Week of June 8, 2025 – June 14, 2025
by Kaylen Iorio, Environmental Educator
June is such a special month for connecting with and exploring nature. Many wildflowers are still flashing their vibrant colors, green foliage is filling in the forest landscape, and animals are scurrying within understory plants. June brings warm weather, seemingly endless sunshine, and lots to look for when outside.
While hiking the trails at Baltimore Woods many shapes and colors catch my eye. The curved trees hanging over trails resemble archways and I become entranced by their whimsy, picturing myself walking through the arch to an enchanted forest. The mayapple canopies along the forest floor remind me of fairy umbrellas set up for tiny creatures to rest underneath on a hot day.
The vibrancy of green in June is a stark contrast to the browns we become familiar with in the winter, breathing life back into our world. Basswood leaves are giants to fluttering aspen leaves that wave as you travel by. There is no quiet as we enter this next season but the sounds of summer create peaceful bliss between your ears. Join us on June 20th to experience all the sounds of nature at the upcoming program, Sounds of Summer! I can hear the soft rustle of Garter Snakes slithering through leaf litter, moving lightly on my feet to catch a glimpse. Toads are becoming more active along the trails and I stop each time I hear the pattern of hops in crunchy leaves to try and spot very well camouflaged American Toads.
Philips’ Pond is quite the hotspot for early summer activity. Red-winged Blackbirds are announcing their territory and mobbing any intruders. Beautifully colored spring visitors like Scarlet Tanagers and Baltimore Orioles are singing melodic songs from the treetops. Painted Turtles are sunbathing and socializing on logs in Philips’ Pond, and the band of Green Frogs tuning their banjos is unmistakable. June has so much in store for nature and for us to experience!