October 17, 2012

Notes and changes since last report:

• It was clear, 55° and calm at 2:30 PM on October 17, 2012.
• The sun was warmer than the air was cool.
• There was still a butterfly lurking along a sunny edge.
• At the end of the month, the grounds close for the season.

The Trails

• A goldenrod had survived the annual mowing of the Little Bluestem Meadow.
• Two maples across the meadow from the new bench were bare already.
• Low sun was illuminating foliage in the Old Gravel Pit.
• I'd decided to leave my sweatshirt in the parking lot. Standing in warm pockets of sun, surrounded by layers of color, I did not miss it.
• One corner of the pond has been catching the last rays of sun in the Fern Glen.
• Trees were begging to have photos of their reflections flipped upside down.
• Leaves floating on the tannin blackened water recalled the early works of M. C. Escher.
• At the back of the pond, sweet pepperbush was glowing against the black waters below.
• A long, quiet walk along the Cary Pines Trail was punctuated by a patch of sun coming through the canopy to ignite a little maple.
• The flood plain section of the Wappinger Creek Trail had just a few new mushrooms today.
• The edge of the back Old Hayfield promised to hold a butterfly or two.
• It wasn't until the front Field however, that I found one... Actually it found me first, darting out from the same tree as did last week's red admiral.
• I could just get enough of a peek at the underside and top side to call it an eastern comma - question marks had been more common this year.
• With my quest for a butterfly fulfilled, I took a last look across the field at Gifford House and made my way home.