Doug Jones

Nature filled Saturday

March 2, 2025 4:04pm

We’ve been lucky in Atlanta that the tail end of winter and beginning of spring has had some really pleasant weather so far. Most days are cool mornings followed by temps warm enough for t-shirts.

I spent most of Saturday outdoors in nature, taking advantage of the weather.

Saturday morning was spent with Trees Atlanta helping to remove invasive plant species from the park in my neighborhood. The target was Carolina cherry laurel which is considered invasive in this area, but native in the Carolinas.

Later, I took the dogs for a walk around the trails of Mason Mill, which has some nice elevated boardwalks and trails that head off from it.

Here’s some photos of one of those trails that starts out running underneath the boardwalk.

A wooden bridge with visible support beams spans over a dirt pathway in a forest. The area is surrounded by trees with sparse foliage, and the ground is covered with fallen leaves and pine needles. The sky is clear and blue.

Then it winds off away.

A narrow dirt trail winds through a woodland area with tall, leafless trees and some shrubs showing early signs of greenery. Sunlight filters through the branches, casting shadows on the path. The sky is clear and blue.

Active freight rail passes through the center of the park.

A train partially visible through a dense thicket of bare trees and branches, with a clear blue sky in the background. The scene captures the interplay of natural and man-made elements.

Underneath view of a wooden bridge with beams and supports, spanning over a small creek. The surrounding area features exposed soil and vegetation with sunlight filtering through the branches.

This was my first time trying out these paths and it was fun to find two City Champion Trees, meaning they are the largest examples of the species in the greater Atlanta area.

A tall red maple tree stands prominently on a woodland path. Bare branches extend upward against a clear blue sky. A sign in the foreground reads “City Champion Red Maple, Acer rubrum.” Surrounding bushes and trees show early signs of foliage.

A large tree in a forested area with a sign in front. The sign reads “City Champion River Birch” with the scientific name “Betula nigra.” It lists measurements from 2021: 11’ 2” circumference, 72.7’ tall, 80’ crown spread.

A view from the boardwalk trail.

A calm, reflective pond bordered by dry, brown vegetation and tall, leafless trees against a clear blue sky. Sparse greenery is visible, adding to the winter landscape feel.

Later, we met up with a friend to walk around Murphy Candler Park.

Three people are smiling in an outdoor setting with leafless trees in the background. The person on the left has a beard and wears glasses and a blue cap. The person in the middle also wears glasses and a denim shirt. The person on the right has glasses on their head and is also wearing a denim shirt.

From left to right we have: me, my partner Beth, and our friend Shubam. (Hi, Shubam!)

It was a great day! I’m feeling content that I was able to spend so much time outdoors. Easy access to nature, even right outside my door, is one of the things that I really enjoy about living in this city.