The Splendor of Fall

Things are about to change.  I typically walk or take a run through Reflection Riding daily and have noticed the forest seems to be in a transitional phase.  There seems to be a lull hanging over the forest as if the trees have already acknowledged that the days are getting shorter and they are within just a few weeks from slipping into the splendor of fall.  My favorite time of the year.

But summer hangs on.  As Joyce Stanbery mentioned recently in her blog “Woods and Wildflowers” the Pilewort and Asters are still blooming and the humming birds frequent the Jewelweed in front of the caretaker’s cabin.  But not for long. By mid to late October it all changes.

From Reflection Riding you will see a wave of colors drift down the slopes of Lookout Mountain until the whole valley shimmers in hues of gold, red, pink and orange. So why does this cycle occur?  Keep in mind I’m just a casual observer but here is a brief interpretation of what I’ve read. 

We’ve all heard of chlorophyll.  Well apparently it not only assists the tree with photosynthesis but it also masks the true pigment of the leaf during the summer months and is the reason for their green color.  Carotenoids and Anthocyanins, types of organelles in the plant cell, determines the color shift in the fall. 

As the days shorten, the trees slowly stop producing chlorophyll to conserve energy for the winter. During the fall months, the golden yellow or copper colors are the result of carotenoid pigments in the leaves. Anthocyanin pigments are responsible for the pink, red, and purple leaves.  These colors favor warm sunny days followed by cool nights.  A cold snap or cloudy days near the peak of season reduces their brilliance causing them to turn brown and fall more quickly. 

In my opinion, fall is one of Mother Nature’s premier events.  And if you have a yard to rake, just consider the extra work the price for admission. 

Caretaker’s Cabin/Then and Now

This summer I decided to dress up the front of the caretaker’s cabin with a bit of color and warmth.  With a bit of advice from Paola Zannini Craddock, our greenhouse manager, I’ve got a simple but nice flower bed which I hope offers blooms throughout the summer months.

As I’ve learned more about the former caretaker’s that have lived here since the 1950s, I’d like to share a bit of what I’ve heard.  The cabin was built in the 1950s with logs harvested from the property here at the base of Lookout Mountain.  The cabin first served as the caretaker house when Harold and Marie Humphreys made Reflection Riding their home in 1958.  They were very close friends of the Chambliss family who founded Reflection Riding in 1956.  Here is a link to the history of the Humphreys House.  Click on http://chattanooganaturecenter.org/www/docs/138.464/  

I’ve posted a couple of historic photos, one showing John Chambliss standing out front and a black and white photo of ducks on the Upper Pond just across from the cabin. 

Caroline Hudson, granddaughter of Harold and Marie, tells me that throughout the years beautiful flower beds have often dominated the front yard.  There was even a small water feature where water pumped from the existing well house cascaded down a rock ledge which created a shallow pool before trickling into the creek below. 

If you walk past the caretaker’s cabin now the remains of the spring house are still evident, now capped with a rounded shingled roof.  I’ve seen photos made from the Humphreys House that include the caretaker’s cabin but have not see any that show the gardens or flowing spring.  It must have been quite beautiful during the summer months.

Although the former manicured gardens are only a fond memory, the front yard still becomes quite popular among visitors and photographers come August when the Goldenrod and Ironweed are in full bloom.  Hummingbirds can be seen daily darting back and forth like teeny tiny stunt pilots savoring the sweet nectar.  

With this summer’s addition of my modest flowering garden I can only imagine what it must have been like in it’s full glory.

Sunset Rock/A Historical Landmark

When you live at the base of the westward facing slope of Lookout Mountain Sunset Rock is always bearing down on you.  If you have never been there it’s one of my favorite vantage points for viewing Reflection Riding as well as downtown Chattanooga.

Hikers enjoy a recent sunset.

There are plenty of ways to get there.  For the more adventuresome souls, you can begin here at Reflection Riding and use one of our maps to make your way up. It’s a tangled web of trails and old forest roads and takes the average hiker a little over an hour to reach the top.  

When I first became caretaker here at Reflection Riding one of my exercise routines was to walk/jog up Lookout Mountain timing myself each time to the summit.  I’m hardly a trail runner, but I was able to shave 5 minutes off my first attempt and have gotten it down to a respectable 32 minutes.  A self prescribed stress test.  No deductible or copay required. 

Sunset Rock has always been a natural landmark but during the civil war soldiers used it as a vantage point for communication.  A soldier could signal from what is now Candy Flats here at Reflection Riding to another soldier perched atop Sunset Rock.  A horseman would then ride with the decoded message to what is now Point Park where the Battle Above the Clouds was being fought.  It was November of 1863.  Flags were used to signal soldiers during the daylight hours and torches were used at night.  I’ve posted a photo of a civil war reenactor illustrating this technique here on the property last year during the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Lookout Mountain.

A Civil War reenactor signals toward Sunset Rock

I often patrol the property after hours and I always carry a flashlight for security if needed.  Lots of “wildlife” to monitor here at Reflection Riding.  My flashlight is advertised as tactical, holster included, for obvious reasons.  Some might say the brightness could stop a train. 

So, on occasion I too have signaled towards Sunset Rock.  With a series of quick flashes, I’m often able to attract the attention of late night hikers or couples lingering in the romantic twilight.  Oftentimes the signal is repeated back towards me as if we were communicating in morse code.  

