The Hometown Treasure September 2013 | Page 39

Spotlight on by David Lane Advanced Indiana Master Naturalist MARTIN EXCAVATING, INC Great Service, Great Price Demolition, Septics Basements, Driveways BROOK MARTIN President 1595 N 100 W LaGrange, IN 46761 260-367-1266 260-499-3478 T Nature Fall Into Autumn he temperatures have been relatively cool compared to years past. Are there any signs out there that you have discovered, related to our weather changing? Other than the one mentioned? Time to start making the transitions into autumn. The summer is saying good-bye. For another year has passed never to come back again. For today, is the first day of your life. What does that say to you? Is life passing you by and you feel like there is no time to catch-up? Allow, me to introduce an activity you just might find for the family and or the individual who loves to spend time in the great out-of-doors in its natural scenery. This is the classroom for the nature enthusiast, first hand and personal. You just might be inspired by what you will encounter along your adventure. Activity: As fall is on the horizon and approaches closer day by day, take a walk through a wooded area, schoolyard, a field and or garden of crops, local park and or the neighborhood sidewalk to look for signs of autumn. My wife and myself did this last year and found many obvious signs. See how many you can come up with. We came up with about one hundred true signs of the change to fall. From about now until the end of September see what your senses come up with. Stop, look, listen and observe. But, with that in mind, just let your senses take you where you can capture the moment in time. If you come up with other things related to fall changes that is all right too. Just relax and let nature take you on a journey of precious memories you can keep, you can even keep a log or journal and or keep them planted in your mind. “Natural beauty, strange creatures and curious plants reveal themselves to those who seek such amazement”. Instead of rushing through your walk simply slow down. In fact, stop once in awhile. Listen, hear the birds, the wind, the water rushing in a nearby creek? Look, look up in the trees. Can you spot the bird you hear chirping up there somewhere? Is it in the tree, hidden in the grass? Or is it under the bush? Observe the small things. Lie on the ground and stare at a small patch of grass and or a few corn stalks. Are they turning colors? Alternatively, e