July 29, 2015

Notes and Changes since last report

• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.
• It was 85°F, partly cloudy and calm at 11:45 AM on July 29, 2015.
• And that was in the shade... the promise of mid 90s got me out early hoping to miss the hottest.
• Common ringlet and meadow fritillary were each ramping up another brood.

The Trails

• Behind the Carriage House, green-eyed coneflower was starting to bloom.
• On the road to the Fern Glen, a large thistle was blooming.
• At the back of the pond, gold seal had ripening berries.
• In the poor fen, steeplebush, a native spiraea, was getting pretty.
• Off the boardwalk, an aster seemed to be blooming early.
• Near by, was a single blossom of square-stemmed monkey flower .
• The sundew had stalks since I first noticed it a few weeks ago...
• But only now was its tiny flower opening.
• A bigger flower, but farther out, was that of a St. Johnswort.
• No question about horsebalm except maybe where the name came from.
• Competition for a mate made for an amusing pile up of Japanese beetles on a sassafras.
• The week before, spotted jewelweed was happening in the Sedge Meadow Trail, but in the 'Glen it was looking a bit weak.
• Elderberry berries, however, were plentiful and ripening.
• It was getting pretty warm by now. Even the painted turtle was staying in the water.
• The cool shade of the Cary Pines Trail was welcome...
• Around the junction with the Wappinger Creek Trail - the Appendix, I like to call it - is a sandy hillside overlooking the Creek. Each year I find signs of burrowing bees, but no bees.
• Next week: the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
• Maybe we'll see them then.