The goldenrods that were starting in the front Old Hayfield last week were cranking up this week.
A pair of American goldfinch was in the spotted knapweed and allowed me to get fairly close.
Dark clumps of goldenrod leaves dotted the field. We're used to galls being extra plant growth promoted by a larva within. Here the goldenrod midge inhibits stem growth between the leaves, which continue to form normally but bunched together to form a nursery.
As I was leaving this field, something too large and fast caught my eye. A common buckeye! They were indeed common last year and I'd hoped to see a few this year. Til now there'd only been a report of one on the grounds a couple weeks ago.
While chasing that for a photo, I was interrupted by two skippers arguing. I'd noted the Peck's before, but the new comer had a bit more yellow than the zabulon I first took it for... it was a fiery skipper, male. This is a southern species that has been reported in the area for a couple years now. This was a new one for my list at Cary.
After chasing that for a while I continued on to the Sedge Meadow Trail where a lacewing posed very obligingly. I'd just noticed its stalk mounted eggs when it came into view. Its larva resembles that of the ladybug - a little alligator famous for eating aphids.
Behind the Sedge Meadow, a male zabulon skipper perched in a patch of sun right in front of me. I couldn't refuse. And now we can go back and compare the fiery skipper...
White snakeroot was beginning to bloom. This "enthusiastic" native doesn't seem quite as dense as usual this year.
In the Old Pasture, gray dogwood berries were ripening. I remember these fondly (now...) as ammunition at the school bus stop.
Along the Wappinger Creek Trail, another tussock moth caterpillar stood out against the truck of a tree: the definite tussock moth. The female moth is wingless. The young caterpillars, like some spiders, sail away on a strand of silk.
Fungi were popping up in small numbers in many places.
A pair of carolina wrens challenged me as I went through the flood plain.
At the Fern Glen pond, ostrich fern gave a tropical look.
Also present was Virginia knotweed or jumpseed - referring to the vigorous departure of the little seeds when brushed against.
Sneezeweed was now in full bloom at the back of the pond. At first I didn't recognize a red cultivated variety in a friend's garden until its elegant name, Helenium, started to ring a bell.
Then I became aware that all around it spicebush berries were beginning to turn.
And in the middle of all of them I noticed our almost forgotten wahoo - a native Euonymous.
All the way at the back of the pond were more red berries - Jack-in-the-pulpit. And with one of the stink bug nymphs that we have been seeing in such numbers this year.
On the other side of the pond, great lobelia was lining the path...
