It's August, and the amazing aroma of sweet pepper (Clethra Alnifolnia) fills the air as I bike and hike. There is nothing like filling my lung with this sasparilla-like smell.
It is a time of bouncing bett and Queen Ann's Lace along the roadside, along with some yarrow and the last of the St.Johnswort.
Starting at Windswept Cranberry Bog, I sought to hike around Stump Pond, but wound up going farther than planned...coming out at the man-made swamp on the Polpis Road. A black and white warbler near the swamp area near Almanac Pond Road was a treat.
Josh and I are out here recovering from his open heart surgery, which was necessary after the endocarditis of May and the heart block of July 8.
The lagoon at Sesachacha is larger than past years, it is not possible to jump over the inlet to get to the other side. I was searching for rose mallow, which is now blooming by the Consue Spring. The ponds are also high; I visited Jewel Pond and it is as high as I have seen it in August after the rainiest spring in many years. My weather station shows over 10 inches of rain since May (and the station only came back on line on May 6).
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Pickerel Weed t Jewel Pond |
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Pickerel weed |
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Blue Darning Needle at Jewel Pond
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Jewel Pond |
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Great Egret at Sesachacha |
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Stump Pond and Sweet Pepper |
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Lilies at Windswept Bog |
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Sickle Leaved Asters |
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Yarrow
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