Even though the trees are now bare, they have a lot of stories to tell. Look at the way the trunks braid and twist. See if you can find the bulbous, papery nests of wasps hanging in the branches.
- Look for the nests of birds, hidden away during the leafiness of summer but now exposed. Can you imagine the birds that made them and the nestlings that were raised there?
- If you notice a flat wooden box attached to the trunk of the tree, think about the bats that took shelter there—feet up, heads down, fast asleep with a full belly of mosquitoes—during the long daylight hours of summer.
Gabriel Dumont Park has new wonders to offer at every time of year. In the spring, watch for buds and bugs that emerge just in time to support species returning from migration or emerging from hibernation. In the summer, enjoy the wildlife darting, dancing and diving around you. In the fall, notice how the tamarack trees glow brightly before dropping their golden needles in a soft heap. We invite you engage your senses and discover what this place has to offer throughout the year. Return often to pedal, paddle or pitter-patter your way through this thriving ecosystem in every season.
—Sara Bryson and Nikki Moggey