THE WOODLANDS around Northampton are generally quite open. No doubt a result of the heavy use of lumber during the industrial revolution when trees were cut as fast as they could get them down. Despite the open and airy feeling when walking the Village Hill trails there are hidden worlds just off the trail that many of us walk past every day without noticing. This past June I spotted a tree off the trail to Smith College playing fields. It was 20 yards out in the understory and it was covered in luxurious moss. The thought of running my hand over the cool spongy moss was tempting so I risked the tics and ventured out. When I looked up from the coat of moss I noticed this Beech sapling right in front of me. It was glossy, green and healthy the way plants often are in the late spring. Sometimes you really "can't see the forest for the trees."

Photo taken: June 21, 2019, Off the trail down to Smith College fields.

Tags: Beech