Your Own Shady Woodlands
Consider this a love letter to you. Perhaps you are feeling the need of it. To be reminded that you are wild and precious, and deserving of care. In Fall, I imagine that every brightly hued leaf is a love note. Leaves swirl in a glorious dance of fireworks of gold, orange, and reds. The air is finally cooling and brilliantly blue; a perfect foil for Nature's most brilliant painter's palette. In Fall there is no holding back; spicy scents of plenty are in the air. Now is the time to pick an apple and nibble it down to the core.
What little fires of hope and joy will you kindle?
Walking quiet leaf strewn paths along creeks and trails pulls me back to a gentle hope. I am captivated by a place that is usually uncrowded and quiet except for birdsong. Here I fell in love again with nature in all her wildness. And she let herself be known to me. In Winter, the delicate lace of ice on the river bank crackle at my feet. In early Spring, nodding blooms of Virginia Bluebells agree winter is done. In Summer, the enticing ripple of water on the shore line invites me in, and I emerge refreshed. In Fall, the yellow wave of leaves shimmer against the silver bark of Sycamore Trees and signal cooler weather is ahead. I have grown to love these trails so much I miss them when I am away. I know when the spice bush will berry. I am looking for the raccoon in the hole in the tree, and I wonder if the owls will come back to nest.
Proximity to the James River Park is one of the reasons we moved into our beloved neighborhood. Living near the Buttermilk Trail entrance was like living next to Adventureland. I could take my kids, dog, or self into a wild space without much trouble. My husband would run the Buttermilk trail up one side, cross over Belle Isle, and run home on the North Bank. The run up the Boulevard Bridge was the punishing finish to his long run. I preferred the amble down the upper or lower trail depending on the heat of the day, and who was coming along for the walk. The Buttermilk is a great trail whether you are up in the tree canopy biking or running, or walking down by the river and cooling off.
Please allow me to invite you to wander here and discover a respite in the middle of the city. There are so many entry points to the expanse of the James River Park System. From sunrise to sunset, you can enjoy a myriad of adventures of natural playground. Perhaps you are familiar with the Pony Pasture. I always would take friends or family here for an easy exploratory walk. Whether with with young children, grandparents, or older teens, everyone loved the Pony Pasture. Right after you park you can go right up to the trail. Families and friends enjoy a rock scramble, picnic near the rocks, or a leisurely meander in the woods. If you continue onward, you eventually would come to the Wetlands part of the park system. After a rain, you would probably turn back unless you packed rain boots. Young families bring their children here to splash in the giant mud puddles, or marvel at the flooded areas of the park after a storm.
When our friend Bill first showed my husband the neighborhood entrance to the Wetlands, we felt like we had discovered a secret. We walked our dogs along dirt pathways, full of good sniffs under the canopy of high trees. We walked along a long wooden walkway navigating an area that was often wet, muddy, or dry depending on rainfall. Lots of people with dogs walked through the park, and the flatter terrain was easier without dodging mountain bikers or runners. The easy charm of the winding pathways through the woods, and the single dirt track over roots along the James River won our hearts. I walk our dog Kirby here over and over again. The gentle pace and cool pine strewn paths allowed us to discover a kinship with each other.
We walk the Wetlands in every season. We learned where the owls liked to roost in the forest. We looked out for turtles sunning themselves on logs. If the Buttermilk is a hike, and the Pony Pasture is a party, the Wetlands is a meditation. As you do with places, you begin to recognize familiar landmarks. You are no longer trying to remember which way to go. Your body knows the cadence of up and down, and gravel path to dirt. Your mind begins to rest because your feet know the way. This ease allows you to take in the birdsong, the flitter of deer in the forest, and the quiet that comes in wild places.
To honor this special place, I created a little bit of wilderness that you may invite into your own landscape. I would like to share a garden design inspired by this magical place, and invite you to visit the treasure we have in the James River Park. The Woodland Haven Garden is inspired by the magical woodland part of the Wetlands in the James River Park. The Garden includes a Plant Palette with native plants that are beneficial to our local flora and fauna, and a Planting Design to help you implement your own Wetlands Inspired Garden. Guidance for planting, care, and sourcing for your native plants is also part of your Wetlands inspired garden.
I hope that you enjoy creating a haven for yourself. You will be amazed at the nature that will arrive in your newly created habitat. Your plants are hosts and food for so many creatures that will benefit from your invitation. A garden is an invitation to hope and remember that you ARE nature. I hope your garden will become a magical part of your life as you create a place for love and life to grow.
