April 14, 2020

Pennsylvania Sedge

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 49°F, mostly cloudy and breezy at 10:45 AM on April 14, 2020.
• This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
• Some familiar yard and field plants were starting to, or about to bloom.
• Just a reminder: see Cary Institute > About > Visit Us > Hike Our Trails for one-way maps and more information about visiting during these Covid-19 times.

The Trails

• The trailhead at Gifford House had info about the one-way trails.
• At the trail intersections, similar arrows are posted.
• Grass in the field was getting tall enough to mow if it were in a yard.
• Along the edge, ground ivy (or creeping Charlie) was blooming since the week before.
• Common dandelion was blooming right in the middle of the path.
• Too tall for that, purple dead-nettle was along the side.
• Bursts of "cheedle cheedle" in hedge row were coming from frenetic ruby-crowned kinglets.
• At the fork to the Sedge Meadow Trail, invasive garlic mustard had swelling flower buds.
• A yellow haze floated in some of the trees.
• This appeared to be cherry leafing out.
• The honeysuckles were getting full.
• Next to them, Japanese barberry was sporting flower buds.
• New growth on neighboring burning bush was pretty strange looking.
• Related to fireflies, a common soldier beetle species was climbing a cedar in the sun.
• The boardwalk across the end of the Sedge Meadow was out of the wind and in the sun.
• A gentle babble of water was coming from off the side of the walkway.
• It was a tiny waterfall over a root.
• Farther along, in the Sedge Meadow proper, tussock sedge had continued to grow taller and greener.
• It was looking a little punked out I thought.
• Dark flower heads were streaking up through the green.
• The back Old Hayfield was showing some green this week.
• Irregular woodpecker drumming had been coming from all around on the Wappinger Creek Trail. Finally one of a pair landed. It was a Yellow-bellied sapsucker. It was there only a moment, then raced off with the other to continue acrobatics around the tree tops.
• Down below, trout lily seemed to be having a good year.
• Pennsylvania sedge loosely carpeted the floodplain section of the trail.
• Looking like a bad hair day, some were in full bloom.
• A little farther along, almost bare sticks of spicebush were easy to miss.
• The tiny yellow balls that had been ready to burst for weeks were finally opening.
• Under foot, rue anemone would be open very soon.
• Toothwort and stinging nettle were leaf to leaf next door.
• Next week: The Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

Sightings