August 21, 2013

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 80°F, partly cloudy and calm at 1:15 PM on August 21, 2013.
• Goldenrods were beginning to show off in the Old Hayfields.
• The invasive Japanese stilt grass was becoming large enough to be obvious.
• Mosquitoes were again largely absent with only a few thick spots.

The Trails

• The goldenrods front Old Hayfield were actually brighter than this photo shows.
• A Zabulon skipper was sunning along the Wappinger Creek Trail. They could be found in many places today.
• Along that low, sandy section Japanese stilt grass was showing itself. Know it by its shiny mid rib. War has been waged on this new pest since its appearance here a year or two ago. Let's see if we put a dent in it last year.
• At the edge of its reach Indian tobacco was blooming.
• On the Cary Pines Trail Canada mayflower berries were disappearing as fast as they were ripening.
• A perfect fern looked as if it were planted on a log.
• Nearby was a favorite partridgeberry in a hollow root, also looking as if it had been deliberately planted.
• That "prickley ash" I found a while ago needed closer examination. As I feared, the leaves were toothed - it is more likely Hercules' club. Let's see if the deer allow it to flower.
• In the Fern Glen a dragonfly kept returning to one perch.
• Another favorite plant to hate is black swallow-wort. These knots seem to be the result of herbacide taking out the main vine, but not the root; all the side shoots come up like angry hornets.
• In the Roeller Bed along the road, spikenard berries have been ripening more each week.
• Along the cobble white baneberry really stood out.
• Across the pond New York ironweed was attracting a few butterflies including great spangled fritillary and again Zabulon skipper.
• A least skipper was soaking up the afternoon sun by the base.
• Sneezeweed was opening up near the bridge at the back of the pond.
• Closed gentian near the front of the pond never looks much more open than it was today.
• Whip-like stalks of jumpseed were reaching over the railing. Its tiny flowers would later become spring-loaded seeds.
• In the shrub swamp witch hazel was sporting green seed pods.
• What I was looking for was still there: the saddleback caterpillars - a little bigger than they were last week... and armed with even more stinging spines.
• The Old Gravel Pit was the remaining mosquito strong hold. White snakeroot might have been better photoed in any of the many other places where it was blooming.
• Right at the woods end of the Scotch Pine Alleé was a spotted apatalode caterpillar, looking a bit like Dennis the Menace's dog, Ruff.
• With that it looked like time to leave.