Second bloom of the season!

Despite today’s overcast skies, it felt like the middle of spring with mid-60s for temperatures. A great day for a walk to continue my wildflower inventory along the trails at West Sky Natural Area in the Town of Clifton Park.

Beaked Hazelnut

Nearly all of the Beaked Hazelnut shrubs along the trail exhibited female flowers (the fuchsia-colored ones shown above) either open or beginning to open. However, this particular shrub was the only one with male flowers (the dangling catkins, also shown above) that had opened and ready to release pollen. All other male catkins along the trail were tightly closed.

Probably by the end of next week, all Beaked Hazelnuts will be in full bloom and, likely, the American Hazelnut will begin blooming. While the female and male flowers appear identical on both species, the best way to tell the two species apart is a close examination of the ends of twigs. If hairless (or nearly so), like in the image above, then it is Beaked Hazelnut. If the end appears quite hairy, then it is American Hazelnut.

Happy trails!

Welcome to Spring!

The vernal equinox will occur at the middle of this week.

With longer days to come, the new season will begin heralding the emergence of a myriad of wildflowers and the unfurling of tree leaves throughout our area.

Common Shadbush – downy underside of emerging leaves

Emerging False Hellebore leaves

Consider these activities as part of your adventures this spring –

• Equinox Full Moon Hike (March 20 @ 7pm)
• Birdwatching at Vosburgh Marsh (March 23 @ 8am)
• Maple Sugar Open House (March 23 @ 1:30pm)
• Discover the Madison Avenue Pinelands (March 24 @ 1pm)
• Woodland Wildflowers – 100 Acre Wood (March 27 @ 5:30pm)

• Maple Sugar Open House (March 30 @ 1:30pm)
• Wild and Wacky Woodcock Walk (April 4 @ 7pm)
• Birdwatching at Normanskill Farm & NYS Museum Ornithology Collection (April 6 @ 7:30am)
• Birding at Vischer Ferry Nature & Historic Preserve (April 7 @ 8am)
• Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers – Shenantaha Creek Park (April 9 @ 5:30pm)
• Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers – Steinmetz Woods (April 11 @ 5:30pm)
• Early Migrants Birdwatching (April 13 @ 7:30am)
• Woodland Wildflowers – Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve (April 16 @ 5:30pm)
• Spring Symphony and Full Moon Hike (April 19 @ 7:30pm)
• Early Migrants Birdwatching (April 20 @ 7:30am)
• Signs of Spring Nature Walk (April 21 @ 1pm)
• Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers – Shenantaha Creek Park (April 23 @ 5:30pm)
• Woodland Wildflowers – 100 Acre Wood (April 24 @ 5:30pm)
• Signs of Spring Hike at Woodlawn Preserve (April 25 @ 11am)
• Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers – Steinmetz Woods (April 25 @ 5:30pm)
• Tree Trek (April 26 @ 1pm)
• Birdwatching at Ann Lee Pond (April 27 @ 7:30am)
• Birdwatching at Stillwater School and Lock 4 Canal State Park (May 4 @ 7:30am)
• Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers – Shenantaha Creek Park (May 7 @ 5:30pm)
• Ephemeral Spring Wildflowers – Steinmetz Woods (May 9 @ 5:30pm)
• Birds and Breakfast at Five Rivers (May 11 @ 6am)
• Bird Walk at Woodlawn Preserve (May 11 @ 7am)
• Birdwatching at Vischer Ferry Nature & Historic Preserve (May 12 @ 7:30am)
• Birdwatching at Schodack Island State Park (May 19 @ 7:30am)
• Woodland Wildflowers – Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve (May 21 @ 5:30pm)
• Woodland Wildflowers – 100 Acre Wood (May 22 @ 5:30pm)
• Birdwatching at Normanskill Farm (May 25 @ 7:30am)
• Karner Blue Butterfly Walk (May 25 @ 11am)
• Birdwatching along Fox Hill Road (May 26 @ 7:30am)
• Birdwatching at Partridge Run Wildlife Management Area (May 27 @ 6:30am)
• Birdwatching at Cherry Plain State Park (June 1 @ 7am)
• Karner Blue Butterfly Walk (June 1 @ 11am)
• Birdwatching at Galway Nature Preserve (June 9 @ 8am)
• Birdwatching at Lost Valley State Forest (June 15 @ 7am)
• Birdwatching at Dyken Pond (June 16 @ 7:30am)
• Firefly Full Moon Hike (June 17 @ 8:30pm)
• Woodland Wildflowers – Dwaas Kill Nature Preserve (June 18 @ 5:30pm)

I have compiled four new wildflower field guides; you can view or download them here.  I hope they help you learn about wildflowers that can be viewed at some of our local nature preserves, parks and trails.

Lastly, I have scheduled numerous wildflower walks this year, including those listed above.  Please join me.

Happy trails!

My first bloom of the season!

Skunk Cabbage

Despite the occasional snowflake floating aimlessly through the air today, the intermittent sunshine and patches of snowless forest floor seemed to invite me out for a hike. I decided to visit West Sky Natural Area in the Town of Clifton Park where I am currently conducting a wildflower inventory along its trails. As I began to cross one of the wooden walkways that span a tiny stream in this natural area, I noticed a perfectly round bare spot surrounding a plant (shown above). This unique plant, our native Skunk Cabbage, had cleared that spot all by itself with the intent of getting an early start on the new growing season. Actually, Skunk Cabbage blooms first and then its leaves will emerge about the time that the flowers are withering and the plant sets fruit.

Skunk Cabbage closeup

Skunk Cabbage is able to clear away snow and ice through a process called thermogenesis, or the ability to metabolically generate heat. Temperature elevation in
Skunk Cabbage lasts for approximately two weeks. Skunk Cabbage has an underground stem that stores large quantities of starch. During heat production, starch is translocated to the flower where it is metabolized at a high rate, generating the heat.

I may celebrate my first bloom of the season with some corned beef and cabbage. Happy St. Patrick’s Day everyone!

Happy trails!