Father's Day

This past Christmas my son Matt, 21, gave me a photograph he had taken from one of his many adventures out west. With this photo was a simple note thanking me for sparking his interests in the outdoors at an early age. The note is proudly displayed in the caretaker’s cabin next to the framed photo of a moose. Great photo! Matt has become a talented photographer, but the note is what I cherish the most. Especially on Father’s Day.

For the past two summers Matt has worked, camped and hiked out west logging more than 600 trail miles as well as a summit of Grand Teton in Wyoming. He may have attributed his love for an outdoors lifestyle to me but it actually filtered down from my father, Jim Guenther. And for this I’m grateful. My own outdoor experiences began at an early age, just like my son’s.

I grew up in suburbia Nashville but moved to a wooded hillside in rural west Nashville by the time I was 14 years old. It became my outdoor playground. Endless acres of wooded hills, streams and a gorgeous valley.

Like many fathers, my dad was a busy man. His law firm demanded dedication but he always found time to take my sister and I on camping and canoe trips as well as hikes along the Appalachian Trail. The interesting thing about memories for children is that the simplest things often make the greatest memories. Fathers likely never realize what an impact they make in their children’s lives. My father held my hand and introduced me to the wonders of the outdoors.

On this Father’s Day, make an attempt to get off the couch and step outside with your children. It’s simple entertainment and no better way to discover an adventure. And if you are a father, it creates memories that last a lifetime.

Love you Dad!

Wildflower Photo Trek

With the arrival of spring I always look forward to our Annual Native Plant Sale. In the past I’ve tried to make my blog timely and offer suggestions for photographing spring’s wildflowers. My suggestions are simple and can often turn an ordinary photo into one you may wish to keep.

Just a few weeks ago my daughter Erin joined me for a wildflower hike. She is a junior at Signal Mountain Middle/High and a photographer for the school’s yearbook. With a shiny new Christmas camera she has discovered the joy of photography. Erin is naturally artistic but like most novices she needed a bit of technical knowledge to boost her confidence. F-stops & shutter speeds are often a foreign language until you begin to understand how the combination of the two along with lens choice has an effect on the final photo. And with wildflower photography, showing less often means more.  

So lets start with getting low and doing what I call the “belly crawl”. Wildflowers require an eye level perspective. My lens choice is a 55mm macro with an added extension tube for greater detail.  

As Erin and I walked along Reflection Lane she noticed just how tiny and delicate many wildflowers can be. She has never used a macro lens or an extension tube. With less depth of field focus is crucial. A tripod comes in handy allowing for slower shutter speeds and greater depth of field, but can be awkward to hike with and a nuisance on difficult terrain. On this particular day, slower shutter speeds were ineffective thanks to a steady wind. Hand held shots at 125th of a second or faster were a must. 

With macro lenses your background naturally drops out of focus. But one suggestion that I shared with Erin was to use a folded 16 x 20 inch or larger black foamboard behind your subject to create a more polished studio effect. I don’t suggest this in all cases, but it can often compliment your subject matter or make for a less distracting background. Simply position the board so the sun illuminates the flower and not the board. 

As Erin and I crawled and searched for the perfect rue anemone, bloodroot, star chickweed and trout lilies she quickly developed an appreciation for perfecting her shots. Composition, lighting and an unique angle are all so important. But one thing you often can’t control is the sunlight. I suggest sunny mornings or evenings. Some photographers prefer diffused lighting with overcast skies.

Wildflowers often peak and die back within a weeks time so don’t miss the chance to perfect your photographic skills. But if you would rather just purchase and plant wild flowers, check out our upcoming Spring Native Plant Sale this Thursday (members only), Friday and Saturday. Details are provided on our website at reflectionriding.org.


Wildflower photos by Erin Guenther

Winter Tree Identification

Need an outdoor winter challenge?  During a recent hike across Reflection Riding, my friends and I tried to hone our tree identification skills.  Bark, tree structure and perhaps a few clingy seed pods were all we had to work with.  The green leafy evidence is long gone.  Most of us can manage to identify the most common species of trees during the summer months but this day we struggled to make a definitive match.

Fortunately, several trees have distinguishing characteristics which proved to be helpful.  Bark can be smooth, rough, shaggy, snowy white or black. Since you too might be a novice, lets just focus on a few of the most easily identifiable.  

Consider the shagbark hickory. The bark is literally pealing away from the trunk like shingles from a rooftop. That’s an easy one.  Look in front of the caretaker’s cabin and you’ll see two to three persimmon trees.  The bark is black or gray and wraps the trunk with small square blocks.  Very distinguishing. 

A few trees even retain their leaves.  This characteristic is called Marcescent.

