Winter Walk with Ernie

Winter in Niagara Earl Plato

Winter began again with sunshine and yes, unseasonal rain. While I was looking over the frozen meandering Welland River in north Wainfleet melting had opened the edges of the river. Now winter began again with a shining lacework of ice growing along the river’s borders. Winter began again with a strong, warm southwest wind. Standing on the old river road winter began again with the calling of a bluejay. As I walked westwards facing a soft rain winter began again that day with the cawing of a crow. In the river bushes below came the whistling of a cardinal. I stopped. From my daughter’s and son-in-law’s home on the slope above me the beginning of winter came again with the sweet, pungent fragrance of cherry wood smoke from their blazing fireplace. Pleasurable? Yes. Ed Teale, nature writer, wrote, “As always at such a time (mentioned above), The time of quitting fall and entering winter again, I marvel at how swiftly the days have passed since June. How rapid the pace of our journey through that half of the year.” He seems to lament that now things will slow down in the coming winter months. Hey, Ed, you and I are growing older. Take heart for now it appears the time that stretches through the winter months will be long and slow. Old timers like us can slow down a bit, eh.
***
We were with Ernie Giles, former Niagara Peninsula naturalist. We were far back in Short Hills Provincial Park. It was a short few days but a welcome respite from the cold winter. We walked ascending the field southwards close to the edge of the park woods. A row of goldenrods still stood ramrod straight. As we walked by a swirling gust of wind partially uncovered the wooly rosette of a mullein plant. Ernie stopped us and moved among the goldenrods to the snow covered mullein plant. He shook the stem revealing the thick flannellike leaves. Have you ever felt the texture of a mullein leaf? Ernie doesn’t usually disturb nature but this time he wanted to share a secret. “Do you know what is often nside a mullein leaf as between a stack of woolen blankets?” Carefully he separated the mullein leaf and tiny forms of life appeared. Minute spiders, little beetles, and specks of springtails had found a snug winter retreat. There they would have been secure while ice and snow lock in our winter environment. Ernie closed the leaf as best he could. Sorry guys.