October Observations

October Observations

October 22 and 31

I approached Cottonwood Pond from my usual angle on October 22, which is from the top of the woods, down the slope, west of the area.

But my approach on October 31 was through the woods from the northwest, toward the side of the area.

The fallen Cottonwood Trunk from a distance

As I descended the slope on the 22^nd, I heard a rustling in the distance. I looked up to the far upper side of the woods ...

… and spotted deer! They had been passing through, but then detected my presence (maybe by my footsteps in the early gathering of dry leaves on the ground), and stopped, very still, watching me.

As I reached Cottonwood Pond, I heard the loud whistle-snort that I knew was a warning to me, as well as an alert to the other deer. I could not see how many there were, as they blended so well into the woods, despite their size. Some dashed down the slope and off to the west. I could detect some motion, some flashes of light brown, but otherwise could only hear their serious rush through the leafy woods.

It seemed as if, surely, they had all run off to an area less populated by pesky humans. After being still for awhile, I started moving around Cottonwood Pond, quietly investigating. After I had observed all around, my plan was to wander further into the woods for a nice early autumn walk. But, as I stepped into the Swampy Spot to the east, I heard another loud, sudden whistle-snort above me. Some were still there! I decided then that my presence was too disturbing to them that day, and I also didn't want to bring myself harm from a protective buck. Back up the front slope I went, up to the house.

On the 31^st I decided to start out with an autumn woods walk, carefully listening and watching for deer. After all, it was Halloween – a time to be frightened for no real reason. I would not be, though. So, I quietly, carefully wandered the woods, eventually coming upon Cottonwood Pond from the northwest side, through the bottom floodplain area. Coming upon Cottonwood Pond this way seemed almost like sneaking up on it. From this direction, I immediately had a view of both sides of the Root Ball. I thought about how much this view has changed over the time I have been observing this place.

On that day, there were some damp places, but no standing water anywhere but the Creek. Fallen leaves had created a layer of covering on the pond bed and everywhere else. Other than dips in the ground here and there, it all looked pretty much alike.

In contrast, there had been some rain before my October 22 visit, but after a dry period.

Water was settled into a small bowl of earth before the Root Ball. The increasing size of the Mud Piles seemed to be squeezing the bowl into a narrower shape. Leaves had begun to fall, but there was still much space between them on the ground. And, I thought the Young White Ash at the edge of the pond was leaning farther than it used to.

The changes over time with the Root Ball, the Mud Piles, and the surroundings had been visually aging the general look of the area. Here, I thought, was a funny old, lumpy woods gnome, with a set of dark, deep-sunken eyes, a bulbous nose, a crooked smile above the Mud Piles, and a shaggy, stringy mop of hair hanging partly over its face – a friendly looking face, at that.

The Bent Blue Beech, which arched over the southeast end of Cottonwood Pond, had been developing a serious crack at the highest point of its arch, and on October 22^nd it was much more pronounced.

Though it looked very dead and dry, it had green, leafy saplings growing from the lower part of its trunk and its base. Where it continued on the other side of the Root Ball, there was a trio of connected Blue Beech saplings that had been growing quickly.

Here are more comparisons from the two October visits:

Viewed from the southeast:

October 22

October 31

Looking down from above the Barkless Log over the Inlet:

October 22

October 31

October 22:

North pond corner, Two-Trunk White Ash, Isthmus, with Root Ball and Mud Pile #1 on the right

Looking southeastward across the pond to the Inlet

"little pond"

The area on the 22^nd was full of fresh crawdad chimneys and raccoon prints in the mud.

But, the bottom of the main pond on the 31^st exhibited a strange phenomenon. The soil had been churned up into a granular texture.

It was not just below the fallen leaves, but churned up over the top of some of them.

What had created this? Was it some sort of small animal activity, burrowing and tossing dirt? Did it have to do with changes in weather, temperature, and soil condition? At this point, we had not had any frost. It was an unseasonably mild month. Or, was it just more dirt fallen from the Root Ball, then dimpled by rain? We had not had much rain to speak of.

This was one of the Mysteries of Cottonwood Pond. Another was the holes that had been appearing on the Root Ball Bottom ...

… the Root Ball Top …

… as well as the hole that appeared over the summer in the bottom of “little pond”, not far from the fallen Trunk. Even during a dry period, it had water inside.

There was the ever-changing Cove ...

October 22

October 31

... which had not had any drastic changes throughout the month, possibly due to very little rainfall.

 Even with the Mud Piles piling up higher, I could still find a space to see through.

In the middle of the Cove - some light coming through, and a small view of the other side.

"Eyes" to the other side!!

The tiny white Aster was still blooming next to the pond on the 22^nd.

I have not learned the Asters, and it seems to me they take a great deal of study to distinguish, but I wondered if this one was Heath Aster (Aster pilosus.)

Everything else, though, was in seed or completely dry in October.

Expanse of Wood Nettle on the woods bottom, October 22

Wood Nettle on October 22

Wood Nettle on October 31

Jewelweed had lost all blossoms and seeds by the end of the month.

One tall Jewelweed still existing on Mud Pile #1

Over in the Swampy Spot … what to my wondering eyes did appear? Were those rosettes of new Monkeyflower plants? Time will tell.

Otherwise, there were still the remains of Monkeyflower plants from earlier in the year.

October 22

Temporary Creek #1, which pours into the Swampy Spot:

October 22

October 31

From the Swampy Spot to the Inlet on October 22:

The ball had been pushed to the far north end of the Swampy Spot by October 31:

It was a very slow Autumn. Colors were changing slowly, with some trees losing their leaves early and others hanging on to green color.

Reflection of canopy in Cottonwood Pond water, Oct. 22

Canopy over Cottonwood Pond on October 22

Sugar Maple tree, still green, nearby on October 22

Canopy on October 31^st, including the Sugar Maple sapling growing from the top edge of the Root Ball

Acorn cap from Oak tree and fallen Cottonwood leaf on October 22:

The greater dampness on the 22^nd brought forth more moss.

On the Barkless Log, between the Creek and Inlet

It also brought forth some interesting fungi:

On the Barkless Log over the Inlet

On the Bent Blue Beech

That included some magnificent Oyster mushrooms on the fallen Cottonwood Trunk:

If I had been sure at the time that they were Oyster mushrooms, I would have harvested some for dinner! 

This is a fine example of a dying tree giving new life, still providing for others.

By the 31^st, the Oysters had faded to a pearly sheen with artistic wrinkles.

As Life ages, its beauty changes, but it is always beautiful.

Some fresh fungi were growing from cracks in the same Trunk.

In this odd year, Autumn at Cottonwood, and almost everywhere, was taking its time.

Would we have a real frost before long, and how might that affect Cottonwood Pond?

Asian Bush Honeysuckle in fruit at Cottonwood Pond. This is an exceedingly invasive plant which has been marching into my woods from both ends. Next time I visit Cottonwood Pond, I will do something about these. Stay tuned ...