Fenner Nature Center is a place I love to be at any time of
day. There is never a dull or boring moment. No matter the time of day, there
is always something to see and do whether you’re simply going for a walk,
participating in one of Fenner’s numerous programs, or volunteering. But if I
had to pick my favorite time to be there, it would be, without question, early
in the morning. This is when Fenner Nature Center is the most peaceful and the
most alive.
A few times a week, I arrive at Fenner before the sun comes
up. Even before I drive through the gate, I can tell that I’m entering a
special place – a place where I no longer make the rules and, if I want to be
rewarded, I must follow the rules of nature. As I drive down the road, the
trees begin to form a canopy, engulfing me, and it becomes even darker. I stop
here for a moment and take a look around. I must be patient – there is more to
see here than I think at first.
As my eyes begin to adjust, I notice a deer
standing behind a tree. Her fawn is standing behind her, perfectly still. They
know I’m here. As I look closer, I begin to see even more. There is a squirrel on
the tree, scurrying down from its nest. Two turkeys begin to slowly meander
across the road in front of my car. I begin to notice how loud the silence
really is. Somewhere in the grasses, crickets are chirping. In the distance, I
hear an owl hoot once more before retiring to its nest. The wind blows and I
can feel the damp air on my face through the open car window. It smells like
autumn and rain. To my left, leaves begin to rustle and I catch a glimpse of a
groundhog waddling through the brush before he disappears. It’s beginning to
get lighter out and I make my way down the road. I want to get out on the
trails before the darkness disappears completely, because I know there is even
more there waiting to be discovered.
We use our senses constantly every day. But when the
majority of our time is spent behind a desk, behind the wheel of a car, and in
front of a television, the dulling of our senses is inevitable. We stop seeing
and hearing everything around us. But when we take a moment to stop, be still,
and turn our brains off, our senses begin to awaken again. It’s amazing what
nature is willing to show us if only we open our eyes and learn to see.
Animal photos by Sharkey Studios.
