I think that I shall never see
A poem lovely as a tree.
A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
Against the earth's sweet flowing breast;
A tree that looks at God all day
And lifts her leafy arms to pray;
A tree that may in Summer wear
A nest of robins in her hair;
Upon whose bosom snow has lain;
Who intimately lives with rain.
Poems are made by fools like me,
But only God can make a tree.
~Joyce Kilmer, "Trees," 1914

We started the Woodland Trail with a Western Juniper 
and we end our hike at the parking lot with this magnificent Western Juniper.

As is characteristic of older Junipers, which live up to 250 years, the trunk and branches are thick and gnarly.  

This  tough old specimen has, no doubt, survived its share of  flash floods while protecting the thin layer of top soil from washing away into the lake.

If trees could talk... 

The paths on The Woodland Trail are pristine, and this day is no exception.  We have not encountered a single piece of litter.  

Those who came before have been thoughtful to our wilderness or have picked up well after those less aware, and there are only footprints on the winding path through the rocky, wooded maze. 

Hate is a strong word.  There are very few things in life that I hate.  I hate litter.

Why?

• Litter lessens the quality of the outdoor experience for everyone. A mess is a mess is a mess.

• Litter can be a hazard to people and wildlife: glass (people and wildlife), 6-pack rings (especially aquatic birds), metal with sharp edges (people and wildlife). 

• Litter can clog natural or manmade waterways. 

• Litter can be a fire hazard: cigarette butts, dried paper, tissues, newspaper, etc. 

• Litter is expensive. What would take a visitor a few minutes to clean becomes hours of staff time when these littering actions are multiplied by many visitors. 

• A littered area usually becomes an area of increased vandalism because of the "don't care" attitude it projects. 

Yet instead of bemoaning litter, we take a proactive stance.  We make it a habit to stuff a few plastic grocery bags in our pockets, finding these freebie bags ideal for removing litter and carrying it out of our wilderness areas. 

Even on a short hike you can help out by packing out trailside litter.  The Scouts have the right idea: They are taught to leave a place in better shape than s/he found it in.

It's a good life lesson.

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