Webby at the creek doing
his "follow every log" thing

Each year on Mother's Day I treat myself to a walk in the woods to find two specific things... jack-in-the-pulpits and green dragon plants. I just got back from my walk, having been accompanied by Kit the Fox Terrier and Webby. Webby has gotten to be quite the companion hiker, and as I walk most every evening at least to the creek, he has learned to watch for me to leave and race to catch up.

Now hiking with a cat and an over active dog can be quite amusing, and although it does cut down considerably on wild life sightings, I look forward to their companionship. Today was no exception. We started our walk in our big woods which is a mature oak and maple forest on the hill across the creek from our house. Webby took his good old time finding the proper place to jump the creek to keep from dampening his precious tootsies... so by the time he caught up with us the pup had gotten mischievous and spent most of her time launching sneak attacks on Webby to get him to chase her. I found my jack-in-the-pulpits along with wild geranium, rue, may apples, larkspur, and pinks, so I started back down the hill and walked down along the creek. Webby was lagging behind and I turn to find him leaving a small gift to nature in a hole he'd dug in the sand bar of the creek.. he was so funny.. he finished his business and did a huge about face leap in the air to bury it, then did another huge leap and scooted straight up a tree... apparently making pooh on the creek shore is an exhilarating experience.

As we crossed through the lower garden (a flat grassy area with spice bush, walnut and cherry trees we mow meandering paths through) Webby would run ahead and hide under the small log footbridges that cross the now dry seasonal creeks that feed our larger creek. As soon as I would cross the bridge he'd jump out and streak up the tree closest to me with a wild monster look in his eyes.

We went on to find our green dragons, slowly walking through the underbrush, ducking under tangles of multiflora rose, now that is how to walk with a cat... they can take their merry old time as I had to go slowly trying not to get impaled on the bushes and not step on the plants I was trying to locate. Webby of course still goes missing until we break out of the tangle back into the lower garden and head back up the path to the house. Our lovely walk ended much the way it began, with the dog egging on the cat and the cat in hot pursuit.

I think I will go out again and hike deeper into the woods across the creek... but this time I will sneak out and go sans pets, unless they track me down... which they have been known to do.

Copyright © Marcia Newell
May 14, 2001