On the Trails of IES

Trail Report for Apr. 5, 2007

The grounds opened for the season on April 1. Check the Information kiosks.
The Gifford Gardens could boast of having a flower in bloom already: a little iris.
Behind the Carriage House near the trail head, Japanese Cornelian Cherry was in blossom.
The bottom of the Old Gravel Pit was in typical form for this time of year.
The screaming red fruit of partridge berry was visible along the Cary Pines Trail.
Mind your step around trail marker 11; there is a wee stump that could catch a toe.
But it could afford you a close view of the nearby spotted wintergreen!
The foot bridge near the "Appendix", as I call the area around post 10, has survived the spring floods this year.
Bird activity was good as I moved upstream - phoebes and winter wren calling - just a glimpse of a warbler, a pine warbler?
Looking like a beached giant squid, the Old Oak lay stark among the leafless brush along the Sedge Meadow trail where it fell at the end of last season. A tree is said to be more valuable to wild life dead than alive. Let's see who visits during the coming season.
As I finally got a good view of the golden-crowned kinglets that I'd been hearing all afternoon, a pair of pheasants sneeked around behind me and across the sedge meadow.
The boardwalk across the end of the Sedge Meadow has been regularly visited in the recent past. A field guide to the scats would help interpret all the calling cards.

The sight of this last strong hold of snow brings a shudder now, but also reminds one that the Glen is a haven during the heat of summer.
The cobble was bare; I'm sure some poking would uncover new shoots, but I wanted to keep moving - and warm.
Skunk cabbage had actually started coming up in November, and was now in "bloom".
Not far behind was marsh marigold.
I can't wait!