Cary, North Carolina
As many of my readers know, I grew up surrounded by hemlock trees in Connecticut and miss having them in my life very much. I heard of this place not long after we moved down here but Tim & I never managed to visit it. So, while my sister and her husband were here for eleven days over the holidays a good day arrived, we packed a lunch, and then headed out to see these remarkable hemlock trees.
Hemlock Bluffs is a special place because the north-facing bluffs combine with cool air from a creek below to create a “mountain” microclimate which the hemlocks favor. Sadly, here too they are plagued by the hemlock wooly adelgid but they are being monitored and treated for this insect pest here in this protected preserve.
We headed for East Hemlock Bluffs first and soon found ourselves descending from the top of the bluff over 100 boardwalk steps down to the level of Swift Creek. It was exciting seeing the trees from different elevations, and reminded me of the way the trees looked as I was climbing them in my childhood.
After climbing back up those 100+ stairs we headed over to West Hemlock Bluffs. There weren’t as many steps going down this bluff, but the descent was steeper.
We were surprised to see a huge holly tree down below. I was amazed to be eye-level with the crown and took a few pictures with the zoom lens. I wondered if this was an American holly which is common here, or a mountain holly, since we were in that microclimate. But I learned that mountain hollies are deciduous so it’s probably an American holly, and probably was about 60 feet tall.
Beech Tree Cove was at the bottom of this end of the bluff and there we noticed a huge fallen beech tree. (below) I also learned that older beech trees do lose their leaves in the winter; it’s the younger ones that keep them in the cold months.
Back at the park entrance and the Stevens Nature Center they had three hemlock trees in the courtyard, some with those tiny cones I adored as a child. And, while Beverly & John were still inside looking at the center’s exhibits, I waited outside for them.
That’s when a friendly squirrel approached me with a message from Tim. He stayed with me for a few minutes, looking at me intently, and then, comforting tidings delivered, took off.
It was wonderful having my sister with me for so many days. We took three very long walks, hosted three holiday gatherings, and even went to the movies and saw Hamnet. Of course, there were tears of grief at times, and it was good sharing those, too.
A wee slice of Connecticut tucked into the hills (except for the holly)! I’m glad they are protecting those hemlocks. Our forests aren’t protected and with so many other blights and pests, I am worried. Change is one thing I guess we have to expect. So glad you had a wonderful visit with your sister, my sisters are my besties, for sure.
I worry, too. I happened to be reading about the beech leaf disease hitting the last beech forest on Cape Cod, and thought about the beech bark disease you told me about hitting the trees in Connecticut. Two plagues on those lovely beech trees. 🙁 It must be wonderful having more than one sister! They truly can be the best of friends.
The Asian Invasion continues, alas. Between plants, diseases and pests, our forests are taking a hit. So heartbreaking! 😢
💔
How sweet the squirrel is to bring you a comforting message from Tim. 💙🐿️
At first I was startled that he was so close until I realized what was happening. ♡🐿️♡
What a lovely walk — thank you for taking us along! I’m glad you found this special spot. How cool that the cute squirrel welcomed you and gave you comfort, too. I can see why you’d be enamored of those tiny cones!
Thank you, Debbie, I’m so glad you came along for this walk – it turned out to be such a special one for multiple reasons. 🐿️
Thanks for taking us with you Barbara. I always earn so much from your walks. I dont know Hemlock trees—I don’t think they grow in Southern California.
Love the squirrel messenger.
I’m glad you could join us, Rosie. 🐿️ The eastern hemlock (aka Canadian hemlock)grows in Nova Scotia according to my range map so maybe you will get to see one some day. You’re right, the western hemlock range doesn’t go down into California. My brother-in-law was looking for a Carolina hemlock while he was here, but the range map only has it in the southern Appalachian Mountains.
That’s good that you, Beverly and John got out and about and did some nice long walks to restore your soul in nature. I definitely think that little Eastern Gray Squirrel, maybe a friend of Fred’s came to pose and visit with you, delivering a special message from Tim over the holiday season. That was quite a hike on all those stairs, but worth the effort from the view and picture you got looking down at Swift Creek.
