Winter walk with Robert and chemicals

Met Robert this morning and went to the NE Gate to go look for soil. Robert is interested in the zillions of novel soil microbes, new undescribed species, and especially interested in the novel compounds they make. Should be enough for a lifetime in Olivers Woods. I asked Robert what the wonderful smell was in the Woods after a warm winter rain on fresh fallen leaves. He replied most of the odors are terpenoids geosmins made by Streptomyces. Human noses are very good at detecting the smells. I'd like to know the name of a hundred different unique smells in the Woods.. and what makes them so I can be more aware of what is going on.

Yesterday went to the Woods late in the day. Just saw one large doe bounding away. Ponds are quite full. After days of strong winds nothing much was down.