Out and About in Delaware's State Parks

Come on now, I’ve got to CONCENTRATE! No really, I mean it. This is getting to be a real problem for me. I’m sitting at my computer, trying to type, but my eyes keep being drawn to the courtyard below my office. It’s a glorious spring day. The sun is shining and unseasonably warm temperatures are offering more than a subtle hint of the coming summer months. A light breeze has been blowing thousands of white petals off the flowering pear tree outside my window. It looks like a snowstorm out there! What am I doing inside?! I think it’s going to take me a long time to get this article written!

To be honest, I’ve been having this problem a lot, lately! After several weeks of typical spring weather…the "April showers bring May flowers" sort of thing…out of nowhere, we were suddenly blessed with a streak of amazingly beautiful, sunny days. Well that’s all it took to make me a mental basket case. Spring Fever had set in and I needed outdoors quickly!

Fortunately for me, my work schedule had uncharacteristically good timing. I found myself out of the office for a number of site visits. While they were all a welcome diversion from the office, I had an especially memorable visit to White Clay Creek State Park. I was there to attend a "Trails Training" session for park staff. The program was conducted on one of the spectacular trails of this northern Delaware gem. Having been born and raised in the area, I found my senses overloaded with sights, sounds and smells from my childhood. I spotted a lone bluebird perched on an old stone pillar overlooking a massive meadow full of wildflowers. As we hiked the trail, I had to fight to stay focused on the information being shared by the instructors. Time after time, my attention was drawn away to some natural treasure along the trail. The occasional butterfly or moth would fly by, while numerous birds could be seen soaring in the skies around us. The sounds of songbirds filled the air while gentle breezes rustled the newly opened leaves on the trees. In the woods, spring flowers poked through the bed of leaves…jewel-like spring beauties, the star-like yellow trout lilies, and the umbrella-like foliage of mayapples. This hike was a welcome return to the memories of my youth. My favorite stop came by a gently flowing piedmont stream. The rays of sunlight that shone through the trees danced off the water as it moved over stones and moss. The soft sound of the flowing water was hypnotic. I could have stayed in that spot all day. I was reminded how lucky I am to work in state parks. Special places…special people, life doesn’t get much better than that!

Spring Surprise

The season has proven to be memorable at home, as well at work. My partner, Bob, who normally takes only a passing interest in the outdoors, has suddenly developed a strong interest in our property. He has always insisted the yard look its best but gladly left the outdoor work to me. His contribution was to put his artistic eye to work planning the overall landscape design for the property. I guess you could say he’s been the brains of the operation, while I’ve been the muscle. Recently, however, he has been out in the yard with an uncharacteristic frequency. I’ve even caught him doing what could only be described as "yard work"! This is very confusing to me. Is this a form of "spring fever?" As if that weren’t enough, he further perplexed and delighted me when he announced it was time for us to get rings. I know this might not sound like much in a time when gay marriage has become a hot issue. But Bob rarely goes in for such symbols. Believe me, this is a big deal! It’s especially meaningful for me because Bob knew this was something I had wanted. In his typical thorough fashion, Bob quickly hunted down the perfect contemporary ring design. We each made minor adjustments to reflect our respective personalities. I took a simple,"earthy" approach, while Bob opted for a more sophisticated look. The rings have been ordered and will soon arrive. I cannot begin to express how excited I am about this. It is a very meaningful step to me. I don’t know what brought all this on, but if this is spring fever, I hope it happens more often!

Ordnance Survey at Cape Henlopen

For the past several months, the Division of Parks and Recreation has been working with the Army Corps of Engineers concerning their proposal to conduct a survey at Cape Henlopen State Park for potential unexploded ordnance (UXOs). As most people know, much of the state park was once part of Fort Miles. The Fort was an important component of our country’s coastal defense system during World War II. Many of the historic military structures can still be seen throughout the park including numerous fire control towers, bunkers, and gun emplacements. As an active military base, soldiers routinely trained on the site using various practice rockets and shells. These weapons were fired at ranges on land and out over the ocean. As sometimes happens, not all the artillery fired successfully. While the military cleaned up much of these UXOs in the past, others remained and periodically are discovered in the park. These UXOs are potentially dangerous and unstable. As a result, the Army Corps is planning to conduct this study to determine if further UXOs are present in the park and to facilitate their removal and proper disposal. The Corps has already identified areas of highest potential for the presence of UXOs. They plan to do initial ground proofing work at the park in mid-May to test the equipment which will be used on site to locate the buried items. If all goes well, the actual survey work will begin in mid-August and likely run into October. The Corps has also produced a safety video for park visitors. The video explains how to identify UXOs, the hazards of disturbing the potentially dangerous items, and advises visitors how to contact authorities should they be discovered. The video is available for public viewing in the Seaside Nature Center. We encourage everyone who uses the park to stop in to learn about this issue. (Soda can included for scale.)

Nature’s Best Bets

If you are looking for fun and exciting ways to spend your spare time, check out the Seaside Nature Center at Cape Henlopen State Park. The Center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and provides public programs designed for individuals and families. A highlight of any visit is viewing the five 1000-gallon aquariums that feature different aquatic habitats. You’ll be glad you took the time to explore this exciting facility.

If you are looking for fun activities, here are a number of "best bets" at the Seaside Nature Center in Cape Henlopen State Park:

Mother’s Nature • Saturday, May 8, 1 p.m.
In honor of the mothers who do so much, we’ll embark on a nature walk to observe any nurturing mothers doing what they do best. We’ll look for a host of wildflowers and plant life. Mothers will receive a gift for the garden. Pre-registration is required. Limited to 25.

Battery Smith Tours • Sunday, May 16, 1 p.m.
Learn about the construction of Fort Miles and the incredible change in the landscape of the Cape, then tour the first battery completed. Pre-registration is required. $3 per person.