browntown oak forest is a southern dry and dry-mesic forest situated on a st. peter sandstone ridge in the driftless area. the variable topography and soil types nurture a diversity of plant communities. one part of the slope has sandstone outcrops.

the trails (such as we could find) were going feral, which restricted our movement into the forest somewhat, but a jaunt down the ridge to the sandstone was freeing.

first id’s of tall bellflower, st. john’s wort, and knapweed; also first coral fungus spotted since i started these.

a.

me and this hickory

outcropping here

on sandstone slabs

b.

coral fungus

glows on log:

a shimmering bouquet

c.

rough and rounded spawn

of oak, walnut, hickory

jewel the forest floor