Autumn Ramble 1

Across the meadow at the entrance to Halibut Point State Park a stately evergreen gains reciprocal magnificence from a backdrop of fall foliage.

White fir

Although temperatures have been in the fifties and sixties, seasonal coloration in the landscape has been particularly vivid.  I'd always heard that cold weather is necessary to promote a good display.

Little bluestem grass

Low-angled sunlight in the morning  plays with delicacies on the quarry rim.

Black oak

Variegated leaves frame the grander panorama with the satisfaction of sympathetic forms and colors.

Tupelo

Skyward, fruit is maturing in the tupelo trees.

Cape May warbler, female

Some of the birds that migrated through  northward in the spring are returning in subdued plumage en route to tropical wintering, having shed the brilliant feathers of the breeding season. 


Showy goldenrod

The goldenrod stalks that so recently gave the moors spectacular flowers call for admiration of their own diaphanous intricacies. 


Staghorn sumac

I'm led to wonder, is this sense of beauty coming from the thing itself, the quality of the light, or the processes of my mind?

Orange grass, St. Johnswort

Progressive coloration within a patch of Orange grass illustrates the effort of the more drought-stressed plants on the thinnest soil to complete their full life cycle.

Birch, blueberry, oak

Adjacent pond water brings fortunate plants to prosperity.

Bittersweet

Twining oppressively through shrubs and trees, the prolific fruiting of non-native bittersweet demonstrates why the vine is cherished as an ornamental and despised as an invasive.

Bittersweet

On the shoreline its robust nature has free rein to less complicated judgments.

Coastal Watch, Part 1

 

After months of absorbing summer sunlight the North Atlantic  Ocean is releasing its energy in weather and waves. The seasonal change brings diverse migrating birds to the Halibut Point shoreline.

White-winged scoters

 

Black scoters

 

Surf scoters

 

Juvenile Mute swans

 

Common loon

 

Female Red-breasted mergansers

 

Common eiders

 

Harlequin ducks

 

Sanderlings

 

Northern gannets

 
 
 

Goldenrod Distinctions

Of the thirty or so species of goldenrod (Solidago) on our continent, at least nine can be found at Halibut Point. They're bright, beautiful, and hard to tell apart. Newcomb's Wildflower Guide has been a helpful source for the clues presented below.

 

(1) Tall goldenrod, S. altissima

Since the individual  flowers are tiny and very similar in appearance, leaves and stems often provide easier keys to identification. Tall goldenrod falls with a group whose leaves are more or less uniform in size and shape the whole length of the stem, or are gradually reduced in size from base to top.

 

Tall goldenrod, S. altissima (detail of photo)

In the case of Tall goldenrod (1), the photo shows that its leaves are three-veined, with two prominent veins running parallel to the midrib. The leaves are remotely toothed, rough above, downy underneath.

(2) Sweet goldenrod, S. odora

Sweet goldenrod (2) is similar but its leaves are not noticeably veined, and their edges are smooth. The leaves are usually anise-scented when bruised.

(3) Elliott's goldenrod, leaf detail

The leaves of Elliott's goldenrod are broader, rougher, and distinctively toothed leaf edges.

Elliott's goldenrod, S. elliottii

(4) Rough-stemmed goldenrod, S. rugosa

Those descriptors fit the Rough-stemmed goldenrod as well. However, the bristly nature of the stems sets this species apart.

Rough-stemmed goldenrod, detail

(5) Showy goldenrod, S. speciosa

Showy goldenrod is yet another species with uniformly-sized leaves.

Showy goldenrod, S. speciosa

 It's flower cluster is unmistakably  large and branching. As the the last species to bloom on Halibut Point, it is particularly satisfying to the eye and to hungry insects.

(6) Grass-leaved goldenrod, S. graminifolia

Grass-leaved goldenrod also branches at the top, forming flattish flower clusters. Its namesake leaves are very narrow.

(7) Early goldenrod, S. Juncea

A separate classification of goldenrods produces flowers in curved, one-sided clusters. Species in this group have basal and lower leaves considerably larger than the upper ones. On Early goldenrod they are sharply toothed, lance-shaped, and tapering gradually to the base.

(8) Gray goldenrod, S. nemoralis

On similar-looking Gray goldenrod the basal leaves are bluntly or obscurely toothed. The stems and leaves are grayish and fine-hairy.

(9) Seaside goldenrod, S. sempervirens

Seaside goldenrod, also with curved, one-sided flower clusters, produces smooth succulent leaves that help it to survive desiccation in windy, salty locations with undependable fresh water.

Seaside goldenrod, S. sempervirens

By appearance and niche the Seaside goldenrod is the easiest to identify and one of the hardiest plants on the shoreline.

Goldenrod and Granite

A photographic tour around the Babson Farm Quarry, Halibut Point State Park, highlighted by Showy goldenrod Solidago speciosa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Goldenrod to Taste

The last and brightest floral display at Halibut Point comes from goldenrods. In a year of good rains and warm temperatures such as the we've had, this genus produces a considerable amount of nectar for its exchange of favors with insects: pollination for food. To many insects it's the last great banquet to prepare them for migration, hibernation, renewal and death.

Goldenrods give naturalists an opportunity to see certain insects at close range for a moment. These photographs were taken in the last week of September. Chris Leahy has been very helpful with identifications.

American copper butterfly, wings tattered by its short lifetime of exertions.

A Noctuid moth, of which there are many species of similar appearance

Snout moth, wings furled

Painted lady butterflies

A time-worn Painted lady

Bluebottle fly

Eurasian honey bee



Carpenter bee



European paper wasp

Common paper wasp