Wanda finally got back from her trail work trips out on the CDT in
CO and NM just in time for us to have another great annual
"Walking Weekend" in northeastern CT. We attended interesting
walks and talks by state geologists, historians and naturalists,
but one of the more amusing moments of the weekend came
when Wanda literally snatched a letterbox out of a tree hollow
just seconds before the Conn College botany professor leading
the tree identification walk started pointing it out as a great
"wildlife habitat hole"! Some 60 people had gathered for the
walk at the Nathan Hale Homestead in Coventry, CT and were
headed down the leafy lane behind it when we began to worry
that "Uncle Sam's Nephew" might be located in a somewhat
precarious position for this type of event. Sure enough, as we
approached, several of the "front walkers" in the group started
pointing out the curiously rocky hollow in that particular ash tree!
Fortunately, the professor stopped just long enough to divert
attention to an adjacent tulip tree for Wanda to slip in and remove
the letterbox. It was all we could do to refrain from chuckling as
the professor then turned to go poking into that ash tree's hole
while describing all the things that might possibly have made
their home in there, while Wanda clutched the box to her chest
with a feeling of having saved "Planet Earth"! (If you get there
soon, you'll know what we mean :-) ) We put the box back in its
hole after everyone had finished the tour and tried to leave it
looking a little more natural by sprinkling a few leaves on it.
Hope it lasts a while yet without attracting too much attention!

Cheers,

Pete F2407 (and Wanda F3450)

PS: You can find more information about this year's Walking
Weekends walks which continue next weekend (Oct 17-19) at
www.thelastgreenvalley.org