I visited Veterans Memorial Park in the Town of Clifton Park on Monday in search of a variety of fruit and fall colors. So, I’ve assembled this quiz for you – hope you enjoy!
Click on each photo to enlarge the image.
Enjoy autumn!
Hickory trees are now dropping their individual loads of ripened nuts. Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata) and Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra) nuts are the most common and tastiest from the hickory trees found in our area. Today, I began harvesting some because they are my favorite tree nut and I enjoy the rich flavor that develops when using them in baked goods, especially cookies.
First harvest of 2022 – mix of nuts from Pignut Hickory (Carya glabra) with smooth shell and Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata) with ribbed shell
Pignut Hickory nuts in husks
For more info about how to ID these two species (and also how to ID Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis), which is unpalatable), the best nutcracker to use, and some recipes to try to enjoy your harvest, please view my prior post.
While collecting my small initial harvest (shown above), I found these late season blooming beauties:
Blue-stemmed Goldenrod (Solidago caesia)
Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium)
Wrinkle-leaved Goldenrod (Solidago rugosa var. rugosa)
White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata)
Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)
Hairy White Old-field Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum) – Look closely at branches coming off main stem near bottom left of photo; each branch is perpendicular to main stem – this is a distinguishing characteristic of this species of aster.
I also spotted a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) and Barred Owl (Strix varia) flying overhead.
Happy trails!
Curious By Nature 