A Year in the Forest

Sometimes it takes looking at something several times to really see it.  I have probably passed a cherry tree at the very entrance to the chanterelle trail 1000 times but today I finally saw it.  Maybe it was because it is filled with cherries!  Here is a picture of the start of the trail with our wild berry patch in the foreground.    Just to the right of the opening is the cherry tree.  And it is loaded.    As with all things like this the cherries are very sour and mostly pit but it is really loaded with cherries.  Last fall I cut back the trees in this region while clearing out some brush left from construction.  My guess is that we unknowingly pruned this tree and perhaps opened it up to the sunlight.  Whatever the reason we have a bumper crop of cherries.

Its been almost a week since the last significant rain and things are really getting dry.  Its also rather warm about 85 degrees.  The woods are quiet except for the buzz of insects.  Quiet that is until dark; right after dark the tree frogs start singing and the noise is amazing.  You can be setting in my house listening to the tv and open the back door and the noise outside drowns out the tv.  After about an hour the serenade quietens down and the noise level is what you would expect.  It is amazing how such little things can put out so mush noise.