May 18, 2016

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was partly cloudy with light breezes at 12:00 PM on May 18, 2016; the air was cool, the sun warm; it made it to 72°F.
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.
• I had some company on the trails this week.
• Common ringlet and little wood-satyr were the returning butterflies today.

The Trails

• Tree swallows were zooming over Gifford House parking lot and perching in trees in the Old Hayfield.
• In a quiet corner, pink lady's-slipper was about to bloom.
• Throughout the woods, starflower had begun to bloom.
• At the edge of the Fern Glen pond, sweetflag was doing its strange thing.
• In the limestone cobble, false Solomon's-seal was about to flower.
• Surprise, the clintonia or bluebead was blooming this year.
• The large-flowered bellwort and twinleaf were done with that and already forming seed pods.
• Alumroot looks like giant bishop's cap.
• Its leaves hark to its domestic relative, coral bells.
• Previously pink large-flowered trillium was positively red now.
• Near the acid cobble, maple-leaved viburnum was forming flower buds.
• Red baneberry was done with all that and on its way to forming fruit.
• In the back of the 'Glen, our well watched pink lady's-slipper was about to move to the next stage.
• Patience trumped pursuit when a scarlet tanager came into view and remained for a minute or two.
• Another subject of study, yellow lady's-slipper was so close to blooming. Come tomorrow.
• Not far away stonecrop, a sedum had been on the verge for a couple weeks it seemed.
• One of our tiniest buttercups, hooked crowfoot was doing its best.
• Climbing the shrubs in the fen was our native, limber honeysuckle.
• A pair of beetles attracted my attention to a plant I always walk by.
• I noticed it was flowering - small but enough look up: smooth gooseberry.
• Choke cherry was near the kiosk.
• Wild geranium was lurking here and there underneath.
• Invasive dame's rocket ranges from white to purple and is distinguished from native phlox by its four rather than 5 petals.
• The mayapple colony seemed to have been waiting for the warmer weather.
• Right at the edge of the pond, golden Alexanders was very close to blooming.
• Around the side, it would be a while for carrion flower.
• Almost missed little Herb-robert in the cobble.
• Along the road on the way out was common barberry.
• It's pretty, not as common as Japanese barberry, but exotic as well.
• Next week: the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.