Sassafras Pond LbNA #2450
Map
Nearby Boxes
Add Note
Add Location| Owner: | Cock o' the Trail  |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jul 24, 2001 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Watkins Glen |
| County: | Schuyler |
| State: | New York |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Found by: | celtic hound |
|---|---|
| Last found: | Jun 16, 2012 |
| Status: | FFFFFFFF |
| Last edited: | Jul 24, 2001 |
(Verified in place, 10/11/2009)
NOTE: Please refer to the introduction and directions to the FLNF offered with the clues to the Blueberry Patch LB.
Trail may be wet in season and/or roughed up by horses.
In 1590 there appeared the report of Thomas Hariot on Virginia . . . Hariot, in listing the valuable plants of Virginia, says: ‘Sassafras, called by the inhabitants, Winauk, a kind of wood of most pleasant and sweete smel, and of most rare vertues in physick for the cure of many diseases.”
- Euell Gibbons, in Stalking the Wild Asparagus
Earlier, proceeding eastward up the hill toward the Blueberry Patch, you noted an historic marker and resolved to stop and read it at leisure on the way back. But if you had stopped to read it, you might have wondered whether John, who wrote the "rabbit" series, possibly came from this old homestead. Sorry, no scion of that branch of the family he, but the site may still serve as a starting point for yet another quest. Try it . . .
After reading about the old farm that occupied the site and the origins of this National Forest in the late-Depression era purchase of many like it by the government, search nearby for an old apple tree; in its bosom you’ll find fur-ther direction. (Note: Found damaged 11/03, but replaced.)
But failing that, go determinedly on anyway. The well-kept pathway, initially at a compass bearing of 315° and soon passing the obscured foundations of the house and barn, continues through young trees and scrub for about a half-mile to a large pond. You might entertain a rather poetic notion that your search will lead you to its namesake tree, and resolve to look for one there. Notice on the way - in season - some sun-flower-like plants: family Compositae, surely, but not helianthus; it’s elecampane (Inula helenium), an alien not commonly seen here. At least it proved to be a stranger to me. Several were in full bloom again in early August 2003 (and they are growing again at the end of May, 2006).
(It may be wet, even muddy going if horses have been through; hiking shoes are suggested for this trail.)
Reaching a trail junction, left is right. Then, shortly before you reach the pond, scrub gives way to an attractive patch of a more open young forest. A knowing eye discerns, as you cross it, an old field margin. You note that it runs very closely to grid, or true, north and south. Hmmm, you muse, that was probably the rule in establishing property lines, rather than using magnetic north.*
Arriving at the pond, you may be surprised at both its extent and peculiar shape. You wonder if the latter might have any significance in your quest. ( . . . over-active imagination syndrome ?). Standing at the near corner, you again note the alignment of the eastern shore with true north. But then you scold yourself: “I’ve really got to stop thinking true north when I’m trying to proceed by compass bearing like any normal letterboxer . . . or I’ll get mixed up”. (And we shouldn’t want that.)
Now, scanning the pond and – in the absence of any other indication – asking yourself, “Where would I hide such a thing here?”, you spot far across the pond a tree that stands out from the rest. Momentarily, you seem to see someone standing next it and, seizing the moment, shout across: “What kind of tree is that?” You think you hear the answer as
“Yes, I see you . . . you’re at a bearing of 135 degrees”.
At first perplexed by this non-sequitur, you suddenly recall that secondary clue (you did find it, didn’t you?). But the stranger has disappeared (was it again just your imagination?). Quickly concluding that the evasive response suggests there may be something hidden there, you set off for the far reaches to see for yourself.
Berries of several kinds beckon from the impoundment’s edge; rising fish in mid-pond and frogs splashing along the edge distract, but you hurry on - sensing the prize is near. But, oh no, this can’t be the right tree, after all – it's just another maple (actually, we've found it to be a red maple, Acer rubrum L., having small red winged seeds and coloring gorgeously in autumn). Well then, what ? Maybe there’s one close by . . . or in a pinch any nearby tree that offers concealment, species of no import. Let’s see now . . .
_______________
* In August 2003 as one emerged from the woods with the pond in view, a clump of woodland sunflowers was found on the right, along with a single stalk of showy trefoil - just past full bloom. And along the pond margin, to my delight, were three cardinal flowers !
