June 07, 2022

Trumpet Honeysuckle

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 77°F, partly cloudy and windy on June 7, 2022.
• I thought the weather would be better today than tomorrow. I was wrong: clouds thickened and a light rain followed.
• Many plants had finished flowering and were now developing fruit.
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

The Trails

• It started out nice enough, dry and sunny along the Carriage House drive.
• Behind the Carriage House, pine warbler was calling.
• Several good views were to be had.
• The changing light over the Scots Pine Allée was rather moody.
• Off to the side, the Little Bluestem Meadow was filled with bedstraw and the air with its scent.
• Grasses were dominating in some places and the smells in the air followed suit.
• Before the path entered the Old Gravel Pit section, a glance back took in our starting point at the Gifford House.
• In the foreground, spreading dogbane had started blooming.
• Bare branches overhead promised good views of the maker of raucous bird calls.
• However the glare and view angle made the great crested flycatcher a challenge to photo.
• Down at the edge of the Fern Glen, viewing conditions for butterflies were better.
• A Silver-spotted skipper, its face dusted with pollen, was feeding on dame's rocket.
• In the Roeller Bed, black gum had something going on.
• It's inconspicuous flowers were blooming.
• Splashes of red worked their way up inside a neighboring striped maple.
• It was trumpet honeysuckle - one of our native honeysuckles.
• A little moth, the promiscuous angle was resting on ostrich fern.
• Another fern had the tip rolled up into ball shaped shelter for the caterpillar of another moth.
• In the limestone cobble twinleaf had quickly gone from flower to smiling seed pod.
• Above the cobble, vancouvaria was beginning to flower.
• At the front of the cobble, large-flowered bellwort was sporting its own peculiar pods.
• Trillium fruit was beginning to form, as well.
• A handsome crane fly landed on the leaf next door.
• The pond had a film of pollen.
• So too did the four painted turtles lined up to get some sun.
• The boardwalk throught the fen was full of life.
• A female common whitetail was basking on the warm boards.
• A male was perched on a dry stalk.
• Off to the side, sheep laurel had started blooming.
• Below, pitcher plant had started the week before.
• Blueberry had rapidly progressed from flower to fruit.
• Back out on dry land, twinflower was still looking good.
• By the stone bridge there were a few tired looking Indian cucumber root. They had done much better last year.
• A dragonfly relative, ebony jewelwing, was perched at the exit of the Fern Glen. Note the leg bristles that help it capture smaller insects on the wing.
• Out on the Cary Pines Trail, bracken was getting big.
• The bench at the "Appendix" was the end of the trail today.
• Across the creek, something seemed to have set up residence. It did not show itself. Maybe next time...
• Next week: the Wappinger Creek Trail the side of the trail system.

Sightings