April 22, 2020

Plantain-leaved Sedge

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 45°F, partly cloudy and blustery at 3:00 PM on April 22, 2020.
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.
• The cool weather has been allowing short-lived spring flowers to last longer than usual.
• Some of the one-way trail directions have been adjusted to provide more route choices: 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

• Near trail marker 12, sun found a hole in the canopy to illuminate a patch of newly emerged Canada mayflower leaves.
• At the top of the trail, they spread in a carpet that would make one wonder if they were an invasive species. But they are native to our area.
• Partridgeberry was poking through here and there.
• On the hillside along the road by the Fern Glen, myrtle was open and facing the sun.
• A couple other garden escapees were on the same hillside: daffodils.
• Around the limestone cobble, rue anemone was doing well.
• Spikes of miterwort or bishop's cap were up.
• The minute flower is what a snowflake would look like if it could be turned inside out.
• Twinleaf could be found in just about any stage: unopened, opened or petals dropped and pod on the way.
• One of our mystery plants from an earlier day, was blooming.
• There was no mistaking red trillium.
• Elegant cut-leaved toothwort was starting to bloom.
• Large-flowered bellwort was all over the cobble.
• Newly unfurling maidenhair fern looked like it should have shaved.
• Large-flowered trillium seems to get out before its red cousin.
• With its back to the pond, ostrich fern was stretching its legs.
• Some of last year's fronds were almost silhouetted against the pond.
• At the back of the pond, Solomon's seal was tempting the deer by growing so close to the path.
• Much better hidden was red baneberry.
• Up close, it looked like little hands.
• Toothwort was out in a number of places, but not yet fully in bloom.
• Well off the boardwalk through the poor fen, leatheleaf was flowering in hiding.
• I don't know if I'd ever noticed the plantain-leaved sedge by the stone bridge bloom.
• The red and green stalks and bad-hair-day flowers made them charming.
• Along the road, bracken looked like hairy little fists.
• At the other end of the roadside edge of the Fern Glen, hobblebush leaves were looking like other-worldly eyes.
• Hiding deeper inside the Roeller Bed, false rue anemone was having a better year than usual.
• A quiet walk over the rest of the Cary Pines Trail ended by a flowering tree at the Carriage House.
• It was Bradford pear just beginning to open.
• Next week: The Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.

Sightings