I keep expecting to see signs of spring in the woods, even though I know it's not quite time for that yet. Just to remind me that winter's still here, the paths at Naugatuck State Forest where I went for a walk this afternoon showed a thin layer of packed snow, left over from the few inches we got last Thursday:
Maybe because my mind is already in spring mode, though, I honed in on the color green during my walk today. There wasn't much in the way of new things growing, but it was nice to notice some of our plants that keep their leaves all winter. As it turns out, there's quite a bit of living green out there among the brown!
The shiny purple-green leaves of Round-leaved Pyrola, for example, dotted the side of this bank:
And this Spotted Wintergreen contributed a lovely blue-green hue to the mix -- one of these plants is still holding on to the dried remains of last year's flower:
Partridgeberry stretched chains of its tiny dark-green leaves across the ground:
My favorite discovery of the day was this lone Downy Rattlesnake Plantain, one of our native orchids, growing in a different part of the forest from where I found it blooming last summer. Its intricately patterned leaves practically glowed from its setting on the brown forest floor:
Isn't this just the prettiest little plant? I'll keep an eye on it to see whether it blooms this year.
The Hemlock trees looked especially green today, making a roof above the path:
And I love the extensive patches of sea-green lichen on this tree -- I've often noticed it, but neglected to photograph it until now:
And of course, what list of green things in the winter woods would be complete without some moss? There are so many different types of moss out there, and maybe one day I'll try to learn to identify them -- for now, I'll just marvel at some of the interesting textures and vibrant colors that presented themselves today:
The only real sign of spring I've seen so far remains the Skunk Cabbage, and those plants are getting stronger by the day, with little mottled maroon-and-yellow balloons popping up all over the swampy areas of the forest:
And what's this? A hint of new-green Skunk Cabbage leaf unrolling as well?
Maybe spring really is on its way after all. :D
Today I made my triumphant return to the Naugatuck State Forest (after a week and a half away), and I even got up extra early to beat the heat. (That was pretty much essential.... It was already getting unbearable by the time I left at 10:00.)
The birds were quite active, especially at the beginning of my walk. I got stuck for a long time watching some smaller birds and a warbler I didn't know (and still don't, because I couldn't identify it). And then I heard some loud calls from the top of a tree across the lake:
There were three Northern Flickers up there -- that's a type of woodpecker -- and these birds were flying up and down, back and forth, calling and displaying to each other, and fanning their impressive tails. At least two of the birds were males, so I'm guessing there was some sort of territorial/nesting dispute going on, but I couldn't say for certain. All I know is they were putting on quite a show, and I only wish I could've had a closer view. (I do really like this picture, though, even if it's lacking some detail.) Also, flickers are awesome.
Next to the birds, the most active animals were the insects. Dragonflies were everywhere, as usual, and I was even able to identify two new species. Here's a lovely Slaty Skimmer:
And a Banded Pennant (what a cool pattern on those wings):
I recognized these tiny spiky creatures (they're like aliens!) as some sort of leaf-footed bug nymph:
Out of curiosity, I posted this picture and an ID request on BugGuide.net, and within an hour someone had replied with the species: Euthochtha galeator. Behold the wonders of the internet! :D
This dainty butterfly is a Little Wood Satyr (I'd never heard of such a thing before today, and it's quite elegant):
I snuck up on this grasshopper mid-buzz -- I think the sound it was making must have something to do with its wings, but the exact mechanics are unclear to me:
There were so many wildflowers blooming today that I'd never seen before, each beautiful in its own way. Large patches of Spotted Wintergreen were scattered across the forest floor:
This Meadowsweet (Spiraea alba, complete with a foraging longhorn beetle) was blooming along a bank:
And nearby, another member of the same genus, Steeplebush (Spiraea tomentosa):
Right at the end of one of the lakes, I found a single Swamp Milkweed plant:
I really like this Yellow Loosestrife (also called Swamp Candles):
And this Monkey Flower (Mimulus ringens) was putting on a nice show, with quite a few big sturdy plants growing together in a wet area next to the path:
It was a nice rambling walk, and I even got to stop and snack for a bit in a large Black Raspberry patch. Yum. :)
As I was leaving, a passing lady saw my binoculars and gave me a tip about another part of the Naugatuck State Forest, where there are shrubby fields, with warblers and woodcocks (boy, I'd love to see one of those funky creatures someday), among other birds. I believe her words were, "you'll be in heaven." I think I know where I'll be exploring next!
