NATURE WALK : SEPTEMBER 2005 (TheMondayGarden.com)

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WALK : SEPTEMBER 2005

WALK : SEPTEMBER 2005
September 18, 2005, Issue 179

By mid summer, the forest canopy closes over the woodland floor, blocking so much light that it�s hard to take photos without a flash; most of the spring wildflowers go dormant until next year. Color comes from an endless array of fungi, ferns and moss, accented by a ripening berry here and there. From late August through last week�s Equinox, the woods are wonderful: the gnats and mosquitoes have thinned out, the temperature and humidity are down a bit (usually) but the still-green forest canopy keeps the forest dark even at noon; the forest�s summer treasures are still on view but the walk is much more comfortable.

In the meadow, along the shore, in the forest glades, and along forest edge, where sun hits the ground, asters, goldenrod, sun flowers, and grasses preview fall's color and texture.

Picture: Goldenrod at Cove Beach, Autumnal Equinox 2005. There are something like 125 kinds of goldenrod in North America; this one might be a seaside goldenrod but it would take an expert to be sure.

Picture: wild sunflower along the Mill River, Stamford, CT 2004

Pictures: various white asters, respectively along the road in North Stamford, at the Bartlett Arboretum, and Cove Island. September 2005. There are almost as many kinds of asters as there are goldenrods.

Pictures: seeding grasses in the wildflower meadow at the Bartlett Arboretum, September 2005

Pictures: fungi at the Bartlett Arboretum, August � September 2005. Note the bites taken out of the second fungi. Wild critters, including squirrels, turtles, coyotes, and a host of bugs, think fungi are delicious � don�t you try it as a mistake is likely to be fatal.

Pictures: the amazing, tiny fungi of the deep woods, Bartlett Arboretum, August-September 2005

Pictures: you need to look closely to find beech drops, a flowering fungi that hang out under beech tree in the deep woods.

Pictures: Indian pipes are also blooming fungi. At this time of year, there are still some late blooming ones and some gone to spore. Bartlett Arboretum 2004-2005

Picture: fungi on a birch log at the Bartlett Arboretum, September 2005.

Pictures: Fruit of a jack-in-the-pulpit; a purple aster, and a witch hazel shrub, Bartlett Arboretum, September 2005

Pictures: mullein in the meadow; �deadly� nightshade and a pink-blushed turtlehead in the swamp. The Bartlett Arboretum, September 2005.

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Photo credits: Sue Sweeney

� Sue Sweeney 2005

Comments (1)

Susan Mudge:

Hi
I only found your site this year - it's wonderful but the pictures this week are truley surpurb.
Thanks for making it possible for me to share them.
Sue

Posted by Susan Mudge | September 27, 2005 8:45 AM

Posted on September 27, 2005 08:45

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NATURE WALK : SEPTEMBER 2005

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