Summer Delights
Now that summer is here, there are plants growing in the forests & fields especially in Golden Hill Town Forest! You may have seen some spring plants in flower and now, many have died back (not to be seen) leaving their seeds or spores. These seeds have probably been blow away, carried on the fur of animals or became food for birds. Don’t worry, these plants will be back in the next early spring when they have the open sky (no leaves on trees & shrubs) and the chance to take over all the early sunshine for their short time.
BUT there may be clues to these early risers now. The trillium may have a single large red berry left; jack in the pulpit has a cluster of red berries to be shed. So keep your eyes open when you look down among the greenery.
The red-berried elder is a shrub which has its berries, red, ready to feed some woodland animal. You may know the elderberry bush but that blooms later and has very dark berries.
The ground cover, Canada mayflower, will keep its green leaves, but you’ll be noticing a stalk with berries-pale at first, then turning red.
The Purple Flowering Raspberry can be large, with maple like leaves and purple flowers! When pollinated, these flowers will form a big, red berry which are easy to spot before some critter finds it first.
And right on the ground, near the trails, a delicate plant with fern-like leaves and dainty pink flowers, should catch your eye. This is the Herb Robert, a geranium, looking so sweet BUT it is also called stinking Bob. I’ll let you guess why!
The jewelweeds are blooming and we have 2 kinds. A yellow and an orange, which at this time can be 4 ft. tall. The deer seem to enjoy eating it so hurry outside to find some plants because the hummingbirds LOVE the nectar from those pitcher-like flowers! And if you see the birds, just stand still & watch.
And you can have fun too with the jewelweeds when their seed pods develop, become very full and just POP open if you touch them! That is why they are called: touch me not!
The woods aren’t silent now. There are many song birds singing & moving around. Especially on overcast days with maybe a drizzle, the birds seem to enjoy having their chit chats.
BUT watch your step: our little orange-red efts are moving around! They are the youngsters of our Eastern Newt. There is a very different growing up process for these guys & gals. The immature eft is like a teenager, boldly walking thru the woods in the red outfit for a few years! That red color is a warning-do not touch or eat, toxic eft. Especially after a rain, you should see them. When they reach maturity, they will head to a permanent body of water, pond, where they will mate and can live for many years.
It seems like color is everything-flowers, animals and coming up very soon, those mushrooms! The woods are NOT just green so keep looking and take your time.
There are other wildlife present-no see ums (which I saw!), mosquitos & ticks. Enjoy your time outside just take some precautions-long pants & shirts (cool cotton when hot), hat and insect repellant. Children may be tempted to ‘taste’ berries but that is NOT good; remind them to just look at their colors, how they hang on the branch, what might happen to them and look for them again in other places!
For more details about our native plants you can visit: Native Plant Trust and Lady Bird Johnsons Wildflower Center. There are so many interesting stories about our plants & how they were/are used, that on hot days you won’t have to venture out but could learn something interesting-while staying cool inside!
Happy Trails to All
