Twenty-four persons joined Bill Balkwill on October 14, 2007 for a fall colour walk in the Balkwill Woodland. Bill pointed out the Ohio Buckeye in the arboretum which was just beginning to show red tips on its leaves. Along the Old Logging Road, the Sassafras thicket was beginning to display a little colour.
After leaving the Old Logging Road, the group made its way east along the front of the Woodland where Arrowwood was turning purple. Of interest was a Crataegus mollis, a hawthorn species, which was in bloom again this fall as had been noted on last year’s fall walk. This year a Bald-faced Hornet’s nest had been constructed in the Crataegus mollis. Several twigs intertwined with the hornet’s nest were in boom. Bill felt there were more blossoms this year on the Crateagus mollis.
The big Burr Oak on Lane 8 was admired along with Red and Shumard Oaks. Two species of sumac were identified, the Smooth and the Staghorn Sumac. The group walked along the centre lane to Lane 9 to the Gold Seal which has recently been planted in the Woodland. Crossing the drain, Bill showed the thinning that has taken place here and how the woods have come along nicely. There was some yellow on the maple leaves but we were just a week too early for a lot of colour.
Bill lead us south along Lane 1 noting the Grape Ferns and Alumroot. We stopped to admire the pond area. Bill pointed out the Black Knot disease on the plums. We continued our walk across the front of the woodland and south along the Old Logging Road.
Upon the conclusion of the walk, Bill distributed some squash.
Thank you to Bill for leading us on another walk in his beautiful Woodland.