Not a wisp of wind as I stood along the edge of Penny Pond. The reflections were perfect of the three line of Pine Barrens forest on the opposite side. I playfully ask myself “Which are real? Am I standing on my head? Yes Tom, the reflection is real.

No litter except a single McDonald’s French fry cup which I pick up to hold three specimens for “further study back home”. I found Round-leafed Sun Dew, Pipe Wort, and an all white mushroom to key out.

The recent drought has lowered the water level at least two feet. The exposed shoreline is at least 30 feet wide. The mud has track impressions of deer and humans.  This band of mud allows plants that sprout only during drought that exposes the edges. The Sun Dew and Pipe Wort that I found will not be there when the level of the pond rises.

The pond is isolated with no nearby paved roads. One has to walk a half hour from Route 24 near Bellows Road to access it. I immediately noticed the calm, the quiet, so much so it astounded me! It’s hard to find places as quiet as this. I designated Penny Pond as a candidate for my list of magical places ( a list of magical places and introduction are cataloged under Magical Places)

The pond has invaded my senses. I feel more alert. I feel a part of this place. It accepts me.  I sat on a root from a red cedar blow down that has many moss patches and lichen colonies. The variety of lichen shapes and textures caught my attention. One is Old Man’s Beard, a fascinating organism. Staring at another patch of similar species reminds me of looking at a google map of a subdivision in Levittown, Nassau County or a computer chip. This is a sacred place. I would like to bring all 1point five million Suffolk residents here one at a time. This pond alone has the potential of converting people, even addicting them. I know, I am an addict of ponds. I overdose on this pond.

I circled the pond on a trail and fond tunnel-like entrances to access the shore. There of these tunnels lead tow duck blinds, the only structures to be seen. They make fine observation places. I visited one and try to make duck calls. A blue Jay scolds me. I let my eye scan the surrounding forest. Tupelo trees require damp soil, and line the edges. Their leaves are rapidly turning red. In a few more weeks, a band of fire will surround the water.

There are two non-native invaders stuck in pockets here and there…purple loosestrife and phragmites ( will refuse to capitalize non native species). I ignore them as my curiosity turned to dark green spikes of a stand of rushes. They are two feet tall and close together. From afar, they bring a vertical pattern to the edge of the pond.

It is isolation that has saved this pond along with preservation as open space by the Suffolk County Parks Department. There is a small stand of Atlantic white cedar growing in a pocket. I found it on a previous trip looking for an elusive butterfly, the Pine Barrens Elfin which has a close association with the tree.

Penny Pond is an oasis, like an eye looking skyward in the center of a large unbroken Pine Barrens forest. Route 24 is far enough away to prevent traffic sounds from reaching the pond. I do hear sounds..my breath, cloth against cloth, and the squish of shoes on mud.

Why come here? Unsurpassed beauty comes to mind, not spectacular, astounding beauty, subtle beauty. I can handle this kind of beauty. It is intimate and not overwhelming. This place is medicine, no tension here.

The pond sucks the tension right out of me.