Week of June 1, 2025 – June 7, 2025
by Elizabeth Suzedell, Environmental Educator
With the warmer weather and light until 9pm, spring is a busy time of year. There’s end-of-year events at school, family gatherings and parties, and lots of spring cleaning to do. While we’re occupied by all of this, it feels like the landscape transforms from quiet and dull to lively and bright in the blink of an eye! Amid this busy season, I try to get outside to stay connected with nature every day, even if all I can manage is a few minutes.
Last week, I took 15 minutes to explore the relatively new Meadow Trail at Baltimore Woods. This 0.3 mile loop trail, located just south of the Interpretive Center, goes through land that used to be an agricultural field until 2021. Since then, Baltimore Woods Nature Center’s restoration efforts have been turning this area into a meadow community of grasses, flowers, insects, and birds. Each year, more native flora and fauna establish themselves there, and it is amazing to watch the changes.
The first thing I noticed as I started my walk was how much the plants had grown. The clovers along the trails were huge, and the goldenrods that were barely noticeable a month ago were now two or three feet in height. Dispersed throughout the field were some milkweeds, black-eyed susans, beebalm, and bottle brush grass, many of which got their start as part of our meadow restoration seed mix. The baby oak trees that were planted last year were leafing out and growing tall, and the forest up the hill was a dense green now.
The moderate breeze rustled through the new plants, and song sparrows shook last year’s aster and dogbane stalks as they landed on them. Many birds are singing near and far, like the field sparrows and indigo buntings. Red-winged blackbirds perched on the trail marker posts, and vibrant bluebirds lined the deer fence. A large flock of goldfinches called “po-ta-to-chip…po-ta-to-chip” overhead, and I looked up to see tree swallows zooming around. Turkey vultures soared in front of the dark clouds from yet another rainstorm on the way.
Birds weren’t the only creatures in the air; I saw several sulfur butterflies riding the wind in irregular patterns. A buzzing bumble bee seemed to be on a mission to visit every flower in the field. Other insects stayed close to the ground, like the crickets, who were chirping quite fast with the warmth of the little bit of sun. I looked down, wondering what mammals could be hiding amongst the plants. I noticed deer tracks in the mud, and near the end of my walk, I saw a doe and her gorgeous red fawn running by.
Even though I wasn’t out for very long, this walk renewed my connections with nature, leaving me with a feeling of rejuvenation and joy. As this busy spring season turns into a just-as-busy summer, I encourage you to take some time, even if it’s a few minutes, to get outside and explore. What is your favorite spot to reconnect with nature?