Walking over Indian Ridge yesterday, we saw vernal pools. Lots of them. I don't know if you remember, but many years ago we did a vernal pool project with the Audubon Society through South School and I learned a lot about them. What magical places. This one in the picture above is a classically located pool at the bottom of a steep slope, in a hardwood forest with run off and snow melt to thank for its existence. The ice is thawing during these warm days and over the next few months the rare and wonderful species that complete their life cycles in these pools will emerge from THE PRIMAL OOZE. Ooops, sorry, just having a nature documentary moment there. Salamanders, frogs, those little fairy shrimp (which are kind of weird). The forest nurseries are not just nests and dens, but these Brigadoons - which appear every spring and evaporate -literally -as summer advances. As I read back over what I've written, I realize the sun is getting to me. Spring, only thoughts of spring these days.
1 comment:
I do remember that project! I also remember you being a lot more enthusiastic about it than I was...
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