August 14, 2019

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 70°F, calm and cloudy at 1:15 PM on August 14, 2019.
• Clouds slowly dispersed for a warm, sticky afternoon until a cool, dry breeze came through.
• A giant swallowtail in the Fern Glen was a highlight today.
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines side of the trail system.

The Trails

• A hint of blue in the Gifford parking lot led to partly cloudy skies at the end of the Scots Pine Allée.
• Often overlooked, pale smartweed was in the path through the Old Gravel Pit.
• The little meadow along the road to the Fern Glen has had spicebush swallowtail the last several visits.
• A couple great spangled fritillaries were on the wild bergamot too.
• Zabulon skippers were in their 2nd brood and could be found in a number of locations.
• A lone thistle was in its usual spot.
• Perhaps the same one from a week or two ago, a giant swallowtail swept through and paused (this time...) in the sun.
• At the beginning of the limestone cobble, tall meadow-rue was setting seed.
• At the other end, great lobelia had been blooming since last week.
• Near by, trillium fruit were ripening.
• Near the fen, maple-leaved viburnum fruit were big but not yet ripe.
• Along the board walk in the fen, turtlehead was blooming.
• The dense flower clusters of climbing hempweed sweetened the air.
• In the fen and around the pond, elderberry was ripening.
• Like tiny tomatos, bittersweet nightshade berries were ripening. Unlike tomatos, they are poisonous.
• Back on solid ground, purple-flowering raspberry was beyond ripe.
• Red baneberry could be found in a number of spots along the trail.
• Much less common here is white baneberry aka, doll's eyes.
• Clearweed is a non-stinging nettle relative.
• Another lobelia, our smallest, was blooming: Indian tobacco.
• In the back corner of the 'Glen, the ground was almost bare except for little mounds. Was this excessive earthworm activity?
• Near the deck, whorled aster still looked as if it were only about to bloom.
• Around the corner was cardinal flower, our third and most elusive lobelia.
• A handsome hemlock looper moth was at rest on leaves of NY ironweed.
• On the leaves below were gelatinous egg masses, of a caddisfly.
• The stems appeared to be host to galls of some insect.
• On the other side of the path, sneezeweed was blooming.
• At the back of the pond, sweet pepperbush was doing well this year.
• The new turtle log at the front of the pond seemed to be a great hit.
• On the shore, wild mint was not as abundant as ususal.
• Seed pods of blue flag were swelling.
• On the way out of the Fern Glen, spikenard fruit was ripening.
• Out on the Cary Pines Trail, Indian pipe was coming up.
• Next week: the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.