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Change is something we can count on, in nature and in life. Natural changes seem especially dramatic in the fall, as the leaves turn red, yellow and orange and the last of the migrating birds head south for the winter.
To see some of the drama up close, and to learn why it happens, the public is invited to join in “The Many Changes of Autumn,” a guided walk through the woodlands of the Brushy Hills Preserve this Saturday, Oct. 26, from 10 a.m. to noon.
The walk will be led by Philip Coulling, a forest ecologist and the director of Nature Camp. Walkers will meet at the parking lot by the springhouse, 1010 Union Run, before heading out to the Pickle Trail and perhaps beyond to the Ol’ Red and Green trail loop.
During the walk, Coulling will discuss why deciduous leaves change color, explaining the variation seen among oaks, hickories, maples, and other tree denizens of the woods. Additionally, he’ll talk about bird migration, hibernation, seed dispersal, the unique reproductive strategy of witch-hazel, the perils and positives of snow, and certain adaptations that allow some plants to remain photosynthetically active during the winter.
As an example of the pros and cons of snow, Coulling cites the woodland orchids known as puttyroot and crane fly, both leafing out in winter to gain energy from the sun during the absence of deciduous shade. For these plants, too much snow prevents photosynthesis, whereas for other plants plentiful snow provides insulation and abundant soil moisture with less runoff.
A longtime nature educator, Coulling hopes that participants will observe and ask questions of their own.
Coulling has served as executive director of Nature Camp outside of Vesuvius since 2004. Before that, he spent seven years as a vegetation ecologist with the Virginia Natural Heritage Program, conducting vegetation surveys across the state, helping to develop a comprehensive classification of the natural communities of Virginia, and leading several interpretive field trips on state Natural Area Preserves. He has also taught classes for multiple chapters of the Virginia Master Naturalist Program.
The walk is sponsored by the Friends of Brushy Hills, a volunteer organization whose mission is to protect the natural integrity of Brushy Hills for the benefit of the public. By agreement with the city of Lexington, the Friends serve as stewards of the Preserve.
For more information, call (540) 460-0854.
