My Happy Place In the Garden--Not Where You Think

As much as I talk about gardening and my garden you'd think my happy place would be in my garden wouldn't you? You would be wrong. My happy place is next to the running trout stream at Fort Campbell's Clarksville Base. This most likely is because by the time I reach this stream I've already walked a few miles and I am sore, and tired, and just want to relax. I cannot think of a better place to relax and get happy than here by the stream on Fort Campbell. I sit down under the bridge and get lost in the serene views all around me.

The bubbling of the stream lulls me.


The water full of fish cheers me. It cheers me so much I sometimes wish to go for a swim in this clear stream.

But alas, reality sets in and I must be on my way as I still have a few miles in front of me to get back to my car and to my home. The memory of the trout stream helps to keep my feet moving, one in front of the other. 

A little about Fort Campbell's waterways: There is a cooperative effort between many agencies to stock not only the running stream but the ponds in the Clarksville Base area. This area behind the above sign is more of a marshy area with ponds that is frequented by geese, turtles, otters, and fish of course. It is not the running trout stream I showed in the pictures above. In fact, I don't think the two join one another but this waterland would drain into the stream at some point I am sure. I stay on the trail so I have no idea how the water all flows together but common sense tells us it does. 

Trout are stocked here and in the stream. As I read this sign I often think I should bring a fishing pole one day. It would be lovely to catch a fresh trout. Mr. Fix-it's happy place is anywhere he is fishing so I think he'd like my happy place too, but he rarely walks with me. That should change one day when he retires. Perhaps we'll both go fishing for trout. It will only be me that will eat it though because as much as Mr. Fix-it loves to fish, he does not like to eat fish.

The next picture of the gnarled tree overhanging the stream says so very much about this stream. Sometimes the stream runs so fiercely it seems as though it will sweep everything away, yet the trees hang on only to show evidence of the current that can pass through this stream in the form of exposed and gnarled roots.








Wildflowers abound all over Clarksville Base. I believe the above wildflower is Rudbeckia triloba. The wildflowers along the way to my happy place make the journey so much more interesting and bearable. The old bones and muscles don't work quite as well as they used to. I've been walking this trail for over ten years now. While in the Army we had to walk it twice and then some in order to make our 12 mile hike. I'm glad those days are behind me. Now I can stroll at a leisurely pace and enjoy the views and the flowing water.



After the long walk and a sit down in my happy place at Fort Campbell I come home to my own garden. And yes, I do have a happy place here. It is not quite so spectacular as the stream in the wild backwoods, but it does have water and fish....

in the garden....

Where is your happy place and why?

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Wildflower Walk at Fort Campbell & Green Thumb

From In the Garden

As a companion post to my Wildflower Wednesday post I thought I'd share some wildflowers growing at my favorite spot to walk on Fort Campbell. Prior to beginning blogging a few years ago I had always enjoyed this walk and all the flowers along the way, but never knew what they were. I now try to identify each of the flowers and have a greater appreciation for the diversity on Fort Campbell simply because I know a little bit about the flowers. Does that make sense? Anyhow, let's take a walk today. I warn you there are two teenagers and Mr. Fix-it along for the walk. I probably should've warned them that I'd be snapping wildflower pictures. They were good sports though and didn't mind mom lagging behind a bit.

The above picture is taken from a bridge along a creek where many folks stop to fish, picnic or just to hang out. We always like to pause in this area, kick off our shoes and wade in the water.

Under the very same bridge where I took the picture there is a colony of what I believe to be cliff swallows. I so enjoy these guys swooping and diving after all the bugs in this area. Their nests are pretty cool too. When I worked up top at Clarksville Base we had a family of these swallows build their nest just above the front door to our building; which was not a smart thing to do. It's much safer under the bridge for nests and nestlings.

There are a few bridges crossing this stream. The view to the other bridges is quite scenic and tranquil.

Under the second bridge is a series of columns that seems to go on forever in both directions. It's quite a cool spot to look at the underpinnings of a bridge.
Look closely at this picture. I include it for Jimmy. He is into free running and enjoyed jumping, running, and climbing on this walk. See him on the left? I was fortunate to capture him off the ground. There is nothing I love better than teenagers when they are out exercising. Think happy endorphins that stay with said teenagers for several hours; which makes for pleasant relations between teens and parents. I tried to walk my kids a lot when the older ones were teens. 'Nuff said.
Okay, back to wildflowers. The woodland phlox was in full bloom. It's probably hard to see in this picture but it is the light purple on top of these rocks. The phlox grows everywhere in these woods and smells so good.
I believe this is a bottlebrush buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) but I could be wrong. Please let me know the correct identification if you know it. It grows wild all along the road. I also have it in my garden but it is too small to bloom. I know it is a buckeye but not sure of the cultivar or type.
Now here is an interesting combination. I know these umbrella plants are mayapples (Podaphyllum peltatum). I also have these in my garden and they are in bloom right now. The round leaved plant next to them is perhaps ginger? I'm not sure. There is also a cut leaf plant to the top of the picture which I have no idea what it can be.
I think this is some kind of toothwort and trout lilies (Erythronium americanum). There was a whole hill of these lilies and it was simply splendid! I chose to post the close up but do have a picture of the hill. Unfortunately, on our walk the trout lilies had already bloomed out. The seed capsules were very visible just waiting to spread themselves around.
And of course I think everyone knows these pretties, Virginia bluebells. There are whole glades full of shining blue flowers. Simply stunning is the only way to describe the beauty.

There are more wildflowers on Clarksville Base as well as native trees. This area is fairly untouched by invasives but I did notice some multiflora, Japanese honeysuckle, and perilla. I'll post on the trees perhaps another day. If only they could talk I can imagine the stories they would tell us.


