July 31, 2019

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 75°F, calm and the rain was just stopping at 2:00 PM on July 31, 2019.
• It had showered several times through the day.
• A giant swallowtail made it worth risking wet feet on the trails.
• This week's trail report covers the Cary Pines Trail side of the trail system.

The Trails

• As the 3rd shower of the day subsided blue sky appeared over the Old Hayfields.
• The front seemed to be over the Carriage House.
• Drops were still splattering on the camera lens when orange appeared in the knapweed along the side.
• It was a monarch drying off. The message was, butterflies won't be so easy to find, but they should be easier to watch.
• The view across the Little Bluestem Meadow suggested another round of showers was on the way.
• Of course, that's when the sun came out. It coaxed a few things up out of the grass to bask including a red-spotted purple. This one was showing a touch of the white of the other sub-species, the white admiral.
• In the Old Gravel Pit, elderberry berries were ripening.
• At the bottom of the Old Gravel Pit, harmless false nettle was looking dangerous.
• Not far along, white snakeroot was all wet.
• A little bit closer to the ground was Indian tobacco.
• That was when a robber fly landed. It looked like it was mimicing a wasp.
• At the Fern Glen pond, Culver's root had finally appeared.
• The spotted Joe-Pye weed was doing well now.
• New York ironweed was just getting started.
• Across the pond, green-headed coneflower was catching up to other locations. Note the aphids on the stems.
• At the back of the pond, sweet pepperbush was getting read to bloom.
• Purple loosestrife had progressed from the week before.
• Turtlehead would soon be in bloom - if the deer don't get it first.
• Boneset was starting to bloom.
• A number of ambush bugs were lurking between the blossoms. The enlarged "raptorial" forelegs can even hold a bumblebee.
• Off the side of the trail, water parsnip had started blooming the week before.
• Back by the yellow lady's-slipper, whorled aster was forming buds.
• The Wappinger Creek was pretty noisy after the morning's rain.
• On the way out of the 'Glen, Indian cucumber root was now forming berries.
• Next week: the Wappinger Creek side of the trail system.