May 13, 2015

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was overcast, breezy and I doubt it was 60°F at 2:30 PM on May 13, 2015.
• That was a far cry from the near 90° we'd been having.
• Even when the sun came out, not a butterfly was seen.
• That couldn't reverse the progress of the flowering plants; at least 30 new ones were blooming since last week.
• Yellow-billed cuckoo was the bird of the day, though it was only heard, not seen.

The Trails

• At Gifford House, the scent of lilacs brought back childhood memories.
• The paler color may have the bolder fragrance.
• From a distance buckeye could be seen behind the Carriage House.
• Zooming in gets one a good look at the strange flower.
• Fothergilla was just around the bend, speaking of strange.
• The invasive bush honeysuckles edged the Little Bluestem Meadow.
• An interesting view of nanny berry, a native viburnum, had this years flower buds next to last years fruit.
• In the Old Gravel Pit, starflower could be found low to the ground.
• Off the side at the bottom of the Old Gravel Pit, an old apple was blooming.
• Invasive garlic mustard must have been blooming for a while: seed pods were forming.
• What? Along the road to the Fern Glen, black swallowwort was up and with flower buds already! This sunny location must allow this invasive an earlier start than I'm used to.
• In the Fern Glen, Solomon's seal had been spared by the deer so far this year.
• I don't think anything touches red baneberry .
• Originally white, large-flowered trillium was turning pink with age.
• The elusive foamflower was again blooming in the limestone cobble.
• So too were wild blue phlox, bellwort, and nodding trillium.
• Jacob's ladder was in and out of the cobble.
• Ferns were coming into their own: ostrich around the pond and maidenhair in the cobble.
• At the back of the pond, golden seal had almost come and gone during a week's time.
• Nearby, blue cohosh was quietly flowering.
• I think Japanese barberry had been flowering for a while, but that I had missed it.
• On the way to the fen, colt's foot was still looking dandelion-like even after flowering - but the scaly stem gives it away...
• In the fen, the deer had missed some of the rhodora over the winter.
• Leatherleaf, bog rosemary, and highbush blueberry all have bell shaped blossoms.
• Cinnamon fern fiddleheads and goldthredwere coming up right along the path.
• Way in the back of the 'Glen, wild sarsparilla was looking like ash seedlings... except for the flower.
• Yellow lady's-slipper is a most anticipated arrival in the 'Glen.
• Stonecrop was a surprize not far from a major patch of gaywings.
• Not to be confused with leatherleaf, leatherwood seemed to be more fruitful this year than in the past.
• Almost back out to the kiosk, clusters of choke cherry were adding to the smells in the air.
• Blossoms were lurking under the parasols of mayapple.
• Asking to be stepped on at the start of the path around the pond were tiny bluets. There is never more than a few.
• Along said path were false Solomon's seal, golden ragwort, and that crazy carrion flower.
• Across the road, azalea stood out.
• Had to take the walk for a closer look at this.
• Out on the Cary Pines Trail, I knew I'd find Canada mayflower in more advanced stages.
• And in the Sedge Meadow, cinnamon fern was sending up it namesake fertile fronds.
• In the back Old Hayfield, invasive Russian olive was ready to pop. In the Old Pasture it already had.
• Flowering dogwood had just started last week and was looking fuller this week.
• Until next week...