Dummerston Conservation Commission announces its first in-person event of 2022.

On Saturday February 5^th at 4:PM , John Anderson will give a talk about the 48 year history of the Putney Mountain Hawkwatch, culminating with an overview of the watchers’ record breaking 2021 season when 18,649 raptors were tallied.

John is a naturalist, roaming every nook and cranny of Dummerston and beyond.  He has identified 800 flowering plants in Dummerston alone!!!!!  John is also the author of numerous articles on natural history.

The presentation will be held at the West Dummerston Community Center.  Masking and proof of vaccination is required. Seating is on a first come basis and will be limited due to social distancing needs.       

 Unfortunately the Dummerston Conservation Commission workshop, due to Covid,  is cancelled for this evening 1/6 and will be rescheduled. 

 

Dummerston Conservation Commission announces its first in-person event of 2022.

On Thursday, January 6^th, at 7 p.m., John Anderson will give a talk about the 48 year history of the Putney Mountain Hawkwatch, culminating with an overview of the watchers’ record breaking 2021 season when 18,649 raptors were tallied.

John is a naturalist, roaming every nook and cranny of Dummerston and beyond.  He has identified 800 flowering plants in Dummerston alone!!!!!  John is also the author of numerous articles on natural history.

The presentation will be held at the West Dummerston Community Center.  Masking and proof of vaccination is required. Seating is on a first come basis and will be limited due to social distancing needs.

       

10-23 Bird's Nest Fungus

 10-23 Bird's Nest Fungus

Bir's Nest Fungus is a saprophyte - it grows on decaying matter: rotting timber, wood mulch or dead vegetation. The "eggs" are the spores or periodoles. When a rain drop hits the periodoles they are cannonballed out of the nest. The nest is about the size of a fingernail.

John

9-28 Water Smartweed

 9-28

Water Smartweed, a plant of ponds and wet shores, is in full flower.

John

9-27 Woolly Bear Caterpillar

 9-27

Woolly Bear Caterpillars, larva of Isabella Tiger Moth, are looking for sheltered places to overwinter. This species produces two generations a year.

John

9-25 Witch Hazel

 9-25

Witch Hazel has begun to flower. John

9-22 Beechdrops

 9-22

Beechdrops are parasitic on the roots of beech trees.

9-21 Earthstar fungus

 9-21

Earthstar fungi are at their best. John

9-13 Sand Jointweed

 9-13

Sand Jointweed is among the last flowerings of the season. Only Witch Hazel flowers later.

John

8-26 Inflated Bladderwort

 8-26

Inflated Bladderwort is both free floating and carnivorous.

John

8-25 Sand Jointweed

 8-25

Sand Jointweed's racemes of pink or white flowers are starting to open. As the name implies this species favors sandy soils.

John

flower enlarged

8-24 New England Asters

 8-24

This summer's wet conditions favor New England Aster. Look ofr them in damp meadows and along shores.

John

8-23 Closed Gentians

 8-23

Closed, AKA Bottle, Gentians are turning from green to blue-violet. These flowers never open, yet Bumblebees routinely enter them.

John

8-22 Nodding Ladies Tresses

 8-22

Nodding Ladies Tresses flower in late summer and fall. Look for them in moist meadows, swamps and open woods.

Round-headed Bush Clovers are flowering in dry fields. Some of its flowers are self-pollinating and never open.

John

8-20 Beggar Ticks

 8-20

The rayless flowers of Beggar Ticks, AKA Sticktight, can be found in either wet or dry waste places. (Incidentally, this plant is an aggressive invasive in New Zealand!)

Northern Three-lobed Bedstraw can be seen in swamps and along shores.

John

8-18 Canada Hawkweed

 8-18

Canada Hawkweed graces the borders of woods and clearings. There are. 8 other Hawkweeds listed in Newcomb's Wildflower Guide.

A Snowberry Clearwing moth was nectaring on Phlox in my garden today. Normally active at dawn and dusk (crepuscular). They are also active on overcast days.

John

8-17 Common Clotbur

 8-17

Common Clotbur is in flower - in its own unglamorous fashion. Look for it in farmlands and along roadsides.

Scaly Inky Caps mushrooms can be seen clustered on woody debris, especially that of Ash and Elm.

John

8-16 Purple Gerardia

 8-16

Purple Gerardia has opened a few flowers. Look for it in wet meadows and along shores.

John

8-15 Pearly Everlasting

 8-15

Pearly Everlasting is a plant of dry open places.

John