The Silver Maple Grove feels different now. The space which was once defined by its almost magical iridescent glow now has a more quiet, majestic quality. A layer of snow coats each branch of every visible tree, highlighting the sheer breadth of the forest. Somehow, the trees feel taller and more powerful than ever and its as if the woods have grown silent in their midst. Because of the snow and dropping temperatures, the welcoming chorus of birds which used to echo through the air in the grove is now gone and has been replaced by an eerie but oddly calming silence.
On my visit to the grove a few days ago, I’d hoped to find some tracks or other evidence of wildlife activity in the area but I was unable to find anything other than dog prints in the snow. Perhaps its because there wasn’t snow that was deep enough or fresh enough, or maybe its because any tracks that had existed in the grove had already been trampled by dogs on the trails, but I will definitely have to return at another time to look again.
It’s actually remarkable how the snow seems to have completely taken over the human activity in the area. If it weren’t for the obvious footprints and ski tracks imprinted in the snow, it would feel completely as if nature had taken over. Any litter which might have lain on the forest floor is now coated with at least a few inches of snow and ice, and even the metal scraps which can be found scattered throughout the trees are buried and almost completely hidden.
Although all of the leaves have left the trees and the herbaceous cover which used to dominate the space has completely died back, I find it incredible that some stubborn mosses and lichens still dot the grove with green. How is it that they’re able to survive when all the other plants and even fungi have completely receded?