As we scan the horizon we notice a variety of oaks that fall within this category. The American Birch along Reflection Lane is holding onto brown leaves as well.  We walk on.  Next few steps we hesitate.  High in the canopy we spot seed pods silhouetted agains the gray sky.  Great clue!

If you see a tree trunk with perfect posture and seed pods resembling the petals of a flower you have identified a Tulip Poplar.  Next we see round spiky pods scattered across the forest floor. Above us is a sweet gum. 

As we walk along Lookout Creek, sycamores line the shoreline. Their bleached white bark offers the only contrast on this overcast day.  Soft round seed pods hang from their branches as if decorated for Christmas. 

Halfway up a wooded hillside we spot a long wispy seed pod. Someone suggests it’s a sourwood.  With a quick check of our tree guide we see an exact match. 

By now we have walked to the far end of the property.  In an open field we encounter one of the most unusual looking trees thus far.  Is it a black locust or a honey locust?  Clusters of 3 to 4 inch thorns along the trunk of the tree create a impenetrable armor.  Thin brown seed pods shaped like dehydrated bananas dangle from its branches.  When we get back we Google both.  It’s a honey locust.   

Here at Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center we have more than 140 species of identified and labeled trees in our collection.  Download our arboretum map and tree guide to help you with your next visit.  http://reflectionriding.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Arboretum-Map-for-Website.pdf

Skunked!

As you know I often write about the beauty of living here in the Caretaker’s cabin surrounded by all sorts of wildlife. I’ve also written about my fascination and appreciation for skunks. Well, there is an upside to living in a wildlife preserve but a down side when it comes to frightened skunks.

About six weeks ago I discovered that there was at least one skunk that seemed to be living under the cabin. No big deal I thought. I would often see the white stripe illuminated by the moonlight walking around the back deck. A suspicious character indeed but never a threat. So I thought.

When I was a teenager I often trapped critters using a Havahart trap, a bait and release live animal trap. I often caught raccoons, possums, rabbits and even a box turtle. One time I had the misfortune of catching a skunk. What to do? My dad called a vet and he suggested that if the skunk was too large and cramped inside the trap he would not be able to spray unless he could raise his head and tail. Who knows if any of this was true but it was a plan. I’ll never forget the image of my dad running and hiding behind a tree once the trap door was opened. I had never seen my father run. We still laugh about it. And no one got sprayed.

Back to the cabin.

So soon after first spotting this underground cabin dweller, I arrived one night after dark and unlocked the back door. I immediately took two steps backwards and gasped. The cabin had been temporarily robbed of its charm. The air inside rushed out and surrounded me in a toxic cloud. The neighborly skunk had now overstayed its welcome. Apparently he or she had been under the cabin when this foul act occurred. The smell had found its way inside, creeping effortlessly through the vents and hardwood floors.

Fast forward to just four nights ago. Then repeat.

So, knowing our wildlife expert here at Reflection Riding, I questioned Wildlife Director Tish Gailmard on what I could do. Tish explained the rules with regard to trapping a wild animal with an emphasis on discouraging anyone from tackling such a job on their own.

Tish suggested that a professional trapper or “critter getter” would be the best response. “Skunks are a rabies vector species,” she said. “Hamilton County is a rabies vector surveillance county.” Meaning any trapped rabies vector species must be euthanized and tested. “What I suggest for individuals that have this problem is to contact a trapper that we recommend and let him handle it.” Sounds like sound advice.

Despite the recent incident, I’ll aways enjoy viewing the wildlife that passes by the big picture window at the Caretaker’s cabin. But this one restless skunk may need to go. My hope is that it moves on its own to a more suitable residence. And soon!

Persimmons

They dangle from the bare branches like tiny orange Christmas ornaments here in the caretaker’s cabin front yard.  The fruit shows up by mid summer and ripens by the end of October. By mid November the orange fruit turns purple and drops to the ground. Last fall the trees provided a constant source of entertainment, attracting deer and opossums nightly. So why are they being ignored this year?

From what I’ve read, if the acorn crop is hearty the deer are less interested in the persimmons. But where are all the opossums? I realize they have a very short life span, maybe 2 years, but this time last year I would always count on spotting 2 or more on a brief walk from the cabin’s front door. I’ve heard more coyotes this fall so perhaps they’ve simply been eliminated. Some reports are conflicting, suggesting that a coyote has a discriminating appetite when it comes to these defenseless slow moving marsupials and simply resists the temptation.

