May 07, 2014

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 72°F and hazy at 1:15 PM on May 7, 2014.
• No butterflies at all today - it got a bit gray.
• Speaking of gray, the gray treefrog was calling at the Appendix and in the Old Gravel Pit.
• Reminder: temperatures like this can really bring out the ticks.

The Trails

• Starting in the Fern Glen again, I noticed the little patch of bluets by the kiosk corner of the pond was down to one tiny, but pretty flower.
• At the entrance to the limestone cobble, starry false Soloman's-seal was just about to open.
• Jack-in-the-pulpit was suddenly everywhere.
• The miterwort or bishop's cap had opened its crazy little blossom.
• At the top along the road, the viburnum hobblebush was blooming.
• In the back of the shrub swamp, gaywings were about to pop.
• So too the nearby goldthread.
• The more I looked, the more found of the distinctive leaves. Our small patch has spread a little bit.
• The service berry stopped me in my tracks.
• A few days ago it was bare; today it was on its way towards full bloom.
• A scan of the poor fen turned up leatherleaf.
• Tucked in a corner the exotic, but polite paris was doing its strange thing.
• Meanwhile, back in the cobble, the lone nodding trillium was fully open now.
• Farther along, broad beech fern was fully unfurled.
• Maidenhair fern was still working on it.
• A little moth known to me only as Herptogramma thestealis was taking nectar from toothwort along the edge of the pond.
• At the back of the pond, goldenseal was doing well this year.
• Continuing towards the dam, I found a clump of early meadow rue cozy with a tree. For a moment, I'd thought it was columbine, which was slow to make an appearance this year.
• Over my shoulder, I noticed the blue cohosh.
• A closer look verified it had started to bloom.
• It would be another day or two for the wild blue phlox, however.
• Another pass through the shrub swamp, this time looking up, netted me the limber honeysuckle.
• It too was budding and would remain something to look forward to for a few more days.
• As I headed out of the 'Glen, I found across the street swelling buds on the azalea. Soon...
• Out on the Cary Pines Trail, it was a race between the starflower and the Canada mayflower.
• Toward the far end of the Wappinger Creek Trail, a pileated woodpecker had been making mulch out of a scarred maple.
• On the way up the hill to the bluff, clumps of pussytoes were getting ready.
• Heading for Gifford House on the Sedge Meadow Trail, I could see that the mowing season was under way.
• Around the corner in the front Old Hayfield, a hen ring-necked pheasant was sneaking away.
• At the Carriage House, fothergilla was budding up.
• And there was the Bradford pear looking good too.
• Something was exciting my nose along the path through the Old Gravel Pit .
• It smelled like honeysuckle, but it wasn't open yet in there.
• Garlic mustard was sitting there looking guilty, but didn't smell like much at all.
• Giving up, I continued along to find that the bottom of the pit was finally dry.
• And so was I; I headed home to fix that.