The Southville State Forest - Part 2

The dogs and I were walking the trail in the Southville State Forest and were making our way back from the St. Regis River (see Part 1, posted yesterday):


I was stopped in my tracks by a large patch of tiny pink flowers. It was Pipsissewa, a member of the Wintergreen family:

They are odd and fascinating flowers, so I tried to get a closeup. Alas, they were shiny and aimed downward, making it difficult. This was the best I could do:

The dogs were not impressed with wildflowers, and were impatient to get moving again. So that's what we did:

We walked right over some tiny Dwarf Cinquefoil, which are much like their more common relative except for size. Notice how this little plant fits in with the grass:

We took a few side trips to explore the forest, and this emerald carpet of moss was one of the rewards. Notice how Jack is enjoying rubbing in its softness:

We left the area of hardwoods and passed back into the stand of Red Pines:

We were getting close to our car:

But I saw a mossy lane and we detoured onto it for a short while:

Common St. Johnswort was in bloom. This plant is rich in legend and history. It was believed that evil spirits would flee from it. Because of its red sap, it was associated with the blood of St. John the Baptist. St. Johnswort leaves, believed to bring good luck, were used as bookmarks in bibles. It also had medicinal uses, and even today is sometimes used to counteract depression:

And a Common Mullein, standing tall against the trunk of a Red Pine. Mullein is believed by some to fight infection and inflammation. I have also heard that it was sacred to many Native Americans, which is easy to believe if you've ever come across one at night, in the glow of a full moon:

But our parked car was just up ahead and our short hike was over. We don't come often to this state forest, but it is a beauty:

The Southville State Forest - Part 1

We had another lovely summer day, another opportunity to take the dogs to a local forest, so I drove 11 miles to the Southville State Forest. We've been there before, but not in quite awhile. I parked the car and let the dogs out:

They were in a running mood, and I had to keep calling them back as we passed through a stand of Red Pines:

And it was a happy occasion, a chance to feel the warm sun and cool shade, smell the mossy earth and hear myriad bird songs:

We passed from the Red Pine stand into a younger section of hardwoods:

I had to stop the dogs from drinking out of ruts in the trail. I knew that the river was just up ahead;

And there it was, the west branch of the mighty St. Regis River:

Seamus and Daphne waded right in immediately, but Jack was happy just to get a drink of cool, clean water:

Fergus waded out into the water with his buddy, Seamus. Clover just got her toes wet:

The three little dogs did some rock hopping:

And then explored up the shoreline, just to see what they could see:

I stayed back with Fergus and Seamus lest I twist my vulnerable ankles on the rocks:

And then we started the trip back to where I'd parked the car. I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

Southville State Forest - Part 3

The dogs and I had hiked down to the St. Regis River in the Southville State Forest and were on our way back to our car:

Seamus saw or heard something high up in a tree:

And then we continued on. It was easy walking, a requirement these days because of my leg braces:

Exquisite scenery and happy dogs. Yes, Daphne was taking a pee when I snapped this photo, but it was too nice not to use:

We continued on toward our car. I tried to get the dogs to pose for a photo near that fallen log, but they couldn't hold still long enough and I gave up:

Through golden woodlands:

And scenic trails:

Happy dogs, sniffing along a mossy forest floor:

I knew that we were almost back to our car:

This thick stand of evergreens, I knew, meant that our car was just ahead, up where you see that patch of sunlight:

And indeed it was. The happy dogs ran to it and then, because I was taking too long to catch up, began sniffing all around:

I called them all back into the car and we began our drive home, a journey which included a trip across the bridge over the St. Regis River we'd just visited. Somewhere down there is where we'd just been:

Southville State Forest - Part 2

The dogs and I were hiking in the Southville State Forest and had just arrived at the lovely west branch of the St. Regis River. Daphne and Clover walked down to the water's edge:

Seamus, of course, went right into the water - and little Jack followed his big buddy:

I enjoyed the beauty while the dogs raced up and down the riverbank:

But then we started back up toward the trail which would return us to our car:

The rich bottomlands were carpeted in golden leaves:

There was a hilly section which took us back up to higher ground:

And it was entirely lovely:

By this time the dogs had calmed down and I had no trouble keeping them close to me:

It was a pleasant walk with happy dogs:

There were lots of side trips for sniffing the many forest smells:

And glorious autumn beauty:

This is why autumn in the northeast is so wonderful. But we weren't back to our car yet. I'll post Part 3 tomorrow:

Southville State Forest - Part 1

Freezing weather was predicted soon, but we were having one last lovely day. I took the dogs with me to the feed store, and then from there to the Southville State Forest, through which runs the west branch of the St. Regis River:

I drove into the forest a short distance, parked and let the dogs out:

They were as excited as ever, and I had to do some hollering to keep them all close to me. They wanted to run:

But they soon began calming down and we had a pleasant walk:

The lanes took us through both coniferous and hardwood growths:

With mossy patches alongside many of the trails:

And then we began to drop down toward the river:

The excitement began to build again as the dogs sensed that we were nearing the river:

The bottomlands were deciduous forest and the dogs sniffed and explored over fallen, golden leaves:

Just ahead, I knew, we'd find the St. Regis River:

And then we found the river, with two old folding chairs set along its golden banks:

The dogs ran down to the water's edge. I'll post about that tomorrow: