Mini Forest

The mini forest is one of my favourite areas on my farm. It is near the house so it can be observed year round with ease. Its northern side is bounded by a small, rushing brook that swells in springtime to creek status and by August has mostly dried up. In early spring you can’t get to the mini forest on foot because the creek looks innocent enough but can easily suck you down into the mud bottom, never to be seen again. Even if you could cross the creek, the mini forest is always partially under water until around the end of May.

Small brook trout wiggle their way south-eastward through the creek, often pausing to rest in the shade of the mini forest. Crows know this and wait with eager anticipation for some unwary fish to wander to the side and become entangled in the long grasses and bulrushes, dooming themselves to being lunch.

Willow, Daffodils and White Pine in Mini Forest

There are trilliums, daffodils, toad lilies and some very pretty moss growing all over the ground under the trees. One large stone juts out of the ground and a dead tree stands beside it, covered with ivy that grows like water in slow motion, churning, frothing and roiling up over and around the trunk.

A row of small, solemn little white pines sits quietly under the large, native trees along the western side. They were planted last year for Earth Day and have made it through the winter looking very healthy. I’m proud of the little tykes!

The Plant Lady