Plateau gazette and east Tennessee news. (Rugby, Tenn.) 1883-1884, 1884-02-28
Notes From the Woods.
(FEBRUARY.)

10 the WOODS! les, TO the WOOuS
away!" Such was the refrain sung by
the South wind at our open door,on this
mild afternoon in February.
Wearied with confinement imposed
by snow and rain, our hearts echoed
back the answer, eyes, we will to the
woods away" and see what kind mother
Nature has to show of present green
ness or of promise for the future. TAX
ing the neaAst way to the river, we fol-
low the path through the yellow pines
back of Mr.. Fowlor's place. AS we come
to the slope leading down to the water
fall, we pass beautiful specimen of the
Pinus Strobus, which, with its smooth
bark, long and slender leaves,and grace
full outline forms quite contrast with
the ungainly shrub, or Jersey pines by
which it is surrounded. Not till we
reach the edges of the ravine do we
meet with the hemlock, spruces, and
full grown specimens of the white pine,
"those lordly pines, those grand majes-
tic pines" of which Longfellow sings
But we have reached the waterfall
and must snake note" of it for the
benefit of any Rugbeian so unfortunate
not to have seen it. The little stream
having it's source Just across the Avenue
from the corner Of Mr.. Riddelps place,
meanders quietly along in the upper
part of its course; but, as the descent
becomes more rapid, and the channel
narrower, it puts on quite business
air, and, as if knowing what is before
it in the near future, makes prt paration
by jumping from rock to rock, forming
several miniature cascades; and, pres
emily, reaching jutting ledge drops
some twenty-five feet to the rocks be-
low, after which it is nearly hidden
from view ly the laurels and rhododen-
drons which line the rest of its course
to the river. Seeking a good view Of
the river, we cross the brook above the
fall, and climb the side of the ravine
Under our feet, we find the trailing ar
butus and it's near relative, the winter
green, in the greatest profusion; ant
here and there, among the mosses, tht
Mitchella repens, or Partridge lierry
, showsits beautiful leaves and brigh,
, red berries. From the highest point
; among the rocks we get our desired
view. Here as if scorning "wind and
weather." the Polypodium vulgare GOV
, ers the tops and sides of the rocks with
its evergreen fronds; but we look il
vain for its sister species the Incanum
which grows in a few places along thu
Bride Path. Here also in the NOR,
J sheltered spots, are the large fronds 0
n the Aspidium Marginale; while on ever,
;. hand we find the coriaceous fronds o
y the AcrosticEoides, the hardest an,
j. commoaest of ferns.
Returning below the waterfall, W
s search under the shelving rocks hoping
s. to find something new and are rewards
If by specimens of Asplenium Trichoil
anes and Pinnatifdum.
Besides those named rs evergree
v ferns, there is another small but prett
species, the Ebeneum, that is rarel
8 found, and the Lygodium Palmatun
Is or Climbing Fern, which, though NJ
'e classcd as an evergreen here, retains il
y, leaves through the winter.
$. Though 50 abundant here, the las
n; named fern is a rare plant, being foun
* in but few localities. As a proof
d. this we find that Legislative action hs
r. been taken for its preservation at Ea,
re Windsor Hill, in the State of Connect
", cut. Another beautiful evergreen til
Lycopodium, or Club moss, should NJ
be omitted in this connection. An
h. now, with baskets filled with the abul
Is dant "greenery" We take our way HON
~ ward, contented to wait q few mo-
~ weeks for the unfolding of the "pearl
NJ flowers" of the fragrant Mayhower.
II, M. 8. p