KNSC Nature Journal Club - September

Fall is in the air and in the leaves at the Maasto Hiito Trails. The Red Maple trees seem to be changing first; plenty of deep red in the sunniest spots on the trail. The Oaks and Birch trees are coming up behind. 

As always on Nature Journal Club days we ventured out from the Chalet, down Sisu Hill before coming upon Swedetown Creek off of the Grill House Trail (click here for map). On this breezy but sunny, 65 degree day, the trails were an absolute joy to trek. We stopped at the creek to listen to the water skip and fall over the rocks and took the time to write the things we noticed, wondered about, and were reminded of into our Nature Journals.

Here are a couple of my own musings from the hike that perhaps you can enlighten me on or join in the fun of thinking about: 

1. I notice that in the leaves, whether they be a Red Maple or a Paper Birch, that as the green was leaving the leaves and they were turning an yellow, orange, or even red color, the last spots on the leaves to turn color seem to be the area around the veins of the leaves. Why would that be?

And 2. The Latin name for the Paper Birch is Betula papyrifera. The word papyrifera reminded me of the word papyrus. I remember from my days of reading about ancient cultures that papyrus was a sort of paper used in ancient Egypt. Though I know that paper came from the papyrus plant, I wondered if there was a connection there; certainly the word paper. 

In all, it was a beautiful afternoon. Without doubt I'll be spending a lot of time on the trails in the next month to continue watching the beautiful fall colors unfold. And don't forget, if you are planning on joining our Nature Journal Club in the near future and there is snow on the ground, bring along your snowshoes (perhaps not next month, but likely for November!)