Tick-tock, it's another week of phenology! Speaking of ticks, John found over a dozen deer ticks after a hike on Sunday. Ticks tend to like the 'shoulder seasons': summer is too hot and dry, and winters are (hopefully) cold enough to kill them off. As John discovered on Sunday, they've emerged from their summer dormancy and are out in big numbers. John reminds us to stay safe: tuck your pants into your socks, spray a little permethrin on your pants, and if you have tick-protective clothing, wear it! Be sure your pets are up-to-date on their vaccines, and give them some tick-repellant medicine if you're in a high-risk area. Tick-borne diseases are not fun!
John has seen several more pleasant insects, including a sulphur butterfly in a bog. He thinks it was the pink-edged sulphur, which lives entirely on the leaves of blueberry plants. It's late in the year to see one, so it's also possible it was a common or clouded sulphur butterfly. Near a lake, he saw a green darner dragonfly soaring over the cattails. Autumn meadowhawks are prevalent and stay active as late as November. If you go out looking for them, here's a handy tip: males are red, and females are gold. Also, keep an eye out for the Compton's tortoiseshell butterfly: John spotted one in his garage, likely seeking a spot in the rafters or the woodpile to overwinter. John's happy to share space with the butterflies until they emerge in March or April!
Last week, on September 28th, John recorded the first fall frost. His temperature gauge by the swamp measured 29 degrees, and the one by his house measured 31 degrees. It was chilly enough to kill off his tomato and pepper plants and kicked off a significant change in the leaves! Last week, John's maple trees were about 25%...
At this point I got sick. To summarize: John recorded peak color on Sunday 10/2, about 2 weeks later than typical. Most trees are changing color, and some are dropping leaves (looking at you, birches!). Most ferns are turning color, except for rock ferns, which stay green through the winter. He talks a bit about aspect: hillsides that face southwards get more sun, and you can expect the development of plants to happen more quickly there than on north-facing slopes. He saw these flowers blooming this week: Northern heart leaf aster, large leaf aster, black-eyed Susan, red clover, silvery sink foil, and a zigzag golden rod. Blue herons and robins have been active in the area, and he's seen his local family of trumpeter swans on the lake. He'll be watching for the return of juncos, fox sparrows, and American Tree sparrows! For more details, listen to the segment, and I'll be back in action next week! -SM
