A beautiful icy winter breeze is blowing through the Forest as my beloved husband Rick and I head out for a morning hike. Above us two flocks of birds are darting back and forth over Hot Springs and North Mountains. As we enter Hot Springs National Park Nature displays a taste of spring with a glorious purple Myrtle (Periwinkle) bloom.
When we reach the Upper Dogwood Trail the faint beeping of a Downy Woodpecker lingers and slowly fades as we move deeper into the Forest. Soon we are aware there are no voices of other hikers, no rustling in the Leaves and no bird song, it is as if the entire Forest has fallen into a deep sleep. We become aware of muffled crunch of our boots on the damp autumn Leaves coating the trails as it becomes the only sound as we cross from North to Hot Springs Mountain.
Nearing the end of our hike I spot a tiny cluster in debris in a Tree to my side. On closer inspection we can see it is an intricately woven bird nest masquerading as a clump of leaves. A beautiful discovery at the conclusion of a perfect morning in the Forest.
Love to ALL!
Lee
PS check out the wonderful Morris Minor Traveller that we spotted at the Fountain in the Park. Rick identified the make when we were still several hundred feet away 🙂
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- HSNP Floral Trail Rock ‘Winter Heart”
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- HSNP Floral Trail Winter
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- HSNP Floral Trail Winter Rock
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- HSNP Floral Trail Winter Rock
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- HSNP Fountain Morris Minor Traveller
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- HSNP Fountain Morris Minor Traveller
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- HSNP Fountain Trail Periwinkle
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- HSNP Fountain Trail Periwinkle
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- HSNP Fountain Trail Winter Nest
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- HSNP Fountain Trail Winter Nest
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- HSNP Honeysuckle Trail Fungi
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- HSNP Lower Dogwood Trail Winter
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- HSNP Lower Dogwood Trail Winter
Hike Our Planet - @HikeOurPlanet 
Beautiful blog baby….LOVED the hike; and was amazed at all the rock formations/colors that are starting to erupt. Also it is so rare that we see one of a lone wild Morris yet there it was at the end of the hike. They used to thrive in the forrest, and now…rarely there. Love ur LH Rick x0x0x