October 11, 2017

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 68°F, mostly cloudy and calm at 1:15 PM on October 11, 2017.
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.
• It has remained mild with peepers and katydids still calling.
• The grounds close for the season at the end of this month.

The Trails

• The sun did break out for a while over the front Old Hayfield.
• An eastern comma in the gravel road soaked up minerals and the sun.
• I wonder what kind of winter this woolly bear was predicting.
• Behind the Carriage House, a vine climbed the maple at the end of the driveway.
• It was unfamiliar with toothed, opposite leaves.
• One of the leaves had an unfamiliar leafhopper.
• Familiar little bluestem was going to seed along the Scots Pine Alée.
• Climbing the pines was ever redder Virginia creeper.
• Hiding in plain sight was a moth too obscure to try to ID.
• Along the side of the trail, goldenrods were going to seed.
• At the fork in the trail, hay-scented fern was turning white.
• A big fall webworm was stretched out on a honeysuckle leaf.
• Little more than the fruit remained on the branches of nannyberry.
• OK, there was a cocoon too.
• Nearby, a handsome wasp species was face to face with another tiny insect.
• Except for its berries, horse nettle was brown and withered.
• At the entrance to the Old Gravel Pit, burning bush fruit was ripening.
• A young poison ivy vine was draped across an old log.
• Plenty of leaves were down in the Fern Glen.
• Climbing hempweed was going to seed.
• Leatherwood leaves were turning yellow.
• Finally I spotted the strange flowers of witch hazel - I'd been smelling them for weeks.
• Alder cones have such a pleasing shape.
• It is strange how pale the leaves and bright the fruit can be on winterberry.
• At the boardwalk through the fen, a little tree had several shelf fungi growing on it.
• One had grown right around a neighboring branch.
• Next week: the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.