May 25, 2016

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 80something°F and clear with light breezes at 1:00 PM on May 25, 2016.
• This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
• Black swallowtail and American lady were among the returning butterflies today.

The Trails

• I hate when it jumps from the 60s to the 80s, but it's good for butterflies - the first black swallowtail was cruising Gifford House parking lot.
• And the first American lady was on honeysuckle in the front Old Hayfield.
• Also in that field was young common milkweed - my favorite nectar source for butterflies and the most important host for monarch caterpillars.
• In the back of the field near the old Spring House, the viburnum, nannyberry, was blooming.
• Just in the Sedge Meadow Trail, burning bush was blooming. It came to this country for its fall foliage...
• A day-flying moth, the white-striped black, offered a rare photo op.
• In the back Old Hayfield, one-flowered cancer-root was easy to miss.
• The first dogbane tiger moth was hanging out on dogbane.
• The fungus by the Watershed kiosk on the Wappinger Creek Trail had gotten bigger.
• Right by the kiosk, shinleaf was budding up.
• The garden escapee, Star-of-Bethlehem, was along the flood plane section of the trail.
• One of my mystery plants was nearby: a whorl of 3 divided leaves and clusters of tiny, anise-smelling flowers.
• A plant easily remembered after one encounter even without flowers is wood nettle.
• More common and equally memorable is stinging nettle.
• Tall meadow rue was just ahead with its flat spread of leaves and growing stalk.
• Narrow-leaved bitter cress was beginnning to flower.
• This invasive can be separated from its similar relatives by the auricles (I like "moustache") as the leaf joins the stem.
• Next week: the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.