April 24, 2019

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 62°F, mostly clear and breezy at 2:00 PM on April 24, 2019.
• Last week featured 13 new flowers - this week 16.
• Cabbage white was the returning butterfly today.
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

The Trails

• Each week the Old Hayfield at Gifford House has looked greener - and now the trees in the distance were blooming or leafing out.
• Bradford pear had joined the Magnolias in blooming.
• The magnolia was looking even a little fuller than last week.
• Behind it, sugar maple leaves and blossoms were making the fuzzy green back drop.
• At the edge of the Little Bluestem Meadow, an eastern comma was basking out of the wind...
• ...right by a patch of stinging nettles, a favorite plant to lay eggs on.
• It's always a nice view across the Little Bluestem Meadow.
• At the end of the Scots Pine Allée Canada mayflower was pushing up leaves.
• In the Old Gravel Pit, red maple had finished flowering and was putting out leaves.
• Towards the Fern Glen end of the trail, hay-scented fern was coming up.
• Finally a spring azure settled down for a moment in the sun.
• At the top of the Fern Glen, blooming hobblebush was a surprise.
• Farther along the edge, wild oats were out.
• Crazy, tiny miterwort was scattered around the area.
• In the limestone cobble, large-flowered bellwort was in big stands.
• Early meadow-rue was looking like little lamp shades.
• Red trillium didn't seem as abundant as in other years.
• Maidenhair fern would soon blanket the cobble.
• Slow to get going, large-flowered trillium was finally fully open.
• Mixed in with the spring beauty was just a couple cut-leaved toothwort.
• Twinleaf goes quickly - some already had pods starting.
• In the fen, shad bush looked like pieces of clouds.
• Close up, the blossoms looked more like snowflakes.
• Looking like a dinosaur, a snapping turtle was lounging in a sunny patch.
• Near the kiosk, umbrella-like may-apple was popping up out of the leaf litter.
• Right behind the kiosk, the other toothwort we have was also up.
• Mixed in with it was wood anemone.
• Next week: the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.