April 26-May 5 at Anson B. Nixon Park
Frost damaged trees - White Oak, Shagbark Hickory, Sycamore and a wide shot of frost-damaged sycamore.
The late April frost damaged many tress at the park, but they have a fallback strategy. Frost damaged leaves stop producing hormones that suppress dormant buds - those buds grow and replace the damaged leaves. which eventually dry out and drop off.
Umbrella Magnolia
Our Umbrella Magnolias suffered some frost damage. In this case, through, the green part of the leaf seems to be functioning a week or so after other trees frost damged leaves have died back.
Pinxter Flower Rhododendron periclymenoides
A first sighting in the park (for myself at least) this dramatic native called "pinxterbloom azalea”. Pinxter is Dutch for Pentecost, the seventh Sunday after Easter when the flowers typically bloom. Commonly visited by hummingbirds.
These two Mud-caked Eastern Musk Turtles appear to have just emerged from their winter sojourn in the mud at the bottom of the pond (a state called brumation).
Wood Sorrel, Fleabane, Wild Geranium, Wild Canadian Ginger, double-flowered Mayapple, Wild Geranium closeup, Jacob's Ladder
I've seen lots of Grackles this month!
The Kingbirds are back!
The Green Herons are back!
The first two are Warbling Vireos, the next two are Yellow-rumped Warblers
The first Canadian Gosling so far this year, Baltimore Oriole, Tree Swallow, Brown Rough-winged Swallow, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Turkey Vulture, Indigo Bunting ( a new sighting for me at the park, but a bad photo)
The Catbirds are back!
Red-winged Blackbirds are marking out territories in the meadow on top of the old landfill.
The Black Cherry Trees are all in bloom.
Thanks to everyone who has participated in the Tuesday morning nature walks! I hope to see you there they have been great fun.
Meadow Fritillary Butterfly, Cabbage White Butterfly, Tiphiid Flower Wasp, Calligrapher Fly, Nearly 3 feet long, an immense Bald-faced Hornet nest from last year.
