5-29

Today was a good day for ditchweeds! Virginia Waterleaf was at its peak.

And this 2 ' high green-flowered orchid - tentatively identified as a Northern Green Orchid - stood tall on a hillside seep. I say tentatively identified because often it's easier to find wildflowers

than it is to name them, and I'm not certain about this one!

John

5-26

This morning I found this Wood Turtle trying to cross Rte. 30 just south of the covered bridge. It was healthy but frustrated by traffic. Its carapace measured 7 inches and the growth ridges on its scutes proved it to be at least 15 years old.

John

5-23

Mayapples are flowering. This one is in Bess and Charlie Richardson's yard.

John

5-22

Yellow Wood Sorrel, English Plantain and Bulbous Buttercup (shown) were flowering today.

High overhead a raven fledgling begged loudly as it pursued one of its parents across the sky.

And this American Copper butterfly worked the wild strawberry flowers.

John

5-21

Hairy Solomon's Seal (pictured), False Solomon's Seal, Wild Madder, Bugle (a garden escape), Robin's Plantain and Pink Azalea (pictured) all flowered either yesterday or today.

American Copper butterflies have emerged. A few warm days should bring a flood of lepidoptera over the coming week.

John

5-19

Today Herb Robert was starting to flower. And both pink and white varieties of Tartarian Honeysuckle - that aggressive alien invasive shrub - were bursting into bloom.

John

5-17

Clintonia AKA Bluebead Lily (pictured) is in flower. Also in flower are Downy Yellow Violet, Japanese Barberry, Wild Sarsparilla and Bog Chickweed.

John

5-14

Another wave of avian migrators have returned: Baltimore Orioles, Great Crested Flycatchers and Bobolinks.

In the woods, pink moccasin flower is starting to bloom.

John

5-12

On Black Mountain today early low blueberry, Striped Maple and Star Flowers were in bloom. At home the Common Cinquefoil flowers opened; last year's first cinquefoil was flowering on 4-30!

John

5-9

On the east side of town, Celandine was flowering today. Closer to home Cuckoo flower was open. And the Canada Violets (pictured) were a foot tall and far showier than I expect any violets to be.

John

5-8

Henbit, Rose Twisted-Stalk, Mountain Fly Honeysuckle, Wintergreen and Field Pennycress were in flower today.

Also, and new to me, Fringed Polygala AKA Gaywings, a member of the Milkwort family bloomed. As the picture shows, this is a truly unique little lifeform!

John

As I drove home from South Newfane, I slowed down getting on the South Newfane bridge and noticed hobblebush in bloom.

5-6

A few Elderberry bushes and cherry trees opened flowers today.

In shady ledgy sites, early saxifrage and columbine (both shown) were at their peak.

Black and White Warblers hitched round the trunks of riverside trees. And six-spotted green Tiger Beetles flew up the path ahead of me.

John

5-4

A male Ruby-throated Hummingbird visited our Andromeda bush this morning, ignoring the nearby feeder!

John

5-3

Ovenbirds and Common Yellowthroats accompanied me on my walk today.

Pennsylvania Bittercress and Garden Currants were both in flower. Kidney leafed Buttercup (not shown) were also starting to open.

And I put up my hummingbird feeder; any day now our Ruby-throated Hummer will be back!

John

5-2

One patch of squirrel corn was in flower this morning. I also snapped a picture of this fungus: a thick-stalked false Morel I would guess. Along a brook I scared up a Northern Water Thrush. It was an interesting walk, and by the time I got home my shoes were yellow with pine pollen.

John

5-1

Downy Serviceberry, aka Shed bush, and Marsh Marigold, aka Cowslips, both shown, were in flower today.

Also in flower were Golden Alexanders, Smooth Yellow Violet, Cypress Spurge, Dutchman's Breeches and Wild Oats.

Kingbirds and Yellow Warblers are back and I had a reliable report that a Baltimore Oriole was seen.

John