That time of the year

An afternoon Little League game at the Waddell playing fields.

Man and nature

The spring house at Brushy Hill preserve.

The city of Lexington owns over 500 acres in Rockbridge County, about three miles from town, kept as a nature preserve, with former logging roads now forming a network of trails. This old stone spring house (with its shiny new roof) sits down by Union Run, next to the small parking area. It's a little bit of man-made that is not out of place in its natural surroundings, I think.

Practical sculpture

The muted winter palette at a bend in the creek, somewhere behind Rail's End and Woods Creek Forge.

If you look closely you can see that this row of concrete slabs is covering a large black pipe that skirts the creek at this point. I've always found this "sculpture" to be strangely attractive -- it reminds me of the sets of old bridge piers from long-lost bridges - flooded out, mostly - that you find along the Maury River near here (and many other places, of course).

Winter hiking

Little House Mountain and Brushy Hill from the east, on Shenandoah Rd.

Rockbridge County is full of excellent hikes (I think I read somewhere that it has the highest percentage of publicly-owned land in the state), some of which are only a few minutes' drive outside of town. The above photo shows two of the most popular spots.

In the background is the best-known mountain in the county: House Mountain. (There are actually two House Mountains, Little and Big; you see Little on the right, and I believe on the left is some of Big behind it. Little House seems to be the one everyone calls simply "House Mountain.")

In front of both, with the towers on top (click photo to enlarge), is Brushy Hill, where the City of Lexington owns 600 acres as Brushy Hill Preserve. Only three miles outside of town, it's a beautiful place for a not-too-strenuous hike in the woods.

If you are looking for something a little more challenging, there's a trail around the southeast shoulder of Little House Mountain that begins at the end of Saddle Ridge Rd. The first mile-and-a-half is an easy to moderate climb on a lovely old jeep trail through stands of mountain laurel and past boulders and rock falls. At the saddle between the two peaks (Little and Big) is a campfire spot with a satisfying view to Hogback Mt., and a lean-to for overnighters.

Those looking for a more heart-pounding experience can continue the last 3/4 mile up (it feels like straight-up!) to the top of Big House for spectacular views over the valley.

Monkey brains

The fruit of the osage orange tree (Maclura pomifera) litters the ground in Woods Creek Park.

An interesting tree, native to the United States. The tree, its wood, and the (inedible) fruit have numerous uses. (See Wikipedia.) Its main use around here is as a playground projectile and, most importantly, as a slightly creepy curiosity (especially when thrust toward your sister). The regional nickname, "monkey brains," aids in this effect.

Here's a close-up of the fruit: