Jim and Emma at the Vista

The beech grove at Devils Hopyard

The long climb at Devils Hopyard

Emma and Will in the Devils Oven

Devils Hopyard, A New Destination

The last day of calendar winter was cool, but mostly sunny and we decided to check out a new place in Connecticut. We hopped in the car and drove an hour south to Devil's Hopyard State Park, located in East Haddam on the Eightmile River. It was one of those places that has been on our list of places to see but we had not managed to get there yet. The gates were not yet open for the season, so we found parking on the roadside, not far from the entrance, along with quite a few other people who wanted a day outdoors.

It was quite scenic along the trail with lots of grey moss-covered rocks, a beech grove, acres of native mountain laurel in many places along the trail. I had my first view of skunk cabbage coming to life along a wet stream and saw lots of evergreen ferns in the shade of the trees and on the mossy rocks. We were looking for the Devils Oven that was on the map, and had to circle the loop trail twice before we found it. Despite the myth, it seemed nothing more than a big overhang of rock alongside the trail. We were told there were unusual markings in the rock that could not have been made by man, but we didn't see them. We'll have to look again next time. We did find the 'vista', which was a pleasing view of the Eightmile River meandering along the river valley far below. It was a great thing to do on a beautiful Saturday in March.

It almost feels like spring

Even though our temperatures are still below normal for this time of year, we are finally getting to feel like spring is near. The snow at Simsbury Farms is almost all melted, and I've actually seen some daffodil leaves poking their heads above ground over there. At our house, though, some of my gardens are still covered in piles of snow, but where they are bare, I see the tips of some of the hardy plants still showing. The buds are expanding on the trees, too. The willows are turning a yellow color, the Bradford pear buds are plump and some of the flowering shrubs are glowing red, to let us know that they are getting ready for the spring too. My rhododendrons, which have been fighting the cold air all winter by curling their leaves back into themselves, are looking a lot better too. Although this morning was another cold one (about 25 degrees F) and their leaves are curled again. Plants and people will be happier when the warmer weather gets here.

But the dogs, well, they don't mind the cold at all. They seem to prefer it to the hot humid days of summer. But there are lots of times in between, too, that they love, with the more moderate temperatures of spring and fall. Just like in life, we need a good balance. It would be hard to imagine living in a mono-climate, all winter or all summer. The annual cycle we live in, especially in the northeast, gives time to experience different aspects of life, at times more introspective like when we 'hibernate' in the frigid winter months. And then it is balanced by the more outward summer months, when we want to be outdoors more, either in our gardens, walking, biking, traveling or just sitting on the deck enjoying a warm evening.

Thank goodness for change in life, and for the annual cycle of things. It works best for all of us. Too much of one thing, and no one wins.

View from our deck, still lots of snow under the trees on the hillside

Spring has sprung at the Simsbury Farms, a golf course built on an old apple orchard

View of the last signs of winter from under my favorite white oak at Simsbury Farms

Simsbury Farms logo

The big tease - Will sits with the frisbee in the background, while Emma is preparing for the chase (step 1 of 'the frisbee dance')

The Frisbee dance

More of the frisbee dance