Many of the state parks in Tennessee were having free guided hikes today. I chose to attend the hike at Big Cypress Tree State Park, because I had never been there before.
Big Cypress Tree State Park was named after a giant cypress that grew in a remote swamp on a farm in Weakley County. Unfortunately the tree was struck by lightning and burned in 1976.
Saturdays are…for imagining a cypress tree over 39 feet in diameter. Bill McCall, park manager, told us that the tree was thought to be the oldest and largest tree east of the Rocky Mountains.
Saturdays are…for spotted and marbled salamanders and one jumpy little leopard frog who almost managed to land in the shirt pocket of a lady from Memphis. Dr. Thomas Blanchard, who teaches herpetology at UT Martin, spent his morning mucking about the swamp finding salamanders and frisky leopard frogs to show us.
Saturdays are…for learning about blue birds and barred owls. First, we watched 2 male bluebirds competing for the approval of a female bluebird. They were also bringing twigs to a bird box for nesting material. While these bluebirds were seemingly going to nest in a bird box, bluebirds will also use old woodpecker holes. Blue birds are secondary cavity nesters. Also, bluebirds are good to have around, because they eat lots of insects.
Dr. Dawn Wilkins, who teaches ornithology at UT Martin, tried to call in barred owls. Dr. Wilkins explained barred owls are named for the vertical brown stripes on their chests. The barred owl’s call sounds like “who cooks for you/who cooks for you all.” Now, if you are sensitive, do not read the next sentence. The barred owl will eat those aforementioned salamanders.
Saturdays are…for thanking Mr. Bill McCall, Dr. Blanchard and Dr. Wilkins for their time and knowledge. While he was sloshing around, Dr. Blanchard picked up a soda can and bag of chips out of the water. Don’t litter. We are all connected. Whether we are spotted, barred, blue or marbled, we are living in the same park. Whether we fly, jump or slither, we look up at the same sky. Whether we hoot, chirp or croak, we breathe the same air. Everywhere we are connected, even when it is just some rural, swampy plot in West Tennessee.
I was going to try to take a really awesome shot of the cardinals that come to my deck to feed, but, hey, you know, what, this is way more what my life is actually like.
Nests of twigs hold a clutch of
Eggs, speckled brown
Residents, year round
Vibrant red males mean a healthy mate
Unique two-parted song that both will sing
Sunflower seeds are their favorite thing
Edgy and excitable
Very many state bird
Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky and Virginia to name a few
United State’s sports teams also include the bird
St. Louis Cardinals for baseball and Arizona Cardinals for football
Ooo…glitter…a fun word! I’m excited…
Glitter in verb form: reflect light with a brilliant, sparkling luster
Glitter in noun form: showy splendor
Possible origin: German, gleissen
Glitter on the Bay
Glitter at the Garden
Glitter for a car
Outglitterunly: Waaay more glitter than all the others.
Went to the Darwin D. Martin House in Buffalo, NY today. I have been to the Price Tower in Bartlesville, OK, the Stanley Rosenbaum House in Florence Al and Fallingwater in Mill Run, PA. I seem to be evolving into a Wright aficionado. The four buildings I have toured all translate as living works of art, still modern and relevant.
What did people do
before they bought an iPhone?
Write a little po’m
At C fifty-five
Atlanta to Buffalo
Outer Space above
Smoky Mountains below
Swirling clouds muffle
a frenetic Earth below
Horizon holds fast