MEADOW MEMORY / THE STURGEON MOON

WHY WAGHKONK?

I should explain to the occasional reader why I call these missives Waghkonk Notes. I started writing these as the Comeau Newsletter, way back when I was the volunteer trail-keeper at Comeau. I decided to expand my horizon (literally) to include all of the Woodstock Valley, which runs from Bearsville to northern Zena, following the middle stretch of the Sawkill, going from the foothills of the Catskills to the western edge of the Hudson Valley itself. I settled on Waghkonk because that (as well as the versions, Awaghkonk and Wachkunk) is the oldest name for this area found on the earliest maps of the region from the 1600’s and 1700’s. Evan Pritchard, noted regional Native American scholar and etymologist (one who studies word- origins) believes that Waghkonk might mean (approximately) ”land of waterfalls under the Sacred Mountain” - which would certainly fit. There is evidence that the earliest settlers referred to the mid-Sawkill valley as Waghkonk, also. In “Woodstock: History of an American Town” (pg.33-34), my friend Alf Evers writes that Judge Robert R. Livingston, corresponding with his father, Chancellor Livingston, noted that the senior was at Wachkunk, then crossed Wachkunk out and rewrote it as Woodstock (after the Oxfordshire town in England where he was from), and thereby making the first known reference to Woodstock. I like Waghkonk Notes because I want to help others see, and remind myself, that this land is older than the settlers, and even older than the Esopus Munsee band of the Lenape who lived here before them (they at least had the ability to respect the Land and care for it - which is what I think we need more of). For more on this period please visit the Historical Society of Woodstocks current exhibit “Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Community”, through August 23 (www.historicalsocietyofwoodstock.org ).

SEASONAL CYCLING - It never ceases to amaze me how time passes. It’s hard to believe that six months ago we were remarking on how short the day was and how long the night. Nor was it that long ago that it seemed like Spring would never get here as each tiny green shoot ever-so- slowly poked its way above the newly-thawed soil, then another, and another - slowly, fitfully bringing that special, brand-new, bright green nitrogen-rich color of the vernal season upon us. While the woods were still open, before the hardwood trees leafed out, we were then flooded with the subtle beauties we call the Spring Ephemerals. But the seasonal clock kept ticking, the forest filled in and morphed to the deep, dark green of Summer and the flower-action changed to the open, sunny fields and meadows. It seemed like it would be forever before Midsummer would come - yet here it is.

FAUNA & FLORA - The highlight of our local wild-flowering season should have been when our plethora of Milkweeds flowered in time for the yearly arrival of the awesome Monarchs, but unfortunately, we’ve had only a few of these butterfly kings and queens show up as they still struggle in their home habitat in Mexico (though according to monarchwatch.org the Monarch numbers there were up 65 % this past winter). Our other local long-distance migrators, the Ruby- throated Hummingbirds, arrived on schedule and in what appears to be normal numbers ( journeynorth.org is a great site for all migrators). Just being an amateur observer I get the impression there are fewer insects, in general. Definitely, not as many Bees as there should be. Of course there’s no shortage of those insects that are inimical to humans, like mosquitoes and the various tick-species (definitely more ticks than ever), but I’m not walking in the cloud of insects, buzzing all around, like it used to be in mid- summer. Also, just judging by the “windshield-effect” the bug population is down. Our Cricket Chorus - Crickets and Katydids so far, with Seasonal Cicadas due shortly - sounds healthy, chanting day and night. Definitely a great season for the Fireflies, but never long enough. They are fading now, having accomplished increasing their kind. I always love them and wish they could grow fur and bless us with their presence year round. Plenty of Dragonflies this year, doing their bit to trim the small insect population. Not sure, but it also seems that the small-bird population is down somewhat, which, since they’re dependent on insects, makes sense. No such issues with the various Hawks and Herons and certainly not with the burgeoning Bald Eagles

A MEADOW’S MEMORY - I've wondered for a long time now if, when the Monarchs are in their dormant winter-phase, all huddled together on Oyamel fir trees in the Michoacan mountains, do they dream of their warm, golden meadows in the north? Do they transmit - or otherwise describe to their young - their memories of Milkweeds known in un-mown fields of Clover, Timothy, Beebalm and Goldenrod in sunlit lands far afield? If indeed the Monarchs are on the verge of extinction (let's hope that their recent nose-dive in population is just a glitch, a temporary phenomenon), we may never know. Once Upon A Time, after all, many a tawny Monarch and his Queen cavorted in our fair fields, pirouetting above the sere grasses in their timeless dance, to lay their tiny white eggs under Milkweed leaf. Also, being one who believes that the Land has Memory and retains Knowledge I can't help but wonder what the Meadow must think as the Monarchs pass. I'm sure it is of the passing of one more bit of golden-red-and- black glory, of joy and wonder, from our world, not unlike the Fairies passing into the Otherworld. I also have to wonder if the meadow will miss us when we, too, pass on. Will we have left the lasting, wonderful impression, in our brief time, that the magical Monarchs have bequeathed to the earth in their untold generations? Let us hope that the memories that we leave to the fields and meadows, to the forests, hills and streams, are not as those who poisoned and destroyed this wonderful world. Just a thought. Have a great summer.

WHEN THISTLEDOWN FLIES - We’ve finally had enough rain to avoid drought and fires and keep everything a rich, dark green. The days are noticeably shorter, the Sun not rising as high in the sky as before and the Thistledown flies in the warm wind of late summer. Sturgeon - a staple of all the River Indians - will be closer to the surface of the river now (sometimes “breaching”) and easier to catch - hence the Sturgeon Moon. While, yes, Fall is on the way, Summer is still here. Let’s enjoy it, for a colder time is coming, when memories of the Sun’s warmth piercing heavy, humid air will be just that - memories. Please make those memories good, safe ones. Thanks.

Take Care, “Ranger” Dave Holden (845)594-4863 / woodstocktrails@gmail.com / Dave Holden on Facebook / rangerdaveholden on Instagram / www.woodstocknytrails.com