Embracing nature’s inner beauty: Chief Joseph’s Nature Trail

By Matthew Romano

One of arguably the most awe­inspiring quotes of our lifetime has come from the master wordsmith Robert Frost. In his poem ‘Nothing Gold Can Stay’, he broadens the average reader’s perspective on the basic concept of nature, while at the same time exposing the general public’s own bias in how much we tend to overlook the little details within nature.

Nature’s first green is gold,
Her hardest hue to hold.
Her early leaf’s a flower;
But only so an hour.
Then leaf subsides to leaf.
So Eden sank to grief,
So dawn goes down to day.
Nothing gold can stay

What these words inspire us to do is to go on our own individual journeys of discovery. We apply a metaphysical context to nature where the interaction between man (the narrator) and his surroundings engage with one another ­ and in the process, we form a spiritual awakening of sorts, where a whole new realm of understanding is brought to the forefront. Not just through the newfound ability to appreciate details such as comparing the greenery of the trees to that of materialistic devices such as money, but also on a personal introspective level where we gain self­knowledge and a richer sense of comprehension regarding the human condition. I myself have been a student of this philosophy for years on end and it has thus lead me to scope out a variety of places around Massachusetts that honor nature in its purest forms. Be it flower/insect conservatories where you can study the designs and differences in color of the coats and petals or farms where you can take in the beauty of the countryside scenery and the almost Norman Rockwell esque feeling of watching cows graze in the distance.

The experience I had underwent while paying my first visit to Robert ‘Chief Joseph’ Terkanian’s nature trail was unlike anything I had ever previously gone through, to the extent where it felt like I was being transported to an entirely new, isolated world. Located at the St. Pierre Pond within Hills Farm Estates, Chief Joseph’s trail almost feels like being in the land of Oz due to the sheer whimsical and dream­like atmosphere it possesses. As you walk through it, you take notice to a vast array of breath­taking sculptures and other crafts that stand before you. One of the most stand­out crafts I had only just taken notice to a couple of weeks back upon visiting it my fourth time was a collection of Native American dreamcatchers that hang gracefully from the trees. Dreamcatchers fit in perfectly with the mood Chief Joseph is trying to capture, because of it sunderlying symbolization of catching the negative energy and only allowing the positive energy through. The addition of windchimes around it and the meditative sounds of one of his many man­made miniature ponds creates an effect that exemplifies the very definition of serenity.

We aren’t just dealing with a trip into the world of zen, however, it has dual purposes; the other being to showcase local talent given the fact that all of these crafts ­ including ceramic animals and a totem pole carved in the shape of an owl ­ are being helmed by a wide selection of artists from all across the state. Being able to bear witness to such impressive craftsmanship only serves to reinforce the idea that there is creativity virtually everywhere you go, even in your own backyard. It is simply a matter of looking beyond the surface and having the right mindset so you can perceive things like this trail essentially as an outside art gallery rather than just a line­up of random objects (which unfortunately is an all too familiar mindset nowadays as an increasing number of people allow materialism to take over their lives).

Chief Joseph traces his primary inspiration for the trail, and the glue that holds everything together in a figurative sense, from a multitude of zen textbooks that he has abided by over the course of his lifetime. The most impactful for him, in his own words, has been ‘Wherever You Go, There You Are’ by Jon Kabat­Zinn. Many of the elements of this book have been directly projected onto the atmosphere of the trail and it shows, such as mindfulness and becoming one with the universe. Learning how to immerse yourself in the here and now instead of dwelling too heavily on superficial things that impede your progress ­ like the past and future ­enriches the human spirit through the peace and soul satisfaction that it ensures.

All of this gives further subtext to the life quote plaques from visionaries like Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau that are imprinted on the stone walls, benches and trees. One of the plaques reads “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live life the way you have imagined”. Perfectly suitable because this trail does just that. It is a reminder to everyone who stops by to reach out and embrace their inner selves, both in terms of their own emotional well­being and their artistic integrity.

Chief Joseph’s nature trail is a truly magical experience that every Shrewsbury resident should undergo. Whether your enjoyment stems from being able to walk on a path of self­discovery, opening up your mind to all of the beauty nature has to offer, or just admiring the exhausting amount of energy that has been put into the trail. Regardless of what aspect you look forward to the most, the general intent of the trail remains the same: to transcend the concept of environmentalism and send everyone on a thematic ride into the unknown.