One Spring Day at Marcy's Woods

Marcy Woods on a Spring Day Earl Plato

What a difference a few days in Spring makes. Warm days and warmer nights made the difference. On a Spring Tuesday a few years ago my wife, Elaine, daughter ,Allison, and her two small girls, Kiara and Ashlyn headed out mid-morning to Marcy Woods. A faint misting but the children had boots and raincoats. We took the road through the kennels to Marcy Woods. There they were - a few yellow-headed Coltsfoot’s flowers showing up. Yes, to our left in the wetlands the sound of Chorus frogs. This was going to be a good day. A fine mist fell but not enough to deter our mission. That was Marcy pond and hopefully Wood frogs. No Wild leaks yet. A huge nest was to our left a hundred feet in or so. I focused my bird glasses. No globular squirrel nest but a nest well constructed of twigs - Red Tail hawk or a Horned owl? We’ll keep an eye on it. Further along the Lower Trail we saw the buds appearing on the Spice bushes. Soon delicate little yellow flowers will appear. Allison spied a Spring Beauty plant with its delicate little white flower. We rounded the Lower Trail and headed south toward the pond.
Kiara, the three year old, wanted to be ahead of us. We were approaching the pond. We asked her to be quiet and hear for the frogs. Last week Neil Reichelt and I heard none. Listen. We could hear the high pitched sounds of the Spring peepers. Not many. Then the sound of the Chorus frogs in greater number. Run your finger over a stiff comb. That’s something like its sound. Then as we approached quietly to the pond. We heard that to many is not a typical frog sound. Two - three - ten - perhaps twenty “quacks”. Yes, the Wood frogs were here. Not too many but Marcy pond once again served as home. Little Ashlyn, only two, was probably confused. For her “Quacks” meant ducks.
It started to sprinkle but we continued on to the cabin. Strange to see no seats outside the porch. Our rest seats inside are all gone- sold at an auction. No let up in the sprinkle so across the Willwerth bridge we went. Fallen trees - go over or under. Be careful. Down the wet and slippery steps. My old arches were aching. Guess what? Elaine, Allison and the kids wanted to see the lake. They did. I headed for the car and waited. Getting old. Three things I appreciated this day. Spring unfolding at Marcy Woods. Seeing the Wood frogs once again. Having my youngest grand daughter, Ashlyn Kells, walk all the way that day. Amazing. Thank you Creator.