Rob's Marcy Woods

Rob’s Marcy Woods Earl Plato

Autumn - what better place to spend it - in Marcy Woods. It was a nine o’clock ramble lead by Rob Eberly. We set off on the Lower Trail. Rob has been a long time fellow naturalist who has matured in his knowledge of our Creative world. We would walk a few steps and Rob would point out some plant or tree. Sure I have done this on Marcy walks but Rob really impressed me with his botanical knowledge. This old naturalist picked up some new knowledge. I know why. Rob has taken some of the best natural scientists on walks here and has assimilated some of their expertise. Great!
Brian, a young computer expert from Pennsylvania, shared with us. He has walked from the southern end of the Appalachian Trail circa Mt. Mitchell in Georgia to Mt. Katahdin in Maine. Six months it took him from late March to August! I quipped, “I walked the Trail too - a mile here and two miles there in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.”
Rob explained the uniqueness of Marcy’s with its wooded sand dunes.
More trees down from the winds. One new one for me was a giant rare Black maple. With the future of the Woods at stake no attempt has been made, as in the past, to clear the trails. Sad.
George and I followed the three as they climbed the sand hill to the overlook of the pristine beach. This time I had my camera. I took a good shot from the dune top that I will have enlarged.
Rob pointed out the long time plan of the late Dr. Marcy of saving the forested dunes. Year after year he and Dr. Rick Stockton planted trees on the dune slopes in an effort to preserve them. They succeeded.
Go west to Point Pelee along the north Lake Erie shore. How many forested sand dunes along the way do you find? Marcy Woods is unique, citizens of the Niagara Peninsula! George and I heard the news from Rob. “We’ll climb back up the dune the way we came and head for the cabin.” Back up the dune! We two seniors did make it back up but with some effort. Brian was impressed with the cabin.
Rob explained the movie made by Bruce Kershner about Marcy Woods to the two. What great views of this Carolinian gem. I want to see it again and again. Without a notebook or tape recorder I missed a great chance to record Rob Eberly’s vast knowledge. From the anomaly of the Witch’s Broom to the giant fallen Black maple to the stands of yellow and orange Jewel weeds (“Touch-me-nots”) to the Hop and Bladder Nut trees and the fragrant smell of the Spice bush leaves along the Lower Trail - again it was worth the effort.
Visit Marcy Woods this fall, eh.