Thursday, October 2, 2014

September 30, 2014 Fourteen Mile Creek Trail, Lexington, SC The Tree of Heaven

From I-26 take Lake Murray Blvd West (Hwy 60) through the town of Irmo. In about 4 miles hwy 60 becomes Hwy 6 (do  not turn rt on Hwy 6, go straight) and the road goes over the magnificent Saluda Dam where couples walk quickly holding hands, young mothers run with their babies in strollers on the edge of the deep blue Lake Murray.

Soon, there is a gas station on the left called Stop and Shop on the corner of Old Cherokee Rd. This is in the town of Lexington.

The trail begins from the parking area of the gas station.  Just before I arrived, a dedication was held for the newly built trail.  Dignitaries dressed in suits and ties, Sunday dresses are walking back from the woods.
The trail is only 3/4 mile ending in a loop in a field.  It follows 14 Mile Creek.  An explosion of fuzzy blue astor type wildflowers lines the wide walkway.  On the far bank, bright red and yellow purse like blossoms
are in full bloom.

A big fat brown rabbit comes so very close, as if it is Durer's watercolor come to life, nibbling among the leaves and grasses, almost tame.  Rabbit, symbol of birth and creativity, totem of the "fear caller", the
message to move through fear.

Here there are the invasive tall plants called "the Tree of Heaven" now hung with large seed pods.  Two mothers with small children are investigating the pods.  I hear a mother tell the children that these are the magic seeds of Jack and the Beanstalk.

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