September 19, 2012

Notes and changes since last report

• It was partly cloudy, 65°, and breezy at 2:15 PM on September 19, 2012.
• The previous day's high winds and heavy rains made for plenty of sticks and leaves down.
• The back Old Hayfield had been mown.
• Another quiet day for birds and insects.

The Trails

• The only thing moving in the Gifford House parking lot was a milkweed bug.
• The skys were dramatic today.
• Along the driveway to the Carriage House, pokeweed was ripening.
• Birds enjoy these berries and it was hard to find an intact cluster.
• Near by, magnolia was forming velvet bud-like thingees that would have to really be seeds.
• Buckeye, on the other side, was forming its own somewhat peculiar fruit.
• At the head of the Scotch Pine Alleé was the first of what I would continuously encounter today: branches.
• The Fern Glen pond had been looking low lately; not so now.
• I could hear the water rushing under the stone bridge and went over for a look.
• Nothing like the spring flood, but three inches of rain made for a lively flow today.
• Turning to leave, I paused to admire maidenhair spleenwort eking out an existance in a crack in the wall.
• On the way up the hill, asters were putting on a good show.
• Note the simple, narrow petals for future reference...
• I looked forward to the Wappinger Creek Trail and comparing the views downstream and upstream to those of last week.
• The little bluestem grass in the Old Pasture was glowing when backlit.
• A smaller aster was abundant in the Sedge Meadow.
• I knew it was coming, but the back Old Hayfield "missing" stopped me in my tracks. And I reflected that it would be a good time to mow my own: the birds were done with their broods and some young shrubs and trees were taking hold.
• In consideration of the wildlife, the front Old Hayfield's mowing alternates years with the back. And here spotted knapweed was still flowering.
• Similar in size and color, it looks a lot like an aster or like a thistle but these petals are different.
• Continuing my lap around the last field of the day, I contemplated the 60 some species of goldenrod here in the Northeast.
• I came across a locust borer beetle and thoughts drifted to the goldenrod gall insects. Some use only a particular species and produce distinctive galls that make identifying the host plant trivial.
• There was no problem identifying the last blossoms of wild bergamot on their own merit.
• On the way home I reflected on asters: they too come in some 60 species - but I don't recall any getting galls.