The path around Lake Appert is muddy in places but passable. I trimmed all the droopy phrags and sawed a fallen tree trunk across the path.
Lots of Snapping Turtles out and about. Please give them a wide berth. They should not be trifled with.
Photo above taken at the turtle exclosure. (Oops, I mean the deer exclosure).
On Monday I wrote:
What does this fall-blooming flower have to do with Abe Lincoln's mother?
I learned all about this at Mike Lefebvre's wonderful Celery Farm walk on Saturday.
The murder part might be overstating the case, but I liked the alliteration.
Mike explained that Abe Lincoln's mother died from milk sickness, from drinking milk from a cow that ate a plant called White Snakeroot. Not sure if it was exactly murder, but the cow had the means and opportunity. Still working on the motive.
You can learn more about milk sickness here.
It's akin to a raptor eating a poisoned rat, then dying from the secondary poisoning.
I wrote:
After I saw a Spotted Lanternfly at High Mountain last week, I started giving unusual insects a second look.
Saw this guy near the house. I think I know what it is, and I wish I'd killed it (or at least tried to).
I post this in part as a warning to be on the lookout for strange bugs.
What is it, and why is it bad?
Diane Louie offered the correct answer: "It is a Locust Borer which feeds on Black Locust and can cause serious damage or death to the tree."
(Thanks, Diane!)
Stiles Thomas called to say The NY Times had a great story on birding yesterday. I somehow missed it.
Terrific illustrations, too.
The link is here. Thanks, Stiles!