When I head out for my morning hike I am glad to have a layer of Northface fleece under my Patagonia jacket.  An icy winter chill is blowing through the park  lowering the temperature into the teens.  The sun is radiant in a spectacular “Hot Springs Blue” sky, it is a perfect day for a long winter hike.  As I reach North Mountain the first thing I notice is a patch of frost covered vines.  Rising up from the vines is a lovely surprise beautiful tiny blooms, Purple Deadnettle.

Heading up the the Floral Trail I see Frost Flowers blooming on the Trail edges.  They are caused by moisture extruding from cracks in the base of a dead plant stem. The ribbons of ice are pushed out the dead stems forming the beautiful shapes as found in my photographs.  I hope to capture many more this coming winter. The straws (deceased plants) suck up the moisture and create spectacular ribbons of ice. To learn more please read my old blog entry Ice Ribbons and Frost Flowers.

All along the Lower and Upper Dogwood Trail colorful rocks sparkle in the Morning sun.  Painted by Nature in rose, orange, grey, pink, white, yellow and black each rock is a work of art. Coated in morning frost the quartz and newly forming crystals are the jewels of the winter Forest.

When I reach the Goat Rock Trail the sun warms my face and I close my eyes for a brief morning meditation. As I turn to head up the trail the sound of a soft crunching in the leaves catches my attention.  I look up to see one, two, three, four and then a fifth Whitetail Deer.  Each moving gracefully up the hill above me and turning to see what I am doing on the trail below.  Usually I see groupings of three Does moving through the park, this was the first herd of five.

Further up the trail splashes of purple appear among the leaves and twigs covering the Forest floor.  Velvety Bird-Foot Violets have emerged from their sleep in subtle shares of purple and violet.  Gracefully bowing among the Violets are sheer blossoms of False Garlic.  Spring is unfurling in the icy cold of winters breath.

My wonderful hike concludes as it began with a Robin observing my presence from the Fountain Trail.

Have a wonderful time on the Trail…
Love to ALL!
Lee

“I am commissioned in my day of joy
To leave my woods and streams and sweet sloth
Of prayer and that were my dear delight,
To leave the rudeness of my woodland life,”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I recently bought a Kindle Fire from Amazon and discovered a world of FREE Ralph Waldo Emerson and John Muir Books. Yes, FREE!  In the vastness of my new library I came across a 1926 poem by Emerson called The Summons (excerpt above).  I often hear Emerson and Muir in the breezes along the trails, they tell me to look with my Heart and see with my Soul.  Who could or would argue with their sage advise.

It is this feeling expressed above all that fills my heart as my foot fall moves from earthen trail to paved street.  The wandering of my Soul through Nature’s home brings joy not known by my words alone.  I will hold this memory until her beckoning call returns me once more to Mountain, Meadow, Forest and Valley Trails to roam. ~ Lee Hiller-London

In winter the obvious beauty of spring Wildflowers and summer Leaves give way to details hidden for many months.  I often find myself having to retrain my eyes to look upon the new landscape and see the richness withing my view.  I step into the winter Forest and stand for a moment eyes closed, taking a deep breath to forget her past so I can revel in her present.  As I slowly reopen my eyes the once stark and barren leafless Forest is repainted with the spectacular beauty of rough texture muted pallet.

Love To ALL!
Lee

A cold winter wind set upon Hot Springs National Park this morning, 31 F feels like 21 F with every blast of the north wind.  Entering the park a runner dressed in only shorts and a shirt shouts good morning my way.  A large rock with protruding chunks of quartz glows in the slowly rising sunlight as I climb higher into the park. Beautiful Heavenly Bamboo is putting on a spectacular display of transitioning leaves of green and red.  As I reach the top I am thankful for the hike up the Mountain as it has warmed my entire body.

The view from the pagoda is peaceful and the valley below is visible through a frosty haze.  I turn my face to the sun and enjoy its warmth upon my chilled face.   The warmth of the east side of the mountain gives way to a piercing cold as I step into the full blast of a fierce northerly. The heavy gusts of icy winds are not only keeping people at home but also the wildlife.   As I head home I am encouraged to move faster along the trails with each gust of icy wind.

