Rutland Trail East - Part 3

The dogs and I were on the Rutland Nature Trail (see also previous two posts) and were on our way back to our parked car:

These gorgeous leaves grabbed my attention and I had to take a photo. When I got home, I searched diligently for an identification, but had too little information. I couldn't even tell if the leaves had been opposite or alternate. But they did look like they might be Beaked Hazelnut, so that's what I'll call them for now:

The dogs' feet were getting muddier as we walked - and so were mine. I was also getting sand inside my leg braces but decided I could wait until I got home to remove it:

And all the while the dogs played and explored. They had used up their excess energy by now, though, and were much easier to keep close to me:

The three little dogs investigated a channel near the trail but found nothing exciting:

And then we were off again, happily making our way along the trail and past the Gray Birch saplings. You can see the joy in Seamus' gait and Fergus was so peppy that his ears were flopping:

But there are always reasons to slow down and check out the wild smells:

There was no reason to walk around mud puddles when walking right through them is so much fun:

I saw clumps of moss and tried to identify them. I think this was Common Fern Moss:

But I have no idea what this was:

On the trees were patches of Green Shield Lichen:

But our little hike was almost over and I could see our parked car up ahead. I put my camera away and concentrated on keeping the dogs from running ahead: