October 27, 2021

Privet

Notes and Changes since last report

• It was 53°F, cloudy and windy at the tail end of a Nor'easter at 12:30 PM on October 27, 2021.
• Note that the grounds close Nov. 1 for the winter.
• This is the last trail report of the season.
• This week's trail report covers the Wappinger Creek Trail side of the trail system.

The Trails

• On the way to trail marker 10, black berry clusters didn't look familiar at first.
• But checking the leaves helped recall the garden escapee, privet.
• All too familiar, but very pretty, was Japanese barberry.
• Across from the bench, witch's butter had continued its slow decline.
• The "biscuit" mushrooms looked a bit more orange today, but it doesn't really show in the photo.
• Across the Creek, the orange foliage wasn't bad. A little afternoon sun would really set this off.
• Color was improving by the stone bridge in the Fern Glen, too.
• The leaves of hobblebush had brightend up a bit.
• Even more interesting is the bud - it looks like little hands in prayer... that the deer don't get it.
• Spicebush was easy to pick out now.
• Suddenly its distinctive leaves were everywhere.
• Across the road, American hazel had taken some color.
• It was too late for nuts; only the empty husks remained.
• But the male catkins were already waiting for spring.
• The neighboring azalea had some dusky reds developing.
• At the tip of a branch, a bud again was prepared to get through the coming winter.
• The fruit was an unassuming brown capsule.
• Closer to the bridge now, a maple was looking more the way one would expect this time of year.
• In the pond, water striders were still active.
• At the back, sweet pepperbush was bright.
• Getting there was half the fun, one might say regarding the still green veins.
• A beacon of yellow blazed across the creek.
• Back on this side, leatherwood was still working on it.
• It might have been about half way through its color change.
• On the other hand, striped maple looked complete.
• Just about all the leaves were of uniform pale yellow.
• The Wappinger Creek was running full after two nights and a day of rain.
• But it was a steady, moderate rain. The banks appeared undisturbed, unlike after the last hurricane.
• On the way out, some mushrooms had so far survived growing in the middle of the trail to the Old Gravel Pit.
• The other end of the trail found the clouds thinning over Gifford House across the Little Bluestem Meadow.
• After all the rain and wind, there'd been only a few sticks in the trails... until the path from the pines to the creek.
• After clearing that, it was down the Scots Pine Allée and away.
• Next week: the grounds will be closed until April.

Sightings