October 19, 2016

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 75°F, clear and windy at 3:30 PM on October 19, 2016.
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.
• Fall foliage was great today, but dropping fast.
• Note: the grounds close the end of this month. They open again April 1.

The Trails

• The pair of oaks at the Gifford trail head was looking very nice today.
• The Little Bluestem Meadow was all pink and fuzzy.
• Back across the meadow and highway were farm fields.
• And in the farm fields were cattle.
• Ahead was a favorite view down the Scots Pine Alleé.
• Surprisingly, some of the trees were already bare.
• The meadow was so beautiful, the entrance to the Old Gravel Pit came too soon.
• I took just one glance back at Gifford House.
• In the woods, a sun beam illuminated a patch of hay-scented fern.
• Looking towards the source, I remembered the little glowing beech tree from last year.
• Near the exit to the Fern Glen was the big patch of hay-scented fern, now a jumble of pale drying fronds.
• The late afternoon light was behind the red maple by the Fern Glen pond.
• On the other side the river birch was turning yellow.
• Witch hazel was blooming and filling the air with its scent in the wet areas.
• In the mix was winterberry, now becoming ghostly pale.
• Near the acid cobble, maple-leaved viburnum leaves were turning purple under the un-maple-like fruit.
• The creek as viewed from the deck was already in the long shadows.
• Scattered patches of sun made it to foundations of the stone bridge.
• On the way out of the 'Glen I noted how the leaves on the ground ran through a spectrum.
• Some striped maple leaves, still on the branches, were handsomely back lit.
• Next to them was the viburnum, hobble bush.
• Spicebush was everywhere.
• One last stop for the day was at the "Appendix", as I like to call the area by trail marker 10 on the Wappinger Creek Trail. But I was just a little late as another memorable little tree slid under the shadows.