Rockefeller Preserve, Brook Trail – Rustic Rusting Gate

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The Rockefeller property used to operate a cattle farm here, but they ceased operation in 2017.

According to an September, 2017 article in Lohud entitled Rockefeller cattle farm, Hudson Pines, comes to an end:

A Rockefeller owned farm in Pocantico Hills is set to sell its entire cattle herd, ending a breeding operation that spanned decades.

The management at Hudson Pines Farm, long owned by the late David Rockefeller, has recently posted a flier on its website, advertising the sale.

The “Forever A Legacy complete dispersal” event is scheduled for 9 a.m. Nov. 1. at the farm. The Simmental cattle will be available for viewing for prospective buyers from Oct. 28 to 31. The farm is located at 180 Bedford Road with a Sleepy Hollow zip code.

It’s a bit of a shame. The rolling landscape and the clusters of cows, always reminded me of here I grew up in the UK.

Taken with a Sony RX-100 M3.

Rockefeller Preserve, Brook Trail – A Field of Bright Green Skunk Cabbage

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Or at least that’s what I think it is.

Somehow I never see the the flowers, which come out early in Spring and then disappear leaving only these bright green leaves – quite attractive themselves when massed as in this picture.

According to the National Wildlife Federation:

The skunk cabbage gets its name from the unpleasant odor it emits. This scent is a way for the plant to attract pollinators that are attracted to rotting meat. The scent is especially noticeable when the plant is injured. It travels easily because it is carried on the warm air that constantly rises from the spathe.

I’ve never noticed the smell. This could be because I don’t go during the period where the smell is noticeable or it could be because I have a truly terrible sense smell.

Taken with a Sony RX-100 M3.

Rockefeller Preserve, Brook Trail – Cistern

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I’m not entirely sure what this is. Water runs into it and then out again on the opposite side so it’s obviously something designed to collect water. I read somewhere that some people think it was a swimming pool, but I imagine it could just as easily be a cistern of some kind to collect water for agricultural (e.g. irrigation) purposes.

Taken with a Sony RX-100 M3.

Rockefeller Preserve, Brook Trail – Broken Dams

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The brook runs through a series of picturesque, now broken dams on its way down to the lake.

Can you spot the snake basking in the sun? I didn’t even know it was there when I took the picture. After taking it I moved a bit closer to get a different angle and out of the corner of my eye I spotted movement and heard a splash. When I looked I could see the snake swimming off in the brook.

I don’t know much about snakes, but from what I can see in the picture I suspect this is an adult Coluber constrictor or Black Racer.

Taken with a Sony RX-100 M3.

Rockefeller Preserve, Brook Trail – Horses

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I recently took the dog for a walk at the nearby Rockefeller Preserve. This time we went along the Brook Trail down to the lake and back. I find the Brook Trail interesting because it’s one of the few parts of the preserve (other than the superb stone bridges) where there are multiple signs of human activity: dams, cisterns, etc.

On this occasion we also bumped into these two riders. Harley always gets very excited when he sees horses. I think he believes they are some kind of deer – his mortal enemies.

Taken with a Sony RX-100 M3.