Shinleaf and Spotted Wintergreen in flower

The low growing white flowered ericads Pyrola elliptica and Chimaphila maculate are in full flower here at AF.

Shadbush Season: four species of Amelanchier in flower, April 21st

Four species of Amelanchier occur naturally at AF:

(in order of first flowers, from April 9 - 21)

A. arborea

A. canadensis

A. laevis

A. nantucketensis

These species can be easily confused and hybrids are known to occur as well. The Nantucket Shadbush is newly identified at AF and is an interesting plant in that its petals produce pollen. A. arborea and A. canadensis look similar, the former tends to have a single trunk (tree-like), the latter many stems (shrub-like). Sepal characters also distinguish these two. A. laevis has glabrous (hairless) leaves that appear reddish when in flower, while the two previous species have hairy or pubescent leaves that appear whitish when in flower. Shadbush will continue to flower for another couple weeks.

 

First Wood Frog Chorus heard, March 24th

The first chorus of wood frogs was heard at Aton Forest, Norfolk, CT, today (3/24) around 3:30 pm. Also, one peeper was heard at a beaver pond today. In past years the first wood frog calls were heard on 3/31/2009, 4/9/2008, and 4/18/2007. Yellow-spotted salamanders began moving during the rains Monday night (3/22). I counted 11 (and 1 dead peeper) along a 2-mile stretch of road through AF during a half-hour period. No other salamanders or frogs were seen. Norfolk, CT is the coldest place in CT and usually the last to hear wood frogs. We still have ice on some ponds and vernal pools and patches of snow in shady spots.