September on the Sconset Bluff

The Wood Lily, Lilium Philadelphicum,  is one of the most spectacular of Nantucket wildflowers.  I was rewarded by seeing one on the hike back toward Almanac Pond.  I took a step into the lily pond...

St. Johnswort

Meadowsweet,  Spirea Latifolia

Toothed White Top Aster,  Seriocarpus Asteroides

Norwood Farm

I hiked Norwood Farm this morning,  about 4 miles all told,  with a digression into the swamp. I still find myself heading off trail,  but it is easy to find a way back.   The starting vistas are  beautiful,  but I love  the descents into ferny wetspaces.   I found my way out to the Polpis Road and had to head back in to resume the trek to Almanac Pond.

Lots of mushrooms during the hike

At Almanac Pond

An Eastern Kingbird popped up,  and lots of towhees, robins and catbirds accompanied me on the way.

Towhees, catbirds, an Eastern Kingbird,  and balck and white warblers

High Summer

We have had many busy weekends since I last wrote,  with a trip to Berlin and biking the Baltic, and visits from Phyllis and Fox, Joe and Amy,  Bruce and Betsy,  and Sam and Mari.

 The viburnum are now done flowering,  and a few late daisies and shepherd's purse remain. The St. Johnswort  is looking a little done, while the bush clover are energetically pushing themselves up .  It is the time of the yellow baptisia and there are even a few early sickle -leaved asters.  Yarrow is blooming,  and the first Queen Anne's Lace.

Sickle Leaved Aster 

Mirror Pond

I didn't see any blueberries on the highbush blueberry at the pond,  while there are bounteous low bush berries.     I biked about and got happily lost in the area around Almanac Pond.  I wound up going down to Snake Spring,  and got in the middle of a flock of chickadees.  Three black and white warblers flitted above me  and a yellow warbler perched nearby.

July 11 - Oh What a Night!

Early June in Nantucket is Yellow...the Golden Heather on the Moors,  the Scotch Broom,  the yellow-y green as the brush leafs out.  Along the bike path,  the grass is high and the daisies are starting to pop.    In the swamp,  the great crested flycatcher and the catbirds are singing.  A downy woodpecker flew in.  Towhees  "preet."  No Jack- in- the- Pulpits yet.

Wild Geraniums in  a sun-lit spot in Squam Swamp

Cinnamon Ferns almost as tall as me!

Nantucket's only running stream

 

Golden Heather on the moors 

Hike to Pout Ponds May 24 2014

 

Pink Lady's Slipper on the Moors!  I haven't seen one in many years...

 

 

 

 

 

Swaths of Birds Foot Violets

 

 

 

Beach Plum continues to be in prime bloom

 

 

 

Huckleberry blooming as well

 

Bastard Toadflax near the ponds

Early Golden Heather  (Hudsonia Ericoides)

Blue eyed Grass

Buttercups