May 25, 2021

Yellow Lady's slipper

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 80°F, clear with light winds at 2:00 PM on May 25, 2021.
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.
• Little wood-satyr and Hobomok skipper were back, and one silver-spotted skipper went by.
• Pink and Yellow lady's slipper were still blooming in the Fern Glen.

The Trails

• The Cary Pines Trail was pretty quiet until the top of the Fern Glen where a couple Zabulon skippers were chasing each other.
• Hobomok skippers were at the other side of hill; their yellow patch below is less extensive.
• The Zabulon turned to catch some sun. From above, it is not so easy to tell the two apart...
• Something dark darted by... a female Zabulon? No, Juvinal's dusky-wing .
• Dragonflies have been out in increasing numbers. A twelve-spotted skimmer perched in the sun a moment.
• Penstemon or beardtongue was blooming on the dryer side of the hill.
• Down along the pond, false Solomon's seal was finally blooming.
• Wild geranium had started the week before.
• The green of carrion flower blends in well with surrounding foliage.
• Its viney stalk stands out a little more obviously.
• Alternate-leaved dogwood does not last long.
• Out in the poor fen, Labrador tea was looking good.
• The strange, nodding flower of pitcher plant would be open in another day.
• A native honeysuckle, limber honeysuckle was blooming farther along the boardwalk.
• In the shrub swamp area, tiny flowered water speedwell was easy to miss.
• Included in our Phenology Trail, pink lady's slipper had been blooming since last week.
• Wild sarsaprilla resembles an ash seedling.
• But it bears a small flower ball below.
• Way in the back of the 'Glen, yellow lady's slipper was having a good year.
• Near the deck, wild stonecrop was an interesting ground cover.
• It was hard to find a bloom on the swamp azalea; it's had better years.
• Invasive dame's rocket was blooming everywhere.
• Our native wild blue phlox has five petals and doesn't grow as tall.
• At the front of the pond, strange sweetflag was doing what it calls blooming.
• Back on the Cary Pines Trail, in the Old Gravel Pit section, hay-scented fern was teasing the eye.
• Next week: the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.

Sightings