Muddy River 05/17/09, 10:40 a.m.
The source of the Muddy River is Jamaica Pond. The water from that natural spring pond seeps through the soil, and in one place comes through a culvert in a little waterfall, to Ward's Pond.
Then from Ward's pond, the water forms a little stream (the first picture). It is very clear and cold, and not muddy at all. But it is the Muddy River then. Or is it? It goes into a swampy little pond called Willow Pond, then continues as a stream until it hits Leverett Pond, which is a very wide artificially maintained part of the river. I think when it leaves there, through a culvert under a major road, it really becomes the Muddy River.
Anyway, back at Ward's Pond. Brambles and poison ivy have claimed one side of the steps, while mountain bikers keep the other side clear.
A huge rotting log in the nearby woods is covered in great big dryad's saddle mushrooms.
And while we're looking at mushrooms, here are some unidentified ones. Possibly Armillaria?
A raggedy-edged pale tan wine cap, a mushroom species found only in man-made habitats (in North America).
Across from the "true" Muddy, Brookline Ice and Coal provides a year-round snowbank (of discarded waste ice) for spring and summer family amusement.