** And there are indeed sassafras trees nearby, altho the characteristic "mitten'leaf" is scarce and hard to spot. Soon ('06) they'll offer sanctuary to an adjunct letterbox.
#3 by 'Cock o’ the Trail'
NOTE: Please refer to the introduction and directions to the FLNF offered with the clues to the Blueberry Patch LB.
Trail may be wet in season and/or roughed up by horses.
In 1590 there appeared the report of Thomas Hariot on Virginia . . . Hariot, in listing the valuable plants of Virginia, says: ‘Sassafras, called by the inhabitants, Winauk, a kind of wood of most pleasant and sweete smel, and of most rare vertues in physick for the cure of many diseases.”
- Euell Gibbons, in Stalking the Wild Asparagus
Earlier, proceeding eastward up the hill toward the Blueberry Patch, you noted an historic marker and resolved to stop and read it at leisure on the way back. But if you had stopped to read it, you might have wondered whether John, who wrote the "rabbit" series, possibly came from this old homestead. Sorry, no scion of that branch of the family he, but the site may still serve as a starting point for yet another quest. Try it . . .
After reading about the old farm that occupied the site and the origins of this National Forest in the late-Depression era purchase of many like it by the government, search nearby for an old apple tree; in its bosom you’ll find fur-ther direction. (Note: Found damaged 11/03, but replaced.)
But failing that, go determinedly on anyway. The well-kept pathway, initially at a compass bearing of 315° and soon passing the obscured foundations of the house and barn, continues through young trees and scrub for about a half-mile to a large pond. You might entertain a rather poetic notion that your search will lead you to its namesake tree, and resolve to look for one there. Notice on the way - in season - some sun-flower-like plants: family Compositae, surely, but not helianthus; it’s elecampane (Inula helenium), an alien not commonly seen here. At least it proved to be a stranger to me. Several were in full bloom again in early August 2003 (and they are growing again at the end of May, 2006).
(It may be wet, even muddy going if horses have been through; hiking shoes are suggested for this trail.)
Reaching a trail junction, left is right. Then, shortly before you reach the pond, scrub gives way to an attractive patch of a more open young forest. A knowing eye discerns, as you cross it, an old field margin. You note that it runs very closely to grid, or true, north and south. Hmmm, you muse, that was probably the rule in establishing property lines, rather than using magnetic north.*
Arriving at the pond, you may be surprised at both its extent and peculiar shape. You wonder if the latter might have any significance in your quest. ( . . . over-active imagination syndrome ?). Standing at the near corner, you again note the alignment of the eastern shore with true north. But then you scold yourself: “I’ve really got to stop thinking true north when I’m trying to proceed by compass bearing like any normal letterboxer . . . or I’ll get mixed up”. (And we shouldn’t want that.)
Now, scanning the pond and – in the absence of any other indication – asking yourself, “Where would I hide such a thing here?”, you spot far across the pond a tree that stands out from the rest. Momentarily, you seem to see someone standing next it and, seizing the moment, shout across: “What kind of tree is that?” You think you hear the answer as
“Yes, I see you . . . you’re at a bearing of 135 degrees”.
At first perplexed by this non-sequitur, you suddenly recall that secondary clue (you did find it, didn’t you?). But the stranger has disappeared (was it again just your imagination?). Quickly concluding that the evasive response suggests there may be something hidden there, you set off for the far reaches to see for yourself.
Berries of several kinds beckon from the impoundment’s edge; rising fish in mid-pond and frogs splashing along the edge distract, but you hurry on - sensing the prize is near. But, oh no, this can’t be the right tree, after all – it's just another maple (actually, we've found it to be a red maple, Acer rubrum L., having small red winged seeds and coloring gorgeously in autumn). Well then, what ? Maybe there’s one close by . . . or in a pinch any nearby tree that offers concealment, species of no import. Let’s see now . . .
_______________
* In August 2003 as one emerged from the woods with the pond in view, a clump of woodland sunflowers was found on the right, along with a single stalk of showy trefoil - just past full bloom. And along the pond margin, to my delight, were three cardinal flowers !
** And there are indeed sassafras trees nearby, altho the characteristic "mitten'leaf" is scarce and hard to spot. Soon ('06) they'll offer sanctuary to an adjunct letterbox.
#3 by 'Cock o’ the Trail'