So, not to waste a natural food source, each year I collect a bag of ripened persimmons for our animal ambassadors living over in the Wildlife Wanderland.  And in the past, a few friends have tried to harvest the fruit. Some used bed sheets to catch the fruit with a gentle shake of the tree’s trunk.  The delicious mushy flesh of the persimmon makes great wine, beer, pudding, bread, cakes and jam. And lowers your cholesterol.

I really do miss the opossums and wish the deer had not gorged themselves on so many acorns. But there seems to be a few deer that still can’t resist. Perhaps they too have a sweet tooth!

An article about our resident caretaker and photographer, Jeff Guenther

Get Out Chattanooga Magazine discovered my blog  recently and asked to do a feature article about what it is like to be caretaker here at Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center.  Below is a brief question and answer interview written by Mary Beth Torgerson that was published in this month’s issue.  Thanks Mary Beth!

Wilderness Retreat

A secluded cabin.  Waking up to the call of birdsong. Over 300 acres of wilderness at your doorstep. This may sound like a dream, but for Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center Caretaker, Jeff Guenther, it’s a way of life. We sat down with Jeff to talk caretaker responsibilities and communing with nature.

How long have you been with the Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center?

I moved here last March. I was a photojournalist for about 23 years, and on a hike while shooting some photos for a story, I met Jeffrey Hunter who was the former caretaker. He happened to mention that he was the caretaker, and he was leaving soon. I applied for the position, and I’ve been living here ever since. Being an outdoor enthusiast, it’s perfect for a guy like me. It’s been a really good fit, and I’d like to remain the caretaker for a long time.

What is a typical day like for a wilderness caretaker?

It’s really a role, not a job. The perk of the role is that I get to live in the caretaker’s cabin on more than 300 acres. There’s no golf courses and no pools — it’s just me after dark which is what I like. I make sure that my presence is felt here after hours. I usually patrol the property. If it’s before or after business hours, I’ll lock the gates or unlock gates to let folks in or out. I’m kind of the Andy Griffith of Reflection Riding. But what I do mostly is photography. I shoot pictures of most everything I see and provide pictures and videos for marketing materials and the website.

What kind of outdoor activities do you enjoy?

JG: One of the perks of being caretaker is that within 5 minutes, I can have my kayak in the creek. I enjoy paddling, taking my GPS and exploring smaller creeks. I’ve paddled about 11 miles from Lookout Creek down to the Nature Center. I do a lot of camping out of my kayak. I’ve always enjoyed hiking and backpacking, and I’m a recreational tree climber. Some people don’t get it, but I guess I’m an actual tree hugger.

Why should people visit the Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center? What are some of the outdoor activities available there?

People don’t realize its proximity to downtown—you can be here in 10 minutes. It’s just at the base of Lookout Mountain, and it’s just as scenic as it can be. If you like paddling, there’s Lookout Creek. For hikers, there are 12 miles of hiking trails, some suitable for mountain biking, and that’s just the beginning because a whole lot of these trails link up to the trails on Lookout Mountain. You’ve also got the Wildlife Wanderland, which is where our animals like red wolves and a bobcat are on exhibit, and some great educational programs from staff for adults and children. There are some people who just don’t know we’re here, and that’s a shame. It’s a beautiful place. More people should come out and see what Reflection Riding has to offer.

Skunks, I Salute You!

No one ever says anything nice about skunks.  Remember the song “Dead Skunk” by Loudon Wainwright III?  Well no more.  I walked out the back door of the caretaker’s cabin one night this past week and stumbled upon one of the many skunks that make their homes here.  I had a head lamp on and was about to go for a night run when that dreaded white stripe caught my eye.  

I’ve photographed a few skunks during daylight hours, making sure that I’ve always respected their personal 15 foot rule, and they have always been quite accommodating.  But I never realized they were such helpful gardeners.

For the past few weeks I’ve been walking and mowing around a yellow jackets nest located between the cabin’s back door and my car. The hole in the ground was no larger than the width of my thumb but below was a land mine the size of a soccer ball just waiting to explode.  I’ve been stung multiple times this summer mowing the yard and despite the painful memories I’ve simply been too lazy to do anything about this most recent nest.  What had become a constant nuisance for me had now became a high protein snack for the skunk.  

Upon closer observation I discovered that this nocturnal visitor had dug down and found the nest leaving a 6 inch diameter hole revealing all that was left of the bees and their comfy little home.  From what I’ve read, skunks seem to be immune to the bee stings and prey on both the larvae and adults.  

So next time I’m driving and see a dead skunk in the middle of the road, rather than mocking him by humming the popular 70’s tune “dead skunk in the middle of the road, roll up your windows and hold your nose” I’ll simply salute.  I’d much rather endure the passing odor than be stung repeatedly by more yellow jackets.  Bring on the skunks!