Adirondack Chronicles 2023.4: All Things Adirondack Green
Green is the inescapable color of the Adirondacks in the summer, from the intense bright green of the new ferns lining the forest floors (above) to the venerable old moss green clinging to the ancient glacial boulders (below)…
… to the deep green-blue-black shades of the deep forest with its tall evergreens and abundant hardwoods…
Sometimes a bright spot of floral color interrupts the endless green:
And sometimes the wild things take on the color green as well…
Some of the wild things bring their own delightful touches of color to enliven the green forest cloak…
And sometimes the bright yellow-greens of the hardwood leaves help to cloak the wild things…
The cedar waxwings love the red berries that dot the bushes along the lakes and streams…
Out on the lakes, the tall green grasses and carpets of water lillies help the wood duck moms keep their young families safe…
Along a dirt road deep in the forest, a glimpse through the trees showed the usual green scrim punctuated by the gray of tree trunks.
Closer investigation revealed a hawk preening when it clearly though no one was looking…
Keeping the Adirondacks green, free from the harmful effects of acid rain and other forms of destructive pollution is a major focus of the stewardship of the Forest Preserve. The “Forever Wild” law in New York also ensures that the wilderness areas that define a large part of the Adirondacks will remain undeveloped, allowing the forest to thrive. Unfortunately, as this summer’s violent and destructive storms demostrated, even the most careful conservation program cannot stop global climate change — it’s not enough to have one part of one state devoted to environmental sustainability if the rest of the global village fails to take necessary action. Human life needs the healthy green spaces of this planet for our own health and sustainability. We must do more to insist that governments everywhere take the actions that are necessary to uphold environmentally sound practices and to stop looking the other way when it comes to holding industries accountable.
The loons certainly agree!
2 Comments
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Your pictures are absolutely beautiful. Karen shared your pictures from Twitter and I was delighted to finally hear a loon for the first time. I’ve always wondered what it sounded like. It is kind of mournful, but also beautiful.
Bravo to the author for the captivating “Adirondack Chronicles 2023: All Things Adirondack Green”! Their passion for the environment shines through, making readers feel inspired to embrace eco-consciousness. An excellent piece that celebrates the beauty of Adirondack and promotes sustainability!