5-23-2025 11:41pm

Springtime in the Woods

Beth Callahan Editor

Nature Close to Home and Ohio Certified Volunteer Naturalist Dave Woehr shares monthly naturalist stories.

LEBANON, OH -- I talked myself out of washing windows or trimming hedges today in favor of taking a hike on a woodland trail before Spring slips away for another year. It was cool for this late in May, and being in the woods offered some shelter from the stiff breeze. I opted to hike on one of the many nice trails in Caesar Creek State Park. Today’s adventure was on a trail near the Wellman boat ramp.

There weren’t many people at this spot in the park on this Friday morning. I had the mile-long loop trail to myself. I heard some migratory birds singing overhead in foliage so dense I couldn’t see them. But, I did see several Great Blue Herons along the lake shore and a Carolina Wren on a fallen tree. I heard American Toads trilling somewhere off in the distance but never found their exact location.

I was pleasantly surprised at some of the sights I encountered on this trail. Seventeen-year Cicadas had emerged from the ground and were clinging to eye-level foliage all along the trail.

Fire Pink was blooming in a couple of places.

A few dragonflies were out and about including a Pronghorn Clubtail that held still long enough for me to get a photograph of it. I’m not sure I ever saw one before.

I came upon a small pool of rain water teeming with hundreds of tadpoles. I think they were probably American Toad tadpoles based on their location and appearance as well as my recollections of past encounters with this species.

But, perhaps the highlight of this one-hour outing was another brilliant red sighting competing with the Fire Pink for first prize in woodland glory. And, it was simply a lowly fungus on a fallen log. At first I thought it was Red Raspberry Slime Mold, but later concluded that it is another species that simply goes by the name, Tulasnella aurantiaca.

It was a great day to be out in the woods. My advice is to get out there and enjoy nature while there is still a little bit of Spring left on the calendar. Washing your windows and trimming hedges can wait.