I see you. Do you see me?  No special decoding required. 

View of Reflection Riding Arboretum & Nature Center
from Sunset Rock.

Raspberry Treat

One interesting thing about the property surrounding the caretaker’s cabin is the variety of edible fruits and berries.  If you have ever walked by during the fall months, you may have noticed that there are 3 persimmon trees scattered along the perimeter of the front yard.  

After the first frost and long after the leaves fall the fruit hangs on the bare branches like tiny orange weights ripe for the picking.  The deer and possums can be spotted nightly gorging themselves on the tart fruit.

Another rare treat which I have yet to learn how to make use of is the fig tree that has been the dominate plant growing just to the left of the cabin’s front door.  Sadly, this past winter’s severe temperatures damaged the tree and it had to be cut back, but new sprouts have sprung and it seems to have recovered nicely.  Perhaps it too will produce fruit again and I can find creative ways to garnish a meal or simply use them as a pizza topping.

In the back yard, there is a cluster of raspberry bushes. I noticed them last year as I mowed around them but never really thought about eating them.  This past week I picked enough to fill a large plastic container and have added them to my morning’s oatmeal.

As I was writing this blog I researched the benefits of raspberries and found that they not only taste great but also offer anti-cancer and anti-aging properties.  What a treat!  And with another birthday bearing down on me at the end of this month, the timing could not be better.  Bon appetit!

Pepe’ Le Pew

I often brag to my friends about the wildlife that I get to see almost daily here at Reflection Riding, especially in the evenings.  Over the past year it’s been interesting to witness the cycle of the critters that come and go with the seasons.

In the winter months the deer are everywhere from dusk till dawn.  The turkeys which feed in the fields during the warmer months and are as common as your suburban neighborhood dogs, seem to disappear into the forest soon after the leaves begin to fall.  The possums, they don’t hibernate, seem to fill a gap in the colder months and are often spotted throughout the reserve darting unconsciously in and out of my car’s headlamps as I drive the loop road.  But it seems that I see them less often now, replaced by the “polecat” or skunks.  Skunks have few predators so most carnivores honor their personal space which is commonly known in the forest as the “10 foot rule”.  Strangely enough, Great Horned Owls which have a poor sense of smell often prey on these unlikely targets.

Skunks are typically nocturnal creatures which forage for insects, worms, eggs and rodents.  From what I’ve witnessed, one of their favorite appetizers are yellow jacket wasps.   The caretaker’s back yard is riddled with small earthy pot holes where the skunks forage for this tasty treat.  I’ve often been awakened by the pungent smell that somehow creeps through the thick log exterior of the caretaker’s cabin.  Albeit part of the cabin’s personality and charm is it’s simplistic and somewhat minimalistic architectural design but it’s quite the rude awakening.

The picture I’ve posted was taken last June in front of the Humphreys House.  Even though the yellow jackets swarmed, determined to drive this young skunk from their nest, the stings could not penetrate the skunk’s coarse fur.  I made this picture using an 80-200mm lens from about 15 feet away.  Close enough to hear the crunching sounds of the defending wasps final defense, but on the outer edge of the skunk’s target range which is reported to be about 10 feet.  Give or take a few inches.

Turkey Cam

For the past couple of weeks I’ve had a hen frequent my bird feeder here at the caretaker’s cabin.  The squirrels and and an occasional raccoon scatter the sunflower seeds creating an ideal opportunity for turkeys to gobble up the leftovers.

This one particular hen has become a welcomed companion and seems quite comfortable with me watching from the back porch.  So, one rainy weekend I decided to mount my GoPro camera near the feeder with hopes of capturing some video to share with you.  With a bit of patience she did return.  She is typically alone but had now attracted a suitor.  You can view a short video clip at http://youtu.be/t_q7ywdR64o

The Toms, the male turkeys, are in full blown courtship mode from mid March through June strutting about like Mick Jagger with a touch of Elton John’s flamboyance.  Their awkward courtship can’t help but remind me of those high school dances we all attended.  Remember how the girls and guys stood on opposite sides of the gym and pretended not to notice each other?

As I watched this Tom get closer I really felt sorry for him. Despite his chivalry, the hen just never seemed to notice.  Sunflower seeds seemed to be her only concern.

Perhaps he’ll eventually win her affection but it’s tough out there.  Reflection Riding seems to have its fair share of Toms.  I have spotted a few chicks lately, or poults as they are called, so love is definitely in the air.  Perhaps one day soon she’ll return to the backyard with her offspring in tow.  Tom turkey is welcomed too!

Magical Forest

On Saturday, the 3rd of May, I decided to document the growth of bamboo.  One of our more memorable features here at Reflection Riding, especially among children, is our Bamboo Forest. The giant cane creates an enchanted forest. Invasive yes, but a magical structure that peaks the curiosity of visitors of all ages.

So how fast does it really grow? Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on earth.  There are over 1,000 species of bamboo with some capable of growing 3 feet a day and over 130 feet tall.  And how does our bamboo here at Reflection Riding compare? 

In the photos that I’ve posted, you can see the progression over a 5 day period (I’ve recorded the date of photo on the mature bamboo to the right).  The average growth measured out to be a little over a foot a day.  A remarkable feat worth checking out the next time you visit.  And if you use your imagination you too can witness it’s magic.