Love to ALL!
Lee

Hot Springs Mt. Trail Lichen Fungi False Turkey Tail Fan Log

I need to be clear at the beginning of this blog post I only know the names of a few of the Fungi in the photographs.  In the autumn, winter and early spring they are my Wildflowers and Forest sculptures within the beauty of a sleeping landscape.  Although I know they live here all year round along the trails it is in late autumn through to early spring that they are the most visible.  Growing from fallen and standing Trees, pushing up from the Forest floor, as singles and in clusters they are a welcome sight.

My first year of hiking and posting my blog began in the late autumn after nearly every leaf had fallen.  I had yet to photograph my first Wildflower along cool green trails. On a  winter hike the day after a light dusting of snow I noticed little splashes of orange along the Dead Chief Trail in Hot Springs National Park (see pic below).  On closer inspection I thought they looked like orange blossoms, winter wildflowers. I now know they are called Turkey Tail Fungi and I have found a glorious array of color combinations of these fan like sculptures.  Once aware of the beauty of Fungi I began to notice the wonderful variations in color, shape and texture.

If you recognize any of the Fungi below please let me know as I would love to learn what they are.  I am still trying to differentiate between ridges, teeth and gills on Fungi, I have much to learn.

Please remember Fungi are a food source for many of our woodland friends and when we take them from protected places like National Parks it is not only a crime but could mean the starvation of those who depend on them for winter survival.  In unprotected places please take only your fair share, but don’t strip bare. I have seen several wounded squirrels eating them so it might be medicinal for them as well.

Much Love to ALL!
Lee

PS Special Thanks to Fluff Berger for identifying the Phlebia incarnata and leaving a not in the comments section.

Fountain Street Wounded Squirrel Eating Fungus

Hot Springs National Park Trails Dead Chief Orange Fungus Log

Upper Dogwood Trail Fungi

HSNP West Mt. Oak Trail Spring Reishi? Fungi

HSNP Lower Dogwood Trail Winter Turkey Tail Fan Fungi

Floral Trail A Mighty Red Fungi

HSNP Fordyce Estate Sunset Trail Fungi Phlebia incarnata

HSNP Sunset Trail Fordyce Estate Jelly Fungi

HSNP Sunset Trail Fordyce Estate Colorful Fungi

HSNP Upper Dogwood Trail Jelly Fungi Sculpture "The Screaming Skull"

Hot Springs Mountain Trail Large Fungus In Ferns

Upper Dogwood Trail Small Chanterelle Fungus

HSNP Sunset Trail Fordyce Estate Turkey Tail Fungi

Fountain Street Park Entrance Brown Fungus

Hot Springs National Park Trails HSMT Rock Lichen Moss

One of my favorite parts of the winter Forest is the details a lack of Leaves reveals.  My Father was a collector of Rocks and I was always aware of those sprinkled about our home and garden.  The Rocks that decorated our garden always being painted by Natures brush strokes.  Crystals, Lichen, Moss, Minerals and Fungi are the perfect pallet of colors to define contours and contrast the color of each individual Rock.

Each winter hike reveals the delicate changes to the art of detail.  Cherish the Leafless months and cast your eyes upon the Natures pebbles and monoliths as they are winters canvas.

Love to You ALL!
Lee

Hot Springs National Park Floral Trail Black Rock

HSNP Floral Trail Beautiful Rock

SHSNP Floral Trail Colorful Rock

Hot Springs Mountain Trail Blue Rock

Hot Springs National Park HSM Trail Lichen Rock

Hot Springs National Park Goat Rock Trail Lichen Rock Moss

HSNP Hot Springs Mountain Picnic Area Rock

HSNP Lower Dogwood Trail Winter Crystals

HSNP Floral Trail Rock

HSNP Lower Dogwood Trail Prime Rib Rock