It was a very healing day for all of us, Linda. We were all exhausted afterwards but it was the good kind of tired. I will look at these pictures again and again – after all, I didn’t have a camera when I was up in those trees as a child. The day brought back so many visual pre-Tim memories, too, and I was glad to share the day with Beverly, my childhood companion. I missed her so much when we moved down here. 🐿️
I imagine it would have been. I’m glad you got to see Beverly again as you’ve not seen her since you moved to North Carolina. It would be wonderful if one day, perhaps when they retire, Beverly and John might visit more often or even move near you. I think I missed out on a lot by not having a sibling.
I think of you often, Linda, as I struggle to find a way to live alone now. Your situation has taught you how to be strong and self-reliant, qualities that I wish I possessed. I’m feeling extra lost, lonely and incredibly vulnerable now that Beverly has left.
Thank you Barbara and I have learned a lot about being on my own since my mom passed away and I learned a lot about things outside the house that I never gave much attention to before my father left. And, after he left, back then though we got a new neighbor who was eager to help us out – I’m going to write about him for Father’s Day as he called himself my Step-Papa. He moved away back in 1990 and used to call my mom and I, then me, but he is gone now.
I am not feeling too confident about house-related things right at this moment unfortunately. I did what my mom always did for years and years, kept washing small loads of hot-water laundry in brutally cold weather. Well, last Thursday, I went down to do another small load and the water filled up in the washer and the machine has seemingly died. Sigh. I didn’t call the appliance repairman, thinking the new handyman might try to fix it first … also we were to have snow squalls three days in a row. I scooped out all the water out of the washer (75 saucepans, 50+ paper cups of water) and have to call this week. I don’t need to do laundry right away … my washer and dryer (Maytags) are 34 years old.
I went outside this morning to run the car (the temp today and next two days are real feels way below zero and 40 mph winds). I have icicles coming from the gutters and it is dripping everywhere – a sheet of ice. I can’t call anyone in this weather. So I am feeling less confident about things right now … but I told myself it could have been the fridge, the furnace … and it is not a health issue, but still. I didn’t want anyone in the house during this bad flu we have going on now. At least it is in the basement.
I can imagine you would feel that way as Tim was by your side, taking care of everything, so you now feel the loss more keenly than ever, especially after all the holiday gatherings are over and Beverly has gone. And, even though your weather is milder than ours, it still is Winter. I am glad you have friends and family though – they will help get you over this slump … I had Marge when I was suddenly alone, but she was not family. Maybe you’ll spend time with the grandchildren tomorrow? I’m thinking they may be off for the MLK holiday?
I do hope you got your washing machine fixed. I did spend time with the grandchildren on the holiday. We took a long walk and had dinner at Larisa’s.
I’m waiting a little longer to call. We have more snow on the way tomorrow (squalls) and four inches on Sunday. There is ice everywhere on the side of the house. We have this dangerous Polar Vortex (actual temps of 10-15 below zero and real feel temps of -25 for this weekend). If he takes the washing machine apart and has to leave it like that, I have to be able to reach the laundry tub to ensure the condensate drain doesn’t fall out like last time … I had a horrible mess. I’ve been doing a stream of water, but will make it a bigger stream and probably raise the thermostat to 77. This is extremely dangerous weather, the likes of which we’ve not had in a very long time. I’m glad you had a pleasant birthday – I figured the grandchildren might be off for the holiday, so that was a perfect way to spend your birthday, then dinner at Larisa’s.
What a great place for exploring! Sounds like a wonderful walk and a good time spent with your sister. Did it smell really fresh and wonderful surrounded by the hemlocks? I’ve been to a couple places where I just love to stand and smell the evergreens – particularly Mt. Greylock here in MA – the summit smells like Christmas!
It did smell wonderful there, and the scents transported me back to my childhood, while having my sister there was also a powerful link to those tender years. I’ve had similar olfactory experiences to yours, on a hike in the spruce-fir forest near the top of Mount Mitchell in the Black Mountain range here in NC, like your Mt. Greylock, part of the Appalachian Mountains.