October 25, 2017

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 60°F, cloudy and calm at 2:15 PM on October 25, 2017.
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.
• Leaves were down after yesterday's rain, but those remaining were looking good.
• This is the last trail report of the season with the grounds closing Nov. 1 and reopening April 1, 2018, conditions permitting...

The Trails

• The sky was constantly changing over the Old Hayfield by Gifford House.
• A downy woodpecker landed in the tall dead branches.
• Even after seeing a song sparrow drop into the dead walnut leaves, it was hard to spot.
• Behind the Carriage House, Stewartia's rich, red leaves were hard to miss.
• The view across the Little Bluestem Meadow had some color in it.
• The sky over the meadow was boiling with occasional patches of blue.
• Blue was somewhere, but not over Gifford House.
• Zooming in for a last look of the season showed the oaks had a way to go yet.
• In the Old Gravel Pit, a stick on the ground had several types of fungus including one of the strange jelly fungi.
• From the locust ridge, yellow leaves of sumac were stark against a dark background.
• And sugar maple had tinges of orange in its yellow.
• For another brief moment, sun lit the path in front of me.
• The Norway Spruce Glade above the Fern Glen had been brush hogged.
• At the edge of the 'Glen, hobblebush leaves were taking on interesting color patterns.
• Along side, striped maple was a solid pale yellow.
• Across the street, pinxter azalea was indeed pink and sporting next year's buds.
• Over the stone bridge, sassafras was an orange that was almost red.
• A surprise near the deck was miterwort in bloom - it flowers normally in early spring.
• The leaf shape was odd, but the color was recognizable in the maple-leaved viburnum near the limestone cobble.
• Yet another distinct yellow was in the leaves of spicebush .
• Then it was off on the Cary Pines Trail where a white speck stood out on a hemlock.
• It was a false hemlock looper moth.
• Movement on the ground drew my attention: it was a squirrel in a comical pose.
• Next season: the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.