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| The bridge over Henry Creek. Can you spot the Louisiana Waterthrush (warbler)? (Click the photo to enlarge it.) |
Beaman Park is one of the best places to walk in the
Nashville area. Today, I specifically came to find some
Hepatica, an extremely beautiful wildflower, and hoped
to see and hear some migrating birds, especially warblers.
Nashville area. Today, I specifically came to find some
Hepatica, an extremely beautiful wildflower, and hoped
to see and hear some migrating birds, especially warblers.
Today, we will take the Henry Hollow Loop Trail (see map above).
We began our walk behind the Visitors' Center (photo above)
at the head of the Sedge Hill Trail (see map) and soon came
to this shelter (photo,below).
at the head of the Sedge Hill Trail (see map) and soon came
to this shelter (photo,below).
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| After the sign (in the background of the photo) you will begin a slow descent to Henry Creek. |
As you walk slowly on this trail remember to stop often and look
down for wildflowers and listen for birds and look
for other animals.
for other animals.
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| Purple (or Red) Dead Nettle Info on the Dead Nettle |
Taking the trail
Down to Henry Creek;
Oh, the spring wildflowers!
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Very tiny Bluets.
Info on Bluets |
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| Henry Creek is in the valley below. There are many species of trees in this park, including maples, oaks, hickories, tulip poplars, beeches, ashes, and red cedars. |
This Sedge Hill Trail is named for the unusual Boote's Sedges that grow along this hillside. These sedges can be seen in the photos below.
This species has separate male and female plants.
This species has separate male and female plants.
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| The female sedge plant (above), receives pollen. |
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| The male sedge plant produces pollen, the yellow "dust" on the anthers. |
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| Continuing the descent. |
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| You can see Henry Creek from here. |
When you get to the bottom of the hill you will come to
this bridge that crosses Henry Creek.
but watch your step.
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| Pussytoes (photos above and below) aka Dog's Paws and Pin Cushions |
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| Information on Pussytoes |
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| Looking upstream from the bridge over Henry Creek. |
It was in this area where we heard and finally saw our first
warbler of the day, a Louisiana Waterthrush
Click here for info on the Waterthrush and to listen to its song.
warbler of the day, a Louisiana Waterthrush
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| All the bird photos in this post are taken from the Cornell site, below... allaboutbirds.org |
A waterthrush bobs
Its rump in the forest creek;
Migrating birds!
After crossing the bridge turn right, then take the first
side trail to get to the creek. Look upstream and you
will see the bridge you just walked over.
After crossing the bridge turn right, then take the first
side trail to get to the creek. Look upstream and you
will see the bridge you just walked over.
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| Looking upstream...standing in the creek. If you decide to get in the creek just watch your step... there are many aquatic snails crawling around. |
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There are snails everywhere...in the creek. The sound of Henry Creek... one of my favorite sounds! |
Across Henry Creek is a small stream with many flowers on both sides. I crossed the stream to take a closer look.
On the sides of the stream were many Hepatica (the plant I
had come here to see) with extremely beautiful flowers!
had come here to see) with extremely beautiful flowers!
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Hepatica flowers, above, and leaves, below. |
Hepatica flowers can be white, lavender, pink, blue, or purple.
As you continue your walk down the Creekside Trail
you'll notice other streams feeding into Henry Creek.
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| Another stream feeding Henry Creek |
There are many paths along the trail that lead to Henry Creek.
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| A solitary snail, moving around, eating. You can see the oxygen bubbles coming off of the algae. |
Snails moving around.
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| Walking Ferns (Asplenium rhizophyllum) |
"My own wintertime desiccation has created a thirst for wet, green renewal that moves me to a closer look. I lie at the mandala's edge and lean my face to the mosses. They smell of earth and life, and their beauty rises exponentially with nearness."
from The Forest Unseen, by David G. Haskell
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| Another stream feeding the creek. |
As you continue your walk take the time to just stop and listen to
the birds and the sound of the running water.
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| Continuing downstream. |
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| Clover leaves and Chickweed flowers. Information on Chickweed |
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| A beautiful Spring Beauty! Info on Spring Beauty |
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| Take a break and listen to something unusual these days...silence. |
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| Looks like a variety of Hispid Buttercup. |
This leaf was formed in late Autumn and persisted throughout the
winter and will soon wither. Then, around July/August a beautiful
stalk of flowers will appear. This is a wild orchid!
winter and will soon wither. Then, around July/August a beautiful
stalk of flowers will appear. This is a wild orchid!
