June 11, 2014

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 61°F and calm with light rain at 1:15 PM on June 11, 2014.
• Rain would come and go, never too hard.
• Quiet foot steps, scents in the air, a slightly different look to everything. A little rain makes things interesting.
• European skipper was the only new butterfly today. That there were any was a little surprising.

The Trails

• Rainy days present some interesting opportunities on the trails. An iris at Gifford House was fun to photo.
• Off to the side of the front Old Hayfield was a flowering tree that I had called fringe tree before.
• I'm now sure it's not, but by the pea-like blossoms I think it may be yellow wood.
• A hen turkey errupted from the tall grass, hissing like a huge cat. She seemed divided between charging me and rounding up her chicks. I pretended to ignore her and moved slowly away.
• Another surprise, not quite as breath taking, was the first European skipper of the season.
• One of the hawkweeds was blooming abundantly.
• Along the Sedge Meadow Trail, gray dogwood was flowering.
• Now I realized it was probably the bedstraw I was smelling - it was filling the fields.
• The invasive multiflora rose was starting to add its beautiful fragrance to the air.
• Yarrow was quietly coming into its own.
• In the back Old Hayfield, the first dogbane tiger moth was out.
• So familiar is the ox-eye daisy, I almost missed its debut. Maybe I did in fact.
• I couldn't miss a red eft where trail exits the Old Pasture above the Wappinger Creek... as long as I was looking down.
• Farther along, witch's butter was very similar in color.
• At the Appendix (about Trail Marker 10) a gaceful grass stood out against the water.
• All the way out at the Fern Glen pond, on the river birch at the edge was the work of the velvet erineum gall mite. Not your typical gall.
• At the water's edge was a white sport of blue flag.
• This year the carrion flower was leaning away from the path.
• I was never sure if it was its direction of growth or the scent of its flower that led to its demise last year.
• Always intriguing, pitcher plant was blooming in the poor fen.
• Near the acid cobble, maple-leaved viburnum was beginning to bloom. Elsewhere on the trails, in more light, it was further along.
• Deep in the shrub swamp, water speedwell was opening its tiny blossoms.
• Limber honeysuckle was waisting no time forming berries.
• Oh, the azalea gall - I had "promised" that last week. The blossoms were just about gone, but the galls were still there.
• Royal fern was sprawling over the railing along the road by the stone bridge.
• Spreading dogbane was beginning to bloom in the little Bluestem Meadow.
• The garden escapee, foxglove was blooming near the Carriage House.
• I usually find something inside of a blossom...
• ...but not until I get home.