Finally, here are the two teenagers who honored Mr. Fix-it and I with their presence. Both boys had a great time walking the long trail on Clarksville Base. These two boys are trying to start a band and are very into guitars and singing. I'm always in awe of musically inclined people since I could never carry a tune to save my life, can't read music, and could never get the rhythm right with breathing or anything else, let's not even talk dancing. And believe me, I tried when I was a teen as my mother will attest. Music is not in my genes but Jimmy (left) and Clint (right) enjoy it enough for all of us. They were good sports to come along on our wildflower walk....

in the garden....

I need to let my local readers know about the Green Thumb Festival scheduled from 8 am-4 pm tomorrow, May 1st at the Habitat Re-Store on Madison Street in Clarksville. This festival is for all things gardening. Guess you know I'll be there-all day. This is the first annual Green Thumb Festival. Its purpose is to bring awareness to the Habitat Re-Store and to celebrate gardening season with local vendors and gardening enthusiasts. There will be lots of classes on diverse subjects such as landscaping and rain barrels, vendors and plenty of plants-just in time for gardening season. Come on out and enjoy the company of fellow gardeners!

Fort Campbell's Clarksville Base Trail

I have spoken of my walking trail before, and will again as it is the best kept little 'secret' on Fort Campbell. Those of us who live close by have a real gem in this roadmarch/ruck march/walking route at Clarksville Base on Fort Campbell. This is a most treasured spot for me to commune with nature and today I'll take you along.
I was first introduced to this route when having to complete the 12 mile roadmarch as part of the 18th Airborne Corps requirements. Little did I know that despite: the blisters, the pain, and the blur of simply trudging along praying I would make the time and not collapse due to the physical toll this roadmarch took on my body; that this route would become such a favored part of my life. Even the rocks smile when I walk by. Can you see the face in this rock formation? It is clear as mud, look closely and let me know if you can't see it.

In the seven years I have lived here I have endeavored to walk this 4.5 mile route weekly. It has not always worked out this way, but it is an admirable goal is it not? One of my favorite times of year to walk the route is in the winter. I have traversed the paved road when it has been under snow and ice, and when it has been covered with puddles full of beautiful butterflies. I enjoy the artwork at my favorite 'wade in the stream spot', and I enjoy the towering sycamores which help provide food for the numerous deer, turkey and other assorted wildlife that make this sanctuary its home.

Clarksville Base is a historic area of Fort Campbell. Many may know it as the 'Bird Cage'. Its exact original purpose is not known to me, but I have read that nuclear weapons were stored here during the last world war. The walking trail is bordered by cool underground bunkers that are used for storage, not of the nuclear kind.
The building where I worked when I was in the Army used to be the fire station for Clarksville Base. I once tried to upgrade the drafty, leaky windows in our building and was told by the engineers that it was not allowed due to the building being historic. Historic must mean non-energy efficient because the wind sure blew through on cold days.

A favored and truly treasured spot is this stream area. There is a system of several bridges, one of which walkers and roadmarchers will pass over when navigating the trail. I almost always walk down the concrete bank and sit and listen to the water. Many folks do the same. On a sunny day there will be whole families walking the trail and some will even cast a fishing line or two. Look closely in the picture below and you can see tire tracks of some brave soul who decided to spin his car around in the stream. This would have been possible only when the stream was low. Wonder if it was fun to the silly drivers? Beavers, swallows, turtles, deer, wild turkeys, geese, and blue herons are all in abundance in this area. I have seen them all and so enjoy the tranquility of their lives. They coexist peacefully with walkers like me. Whenever the Jimster is with me it is a given he will take off his shoes and socks, roll up his pants and go wading. On a recent trek to the stream around dusk, the Jimster, his friend Christian, and I were enthralled when a 'little bird' helicopter showed up. It was doing night flying above the tree tops. As an air traffic controller we called this type of flying NOE, or nap of the earth flying. This helicopter gave us a show by landing on the bridge above. We were sitting right where I am taking the picture, quite close to the helicopter. Water spray and dust flew everywhere. I still get a tingle being around this type of activity or whenever I hear a helicopter fly overhead or a 'freedom bird' does a low take off just west of my home. It is the air traffic controller part of me coming out. Some of my aviation friends who spent their lives working on helicopters around here HATE the sound of helicopters now. They purposely buy homes far away from flight routes and avoid Fort Campbell altogether. But not me, I love the helicopters and all their noise. Now, the blasting from Fort Campbell I can do without:)

I thank the Army everyday for the wonderful experiences I was able to live during my twenty years of service. To travel to the Middle East, or fly over the Alps in a Huey, to fire a rifle and throw a grenade, to work in a bubble in the sky with air conditioning, to help a pilot land his aircraft in the thickest of fog, to get an education and to meet some really neat folks, to live in Italy and ride a gondola on the canals of Venice, to see King Ludwig's Fairytale Castle Neuschwanstein is something that most people never get to experience in a lifetime. And I was able to do it all and more during my twenty year tour of duty.

This post is really not about the Army, but about a wonderful walking trail on an Army base. This walking trail and walking in general always makes me appreciate the little things in life: like walking on a clear and sunny day and giving myself time to just be me with no pressures, no blogging, no stressors, just life. Walking does this for me. I am going to finish this post with a short video of the stream. You can hear the water running which is such a soothing sound for me. There will be more posts on this super great walking trail. It is filled with wildflowers and noises and vernal ponds full of bullfrogs and fish and geese and life. For now....

I'm in the garden....walking with Bella on the Clarksville Base Trail.

Hi all. I've been contacted by a few folks who are interested in Clarksville Base and from what I understand it was a most special place to be stationed during the Cold War. I am currently working on a post concerning some stories and some information about a few reunions that involve Clarksville Base. The page links are no longer valid for these reunions. Sorry.