BIRD FARM SOUTHEarly Spring is Grand!
I had forgotten how wonderful early spring can be. Horseback riding in the
Big River State Forest between Keithsburg and Oquawka, Illinois made for
a magical weekend.
It is only our second trip out this year with the horses. The camper is
nowhere near correctly packed, the horses are still barefoot, the food
supplies lacked many things, Mike had no clean T shirts and I forgot to pack
shampoo. I made a trip to Fisher's market in Oquawka and we made do.
The weekends best thing, the memory that is stuck in my mind is simply
the fresh, green brilliance of the pine needles.
My eyes were mesmerized by the green color of the pine trees in the forest.
Seems that the trees, or most of the pines at least, shed ALL of their
needles last year or over the winter. There was a 2" carpet of umber color
pine needles everywhere in the pine woods. Each and every pine tree
carried the most vibrant, verdant green needle bundles I've ever seen.
We rode for about 2 hours both Saturday and Sunday and I am still amazed
and thrilled with the pure, true greenness of the woods.
I am quite sure that as soon as the rest of the forest wakes up to warmer,
longer days that the competing variety of greens will dim the brilliance of
the long pine needles. This must stand as my little bit of reverence for a
color I've not noticed before. WOW!
Big River State Forest between Keithsburg and Oquawka, Illinois made for
a magical weekend.
It is only our second trip out this year with the horses. The camper is
nowhere near correctly packed, the horses are still barefoot, the food
supplies lacked many things, Mike had no clean T shirts and I forgot to pack
shampoo. I made a trip to Fisher's market in Oquawka and we made do.
The weekends best thing, the memory that is stuck in my mind is simply
the fresh, green brilliance of the pine needles.
My eyes were mesmerized by the green color of the pine trees in the forest.
Seems that the trees, or most of the pines at least, shed ALL of their
needles last year or over the winter. There was a 2" carpet of umber color
pine needles everywhere in the pine woods. Each and every pine tree
carried the most vibrant, verdant green needle bundles I've ever seen.
We rode for about 2 hours both Saturday and Sunday and I am still amazed
and thrilled with the pure, true greenness of the woods.
I am quite sure that as soon as the rest of the forest wakes up to warmer,
longer days that the competing variety of greens will dim the brilliance of
the long pine needles. This must stand as my little bit of reverence for a
color I've not noticed before. WOW!
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