August 02, 2017

• It started at 82°F, cloudy, and windy at 2:30 PM on August 2, 2017. Rain at 66°F followed...
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.
• Butterflies and birds were both hunkered down today.

The Trails

• Maybe most of the dark clouds stayed to the north, but some came over Gifford parking lot bringing a shower.
• The big kiosk provided shelter and a view of the trail head...
• ... and of a young eastern bluebird taking a bath in a driveway puddle.
• It would duck down and flap around.
• The results were not pretty.
• As the sky brightened and rain lightened to sprinkles, I headed out towards the Carriage House where mist was rising off the road.
• The fields were filling with Queen Anne's lace.
• From the Scots Pine Allée, clouds and mist could be seen in the hills beyond.
• From the Little Bluestem Meadow, the view of the other direction was ominous.
• A glance over the shoulder towards Gifford House verified I was surrounded by the scattered showers in the forecast.
• The entrance to the Old Gravel Pit was not exactly welcoming, but that was the way...
• Light rain was falling at the Fern Glen, where Culver's root was blooming.
• Along the edge of the pond, elderberry were starting to ripen.
• On the trail on the other side of the kiosk, great lobelia had started to bloom.
• Near the Shrub Swamp plaque, there appeared to be water hemlock blooming. This is one of a number of poisonous parsely family members.
• On the other side of the cross road was a brand new bridge.
• Right off the side of it was water parsnip.
• The flower is different from the preceding, but the leaves are even more distinct.
• Up ahead, helleborine, an alien orchid, was still blooming.
• Lemon smelling horse-balm had started blooming and looked almost finished.
• Around the corner, white wood aster had started and looked like it would continue for a while.
• Light rain and I continued along the Cary Pines Trail where Indian pipe was coming up next to last season's stalks.
• Next week: the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.