Luminous Woods Box Turtles and Cottonwood Tendrils

Yesterday morning exploration of Woods with Jessa at 9 mostly to see the Tree Loop for teacher workshop. We found three box turtles. One was down by the wash with its front legs into the water taking a drink. Jessa confirmed the red eyes were males and the concave vs convex plastron male/ female distinction works too. We came across two blow-downs blocking the trail: east of the catalpa cluster and north of the Elm Bridge. I made a mental note to remove them; but then decided not. I like the idea of letting the Woods trails go a little more wild in the summer. Give the Woods a rest. Let the trail-side grasses and buckbrush grow. Build some biomass to hold the soil. Let the turtles roam with some privacy. Trails being not-so-well kept may provide a bit of relief. That and the ticks. I found seven on me. Three embedded.
A few days earlier I had gone to the Woods early as morning rain was still falling but bright sun was shining. Coming over the dune and dropping down to the Grandfather cottonwood, looking east, the Woods were scintillating with silver rain drops dripping from the branches and leaves. A large patch of Polygonum pink ladies thumb was glowing with bright spring green color on the floor of the darker Woods.
Along the trail, odd worm-like green tendrils, fallen abundantly on the trail were the centers of this season's cottonwood flowers, their seeds dispersed.