Cold wind and snow flurries accompanied my journey to the Jackson Property. With bright blue skies the snow glistened in the sunlight beautifully, almost unreal. I made my way across hay fields, over the frozen ground. In a nearby pasture men hunted with their beagles, the neon orange which accented their camouflage was difficult to ignore. It is clear that cattle grazes this land in warmer weather, the fields are uncut and remnants of their presence is clear. The tree lines are distinct, tall white pines (Pinus strobus) overshadow deciduous neighbors. Young eastern red cedars ( Juniperus virginiana) grow in these fields, one struggles make a home between the the cracks of a boulder. A New England cottontail ( Sylvilagus transitionalis ) is startled as I walk by and moves deeper into the brush for protection.
Suddenly I come upon the far end of the lake, unsure if I have come to the right place. Tall cattails (Typha ) line the frozen water. The ice is rough and bright from the sun. Great scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) have shed their cones along the edge of the water. Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), an invasive species, entangles itself among young sugar maples (Acer saccharum).
As I make my way towards the far end of the lake, the path is flanked by several great black spruce ( Picea mariana), and I must crane my neck to see the top. The scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and black spruce (Picea mariana) compete to reach the sunlight. Young sugar maples (Acer saccharum) line the path ahead, some still cling to their leaves and will not let go until spring. A white birch (Betula papyrifera) is unmistakable among the white pines (Pinus strobus) and tall eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis). Walking into the old growth portion of the property, the wind between the trees becomes eerie and the trees creak as they sway. The scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) are beautiful, and their bark a warm reddish brown. Large holes in the pines suggest pileated woodpeckers (Hylatomus pileatus) are in the area. A red oak (Quercus rubra) stretches toward the clouds. These woods may be 100 years old, the fallen trees show that this land was not logged and perhaps the spacing of the growth is due to cattle.
Ashley Fox, walking to the Jackson Property, January 15, 2017.