equinox

I just missed stepping on this one - mushrooms have been relatively scarce this year.

Is this why so many leaves are chewed off?

Mikania, climbing hempvine

Parasitic pinhead-size Cuscuta climbs the pathweeds.

The seldom seen Lygodium palmatum (Hartford fern) is our only native climbing fern, similar to the introduced Lygodium japonica which is invasive in the deep deep south.

Sporty beetle on Schizachyrium stalk

This is the time for Bidens, most of them with no ray flowers.

This is the showiest Bidens, abundant on the banks of Hop River.

The organic apples taste fine if you can find a good spot to bite into.

Asparagus berries are poisonous!

other signs of late september

This chestnut is on Wangumbaug Road, the lady of the house said it's the blight-resistant Asian type her father planted many moons past. I sure would like to find a fruiting American chestnut.






















The Prenanthes along the roadside are very inconspicuous and always nodding.

Fallen acorns in the muck of the marsh perhaps from a white oak, though I couldn't seem to spot its mother along the margin.

red maple (Acer rubrum)

signs of late september

This is my invisible companion of the day.
























Three fruits: Ilex (winterberry), Celastrus (bittersweet), and Vitis (grape).

The Clematis (virgin's bower) is going to seed

but here's one still blooming!

As I was coming out onto the road, this mama was speeding across the pavement with all her babies in tow.