Indian Cucumber Root
Notes and Changes since last report
- It was 77°F, mostly cloudy and calm at 1:30 PM on September 9, 2020.
- That sounds almost cool, but it was actually just a little muggy.
- Butterflies had been ramping down over the last few weeks. Of course sun would bring out a few more.
- This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.
The Trails
- The sky was brightening over the Wappinger Creek by trail marker 10.
- A coral fungus was climbing out of the leaf litter along the trail.
- Something had been eating a mushroom and left it as a perfect study in mushroom construction.
- Up on the Cary Pines Trail, interesting patterns were forming on some low leaves.
- At the top of the Fern Glen, our other black cohosh was blooming late as usual.
- The little flowers are hard to make sense of, appearing to be nothing but stamens.
- A blue spike rose out of the shore of the Fern Glen pond.
- It was great lobelia still going strong in a few different places.
- Along the path around the pond, bottle gentian was blooming... as best as it does.
- Closer to the water, turtlehead was still doing well.
- On the other side of the path, false Solomon's seal berries were ripening.
- Above, groundnut was finally blooming.
- In spite of all the recent rains, the pond was looking low.
- Herb-Robert was thriving between a rock and a hard place.
- Around the corner, Jack-in-the-pulpit berries were ripening.
- If the flower of beggar ticks is not familiar, the flat, brown, two-pronged "seed" on your socks will be.
- Near the deck was a mushroom that seemed to describe infinity.
- On the other side of the trail, partridgeberry was full of berries.
- A strange jewelbox spider had a web at face level across the path.
- By the stone bridge, Indian cucumber root was announcing ripe fruit with bright underlying leaves.
- Sharply toothed, oval leaves on a woodland goldenrod seem more diagnostic than the namesake stem of zigzag goldenrod.
- Along the road, invasive Japanese stilt grass was just starting to bloom. Last chance to take this down with a string trimmer and just leave it... I hope.
- The Gifford House stood across the Little Bluestem Meadow.
- Along the edge of the meadow, the Scots Pine Allée lead the way back to Gifford.
- It is here we find Silverrod, our one goldenrod that is white, rather than yellow.
- Next week: The Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.
Sightings
Birds
| Butterflies
Plants
|