May 08, 2019

• It was 65°F, cloudy and calm at 2:30 PM on May 8, 2019.
• More plants, birds, and butterflies had returned and the air smelled good.
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

The Trails

• At the Gifford House parking lot, lilacs were starting to bloom.
• The biggest one was of a medium color.
• Right by the main kiosk was a darker one, not quite as advanced.
• The road to the Carriage House had plenty of fresh mud puddles, but not one butterfly was at them.
• It wasn't a complete loss: Fothergilla was blooming along the edge.
• Off the side of of the Scots Pine Allée, the first-of-the-season eastern pine elfin was sipping garlic mustard.
• In the Old Gravel Pit, scarlet tanager was heard and eventually seen.
• Only the un-clubbed antennae hinted that the bluish spring moth is not a butterfly.
• As the trails merge near the Fern Glen, two butterflies grudgingly shared a sunny patch.
• One was an eastern comma.
• The other, a red admiral.
• Beside the Fern Glen parking lot, pink azalea had started to bloom.
• In front of the pond, Jacob's ladder had begun.
• In the limestone cobble, nodding trillium was doing nicely.
• A familiar scent was from wild blue phlox.
• Back in the fen, rhodora had started to bloom.
• A little farther ahead, high bush blueberry was getting started too.
• In the back of the 'Glen, everyone's favorite, large yellow lady's-slipper was maybe a foot tall now, but blooming would be a while yet.
• Near by, delicate oak fern had returned.
• Scattered in a number of places, bizarre gaywings were popping up.
• Several American ladies were cruising around the open areas, pausing to feed on dandelions.
• Striped maple was easy to miss if one didn't look up on the way out of the 'Glen.
• Looking up on the Cary Pines trail scored an ovenbird.
• All along Cary Pines, commas and red admirals could rise out of any sunny spot on the path.
• Next week: the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.