What’s Blooming – May, 2005

The dogwood on the trail is in beautiful flower! There are several dogwood trees around the start of trail (near the in-the-woods pavilion). Their large, white flowers seem to glow in the growing shade of the forested trail. A large number of the wild and domesticated dogwood in the eastern US have succumbed over the past 30 years to the introduced fungus Discula destructiva. On the Nature Trail we have lost several dogwood trees possibly to this very widespread fungal disease. The isolated trees around the pavilion, though, seem very healthy and robust.

Down on the ravine trail, near the junction with the Wildflower Trail, the Jack-in-the-Pulpit are blooming. These small, green, unobtrusive flowers are a bit difficult to find among the growing mass of herbs and ferns, but they are definitely worth the time and the looking is, in itself, a very pleasant process. I have found that once you see one of these little flowers, dozens suddenly spring into view!

Many of the birds on the trial have already coaxed their first clutch of young into flight. There are abundant immature robins, blue jays, titmice, chipping sparrows, and wood thrushes flying after their parents begging for food. The piliated woodpeckers have grown quiet lately, too. This possibly indicates that they have a nest full of young and are keeping a low profile to avoid attracting predators. The parents of many of these bird species will probably start their next clutch of eggs quite soon.

Check out the Trail and The Virtual Trail for more! Deborah will be back with fresh pictures by the end of the month!

Happy hiking!
Bill

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