5-17
Blue-eyed Grass is dotting old fields.
False Lily-of-the-Valley is carpeting woods lawns and roadsides.
Along forest paths, Starflower is at its best.
And Twice-stabbed Stinkbugs, so called because of their two red spots, add their own touch of color to the world.
John
5-16
Aggressively invasive Autumn Olive is scenting thickets while the equally invasive Dame's Rocket adds color to open woods and weedy areas.
 |
| Autumn Olive |
 |
| Dame's Rocket |
American Barberry is also flowering and Herb Robert - a geranium family member - is opening its first flowers.
 |
| Americna Barberry |
 |
| Herb Robert |
Meanwhile, in their somewhat unspectacular way, American Bladdernut's flowers fleck wooded riverbanks.
John
 |
| American Bladdernut |
5-15
Star-flowered Solomon's Seal is just starting its flowering.
Choke Cherries are in full bloom as are Highbush Blueberries.
 |
| Highbush Blueberries |
 |
| Choke Cherries |
And Wild Azaleas are starting to color river banks and dry ledges.
John
5-14
Fringed Polygala, AKA Flowering Wintergreen, which is actually a member of the milkwort clan is now flowering.
Chervil, an aggressive invasive, is showing up along Rte. 30.
And pretty but diminutive Sand Spurrey skirts the edge of the blacktop nearby.
John
5-13
Forget-me-nots are opening flowers.
 |
| White Lily-of-the-Valley |
 |
| Blue Forget-me-nots |
Lily-of-the-Valley, Greater Stitchwort and Red Baneberry are also in season.
John
 |
| Lily-of-the-Valley |
 |
| Red Baneberry |
 |
| Greater Stitchwort |
5-12
Bugle, a garden escape, is well into its flowering while Bulbous Buttercup is just starting to bloom. Common or Philadelphia Fleabane has just opened a few of what will oftne be colonies of flowers.
John
 |
| Philadelphia Fleabane |
 |
| Bugle |
 |
| Bulbous Buttercup |
5-11
Pale Corydalis and Dwarf Dandelion are starting to flower in dry thinly vegetated areas and in cool woods Skunk Currants are in full flower.
John
 |
| Skunk Currants |
 |
| Dwarf Dandelion |
 |
| Pale Corydalis |
5-9
Deep in thickets 'volunteer Apple trees are flowering. Goldthread dots the ground in damp often mossy woods. Yellow Wood Sorrel is opening a few flowers in gardens and waste places.
And a Pine Elfin butterfly nectared on bluets while I took a picture.
John
 |
| Apple blossoms |
 |
| Goldthread |
 |
| Pine Elfin butterfly |
5-8
Common Winter Cress, AKA Yellow Rocket, an agricultural pest, is flowering brightly.
5-7
Along roadsides and in other waste places the pretty little paired flowers of Germander Speedwell are opening, and in damp woodlands with rich soil the frothy flower clusters of Foamflower stand above pale green leaves.
John
 |
| Foamflower |
 |
| Germander Speedwell |
5-6
Blue Mustard and Greater Celandine, both native to Eurasia, are flowering.
John
 |
| Blue Mustard |
 |
| Greater Celandine |
5-5
Common cinquefoil, Golden Alexander and Japanese Barberry are all staring to flower.
And a Ruby-throated Hummingbird made numerous visits to out nectar feeder throughout the day - but wouldn't sit still long enough for a picture!
John
 |
| Common Cinquefoil |
 |
| Golden Alexander |
 |
| Japanese Barberry |
5-4
Some cherries are in flower.
 |
| Lowbush Blueberries |
 |
| Dog Violet |
5-2
A few American Toads are out and about - but not too thrilled with the weather.