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| The leaf of a Cranefly Orchid. |
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| Moss sporophytes. Info on Mosses |
We spotted four species of butterflies in this one area.
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| Zebra Swallowtail It would not land, so I'm using a photo that I took here in the past. |
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| Tiger Swallowtail |
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| An Azure or a Blue...not sure. |
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| Saw many of these darker butterflies. |
Soon you will reach this point...the trailhead of the Creekside Trail
and the Henry Hollow Loop trail. Turn left to go up the hill to the
ridge and circle back down to the bridge.
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| Turn left to take the Henry Hollow Loop trail. |
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| Immediately on the right you will spot some small Pennyworts. But, they are not very conspicuous, so look closely. |
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| Click to enlarge. Info on Pennyworts |
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| Stunning Rue Anemones |
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| Information on Rue Anemones |
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| Climbing the hill of the Henry Hollow Loop. |
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| Trillium plants soon to bloom. |
This is where we heard a high-pitched bird call.
We looked up and saw two Golden-crowned Kinglets,
one of my favorite kinds of birds.
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| Continuing the ascent to the ridge. Golden-crowned Kinglets were in the trees! |
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| Photo taken from the Cornell site |
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| You can tell this tree by its bark...a Dogwood tree. bio humor |
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| Reindeer Moss, which is really a lichen and not a moss. |
A lichen is actually two species living together sharing resources.
The algae makes food and shares it with the fungus, and
the fungus protects the algae and provides water and minerals.
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| Spotted Wintergreen or Pipsissewa |
Soon you will reach the Ridgetop Trail.
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| Turn left here onto the Ridgetop Trail. The Henry Hollow Loop includes a portion of this trail (see map below). |
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| The common, but beautiful, Violet. |
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| Dandelion flowers can be seen year round. |
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| This part of the trail, the ridge, is relatively flat. |
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| Continuing on the Ridgetop Trail. |
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| Some serious woodpecker damage. |
One of the most common woodpeckers you see and hear in this area
is the Red Bellied Woodpecker. Everytime I take a walk I hear
one calling.
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| Photo taken from the Cornell website, below. |
"Woodpeckers go to great trouble and effort to always make a new nest cavity
each Spring. There is then a yearly progression of fresh empty apartments for
flying squirrels, crested flycatchers, barred owls, and, potentially, bats."
from Winter World, by Bernd Heinrich
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| At this point you can either continue on the Ridgetop Trail by going straight, or you can turn left continuing on the Henry Hollow Loop, which we did. The trail to the right will connect up with the Ridgetop Trail; it runs under and parallel to it. |
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| Going down the Loop trail toward the bridge, near the Hepatica. |
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| These Cutleaf Toothworts can be seen growing along the entire loop. Info on Cutleaf Toothworts |
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| The white flowers of the Serviceberry Tree are easily seen through the leafless woods. Info on the Serviceberry Tree |
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| Click to enlarge. |
It is said that the name "service tree" came from people who lived
in the mountains. It blooms at the time when memorial services
were held after the end of winter to honor those who died during
the winter, when travel up the "hollers" (hollows/valleys) was
too difficult for those who wanted to pay their final respects.
It's also called Sarvis Tree, which is a retention of the Elizabethan English pronunciation.
in the mountains. It blooms at the time when memorial services
were held after the end of winter to honor those who died during
the winter, when travel up the "hollers" (hollows/valleys) was
too difficult for those who wanted to pay their final respects.
It's also called Sarvis Tree, which is a retention of the Elizabethan English pronunciation.
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| You can see the bridge, below. Take it nice and slow and appreciate every step, exploring your surroundings. |
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| This Allegheny Spurge will be making flowers very soon. |
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| Purple Cress Info on Purple Cress |
At the bottom of the hill you will be back at the bridge.
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| At this point you should cross the bridge and get onto the Sedge Hill Trail heading back toward the Visitors' Center. |
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| One of the many Redbud trees near the Visitors' Center. Info on Redbud trees
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This was a perfect day for a walk through the woods
and the perfect place. You must see this park.
Please get out and explore the world around you!
