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| Pearl Crescent on Goldenrod Aug 7 South Road near Tom Nevers |
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| Pearly Everlasting stands dot the Madaket Moors |
Seeing the goldenrod start to open makes it seem like summer is beginning to end. The beach plums and grapes are still on the bush and vine, but the early summer is gone. The pearly everlasting stands lighten the Head of the Plains.
Today I hiked Squam Farm to Squam Swamp and back to the Farm. It was 74 degrees with winds from the west at 10 mph while I walked from 4:30 to about 6 pm. The clethra is just past its peak, but the walk was so fragrant. The woods were so quiet. There were only a handful of catbirds and towhees in evidence, along with a yellowthroat chugging. A pair of kingbirds were the highlight in the huge field near the former sheep barn. I was surprised more birds weren't out taking advantage of all the insects, including lots of dragonflies. There were also a couple of blue jays, a chickadee and a group of red-winged blackbirds.
The St. Johnswort is past, but the marsh St. Johnswort (hypericum virginicum) was thriving in the wet places. And the St. Andrew's Cross (hypericum stragulum) was on the sides of the paths in abundance. A few late yarrow, achillea, and even a late ox-eye daisy could be seen. There was a clump of the native mint in the field near the barn. The black cherries are ripening, and the mockernut hickories are full of nuts. My favorite find was the "antler and spindle fungi," from the family Clavariaceae in Squam Swamp..
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| Willow-herb at the Farm |
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| Black cherry |
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| Hypericum virginicum |
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| Queen Anne's Lace |
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Antler and spindle fungi in Squam Swamp |
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