Magical May

By |2026-03-22T01:27:48-04:00May 26th, 2021|Fauna, Flora, Insects|

Today's post features scenes from the woods taken during the month of May. Photos by Brennah Cavanaugh Photography. You can find more of her work on Instagram @brennahcavanaugh   ant on violets   wild geranium blossom just beginning to open   a patch of trilliums   trilliums and decaying logs   sun shining through the leaves   oak leaves   wolf spider   ...

Sky Over CHFS

By |2026-04-09T02:08:18-04:00March 10th, 2021|Birds, Musings|

There are a variety of bio-regions at the Sanctuary. We have perennial gardens and annual gardens. We have a windbreak of spruces we planted, and we have an enclosed hoop-house area. We have a woodland region, a pond region, wetlands, meadow, and shrubby areas. We have a creek that runs the length of the Sanctuary and then on out to Lake Erie. It's called the North Branch of the Swan Creek. We have a planned food forest ...

Insects of the Sanctuary

By |2026-04-08T02:41:11-04:00March 3rd, 2021|Fauna, Insects|

All creatures have their place and value in an ecosystem. The more variety there is, the more balance is created. Here are some photos Brennah took on August 3rd - 7th this past summer at CHFS. This is a tiny fraction of the insects (which Brennah photographs at all different life stages) that make up the habitat. We are sharing these as a special post for patrons only, as these photos have not yet been shared anywhere ...

Member Walk Postponed

By |2026-04-08T02:11:10-04:00March 1st, 2021|Events & Celebrations, Flora|

February's walk has been postponed to this coming Sunday, March 7th at 2:00 pm. To make up for it though, I am sharing a few photos that Brennah took around the farm and sanctuary on March 4th of last year. And also, maybe this will allow for a few more people to make it at the new time.   pussy willow   dried buckthorn berries   trees with sycamore in the center ...

Rotting Logs

By |2026-04-06T18:15:32-04:00February 26th, 2021|Fauna, Flora, Musings|

Excerpt from The Overstory by Richard Powers: The judge asks her to elaborate. Dennis was right It is like talking to students. She describes how a rotting log is home to orders of magnitude more living tissue than the living tree. "I sometimes wonder whether a tree's real task on Earth isn't to bulk itself up in preparation to lying dead on the forest floor for a long time." The judge asks what living things might need ...

Season of Imbolc

By |2026-04-01T02:03:24-04:00February 24th, 2021|Birds, Musings|

Last week this bird's nest was full of snow. This week the snow is melting fast. And a couple of days ago when I stepped out onto the back patio, I saw the biggest fattest robin I have ever seen. Imbolc gives us the promise of springtime as the light continues to grow.   bird's nest with a large mound of snow in it - photo by Brennah Cavanaugh   Blessings from the Sanctuary, Jean Phot

Plant Allies

By |2026-04-02T22:14:32-04:00February 21st, 2021|Flora|

bumble bee with pollen (in flight) on shrubby st John's wort One of the many wonderful aspects of the Sanctuary is the wide variety of plant life. The featured photos are of St. John's wort taken by Brennah Cavanaugh. We have a couple different varieties of St. John's wort, in fact! It's exciting to consider all the different sorts of ways we can appreciate these plant friends and share knowledge about them. We hope you ...

Where the Wild Things Are

By |2026-03-31T02:17:00-04:00February 7th, 2021|Fauna|

  There are many non-human creatures that also enjoy the trails at Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary. Here are a few of their tracks that Brennah Cavanaugh photographed the other day. These are turkey, coyote, and some tiny rodent - perhaps a mouse. We've seen quite a lot of other kinds of footprints as well. It's certainly a joy to provide a habitat where plenty of wild things are able to find refuge.       Many Blessings from ...

Work song, part 2: a vision

By |2026-03-31T01:49:51-04:00January 10th, 2021|Musings|

Tree at Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary - photo by Brennah Cavanaugh Work song, part 2: a vision If we will have the wisdom to survive, To stand like slow-growing trees On a ruined place, renewing, enriching it, If we will make our seasons welcome here, Asking not too much of earth or heaven, then a long time after we are dead The lives our lives prepare will live Here, their houses strongly placed Upon the valley ...

Song of Life

By |2026-03-26T01:43:11-04:00December 19th, 2020|Flora, Musings|

Oak tree at Crossing Hedgerows Sanctuary. Photo by Brennah Cavanaugh Song of Life by Charles Mackay (1814 - 1889)   A traveller on a dusty road Strewed acorns on the lea: And one took root and sprouted up, And grew into a tree. Love sought its shade at evening-time, To breathe its early vows; And Age was pleased, in heights of noon, To bask beneath its boughs. The dormouse loved its dangling twigs, The birds ...

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