impression that it's rare. Is that correct? Endangered? Might I find it in Wharton?

Glo

 

[HawkinNative]

All posts have been deleted

 

[glowordz]

I'll tell Prof. Michael Geller that you enjoy his book! I'll be having dinner with him next weekend.

It really is an excellent resource, and he deftly combines scholarship with accessibility. As a non-native, I found the first chapter particularly helpful. His students are fortunate!

Glo