May 14, 2014

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 75°F, partly cloudy and calm at 2:00 PM on May 14, 2014.
• It would cloud over but remain warm and calm.
• First of the season butterflies included juniper hairstreak and meadow fritillary.
• Birds have been coming back too - Canada warbler was a nice find.

The Trails

• At Gifford House parking lot, lilacs were beginning to bloom.
• A very few are of a much darker shade, which appeals more to me.
• Along the edge of the first Old Hayfield, an old apple was blooming.
• The high and dry section of the Sedge Meadow Trail was carpeted with dwarf cinquefoil in yellow and white.
• Something dark was darting among them: a juniper hairstreak.
• In the back Old Hayfield, the flowering dogwood along the edge could be seen across the field.
• Zooming in showed some perfect fully open blossoms.
• The benches were out on the trails again.
• While taking advantage of the one in the Old Pasture, I noticed a nearby warbler call. A little patience and "pishing" produced a Canada warbler. Nice.
• Gaywings surprise was at the Watershed kiosk on the Wappinger Creek Trail.
• Farther along in the floodplain, a Juvinal's duskywing was patrolling the path.
• Off the side, a large mushroom was growing out of a dead tree.
• A sweet scent was in the air. It was the invasive Japanese barberry.
• Out on the Cary Pines Trail, starflower had won the race to blossom with the Canada mayflower.
• In the Fern Glen, one of the mystery perennials was blooming.
• Some of the large-flowered trillium had been out long enough to take on a pink cast.
• In the limestone cobble, wild blue phlox. had started to bloom.
• Jacob's ladder was all about.
• A favorite deer snack, Soloman's seal was ripening.
• Along the pond, coming up like run away asparagas was carrion flower.
• The tendrils make it pretty distinct.
• At the front of the pond, golden Alexanders was budding up.
• Hiding along the edge, a lone golden ragwort was starting to bloom.
• Red baneberry was along the way to the fen.
• On the wet side of the path, colt's foot was going to seed.
• Color out in the poor fen caught my eye: some rhodora survived the winter's intense deer browse.
• Right along the boardwalk, highbush blueberry was just starting to bloom.
• Spreading globeflower appeared to be finishing.
• Along the road to the stone bridge, interrupted fern was coming up.
• The fertile interruptions in the otherwise sterile fronds were apparent.
• Right by the kiosk, in spite of the overcast skies, a tiger swallowtail glided in.
• Just in from the kiosk, mayapple was budding up.
• So too, was everybody's favorite: large yellow lady's-slipper.
• Way in the back of the Glen, looking a little like poison ivy with its shiny red leaves, was wild sarsaparilla.
• The coming flower should remove any confusion between the two.
• Heading towards the Old Gravel Pit, I found the big patch of hay-scented fern coming up.
• Behind the Carriage House, fothergilla had really progressed since last week.
• The blossoms seemed to have an alomst almond scent.