6 July
Summer has definitely arrived in the Hamilton Forest and Wetlands. The distinctively warm light on the vegetation signals the change.
The very durable foamflower continues to bloom.
Although described as common, ghost pipe hasn't been evident in the Forest for the past three years. This year there is an abundant patch of it near the path.
Pojar and MacKinnon file ghostpipes under their heading, "Oddballs," and indeed they are. As the photos show, the plant has no chlorophyll, gaining its nourishment from mycelium beneath the ground. It typically appears in a spell of warm weather after a rain--not so in this case--it's been warm and dry. They seem to be abundant this year; reports and photos are appearing throughout the region.
This big trillium is fruiting, its flowering completed. Two other, smaller, younger, trilliums are visible in the photo above and below it.
The blow-down about the nurse stump that has appeared in many earlier blogs persists, its branches continuing to shift. The huckleberry growth is developing.
The water level in the Marsh is sinking, as it does in the summer months.
Unfortunately, it appears that this is an extremely dry season, even for this area, which is in a rain shelter. We can but hope...
Meanwhile, avian life continues its visits. A flock of cedar waxwings perched on a distant alder.
Alas, the bullfrog population is growing. This young frog will, unless it meets with predation, grow into a huge and destructive creature, devouring other marsh inhabitants. For now, however, it's still kind of cute, in a froggy sort of way.
...and that is the news from the Forest and Wetlands as the summer moves in. We'll look for more detail next week.
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