by Amy Martin, author, Wild DFW: Explore the Amazing Nature Around Dallas-Fort Worth

As summer ensues, the shady woods trail is needed more than ever. But it needs work.

Woods Issues

The eastern poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans was making the woods trail downright dangerous. But after three assaults on it, it’s starting to give up.

Mainly, we gotta do something about this. It’s teetering dangerously. Way too much temptation for kids to climb; they could get hurt. This will require some fellas with real strength and tools.

There is an entrance to the woods trail in the middle of the meadow. It goes up and over a lovely knoll. But a big limbfall has shifted and now it’s mostly blocked. No photo.

Woods Beauties

Just past the knoll on the trail to the creek is this southern catalpa Catalpa bignonioides from a sapling planted two years ago. Gonna be a fabulous flowering beauty in a few years.

Ah, such happy rusty blackhaw Viburnum rufidulum since Christopher and I removed Chinese privet and Amur honeysuckle. There are 27 of these uncommon plants in an array of sizes.

A young chinkapin oak Quercus muehlenbergii is doing well. Not sure if it’s self-planted or from an acorn I tossed. This tree is also uncommon.

Join the Greenbelt Guild for sort-of-monthly workdays. Drop me a line.