Eloise Butler Wildflowet Garden And Bird Sanctuary issued the following announcement on Sept. 04.
What could have been one of summer’s last gasps was exhaled this week, when several sweltering, steamy days finally gave into cooler, drier weather by week’s end. Mirroring the sun’s increasingly-early sunset, the season has begun to turn, little by little.
The wetland reached a plush peak this week, with a jungle of jewelweed contrasting with myriad asters and lobelias, along with some newcomers. A sine qua non of the late season wetland, the turtleheads peeked out this week. In both red and white varieties, their proud petals really do resemble their reptilian namesakes. Swamp beggartick also bloomed in just off the boardwalk. While its modest yellow flowers are unassuming, swamp beggartick is more well-known for its seeds, which cling to unassuming wildlife and pantlegs in late fall. Meanwhile, spikenard berries ripened to a dense brownish-red throughout the woodland.
In the upland, asters continue to appear at a nearly relentless pace. This week we were joined by New England, sky blue, and white panicle asters. Notorious for their similarities, asters can be difficult to identify correctly. Despite their resistance to easy identification, asters are always reliable in their beauty and elegance. The last to bloom in the upland was white sage, whose presence has been known in the Garden since Eloise Butler planted it in 1909.
Our feathered friends can sometimes seem in short supply in August. However, this week the avians made quite a strong showing, potentially due to the already-begun fall migration. Most migratory passerines fly all night, then seek refuge during the day. Of course, the Garden’s bird sanctuary status makes it an ideal pit stop for travelling birds. A handful of warblers were spotted this week, including the black & white warbler, yellow warbler, American redstart, and the common yellowthroat. Appearances were also made by the eastern wood peewee, ruby-throated hummingbirds, and hairy woodpeckers. Surprisingly large swaths of young robins bathing in the woodland and spirited goldfinches twitting about the upland were reported as well. Cardinalidae cousins the scarlet tanager and northern cardinal rounded out this week’s birding smorgasbord.
Just like its beginning, August’s end has been, well, august. The golden hour has begun to arrive during the Garden’s open hours, transforming the landscape into a regal display rivaling that of any Hudson River School painting, syrupy golden light drenching everything, everything, everything.
-Will, Garden Naturalist
Original source can be found here.
Source: Eloise Butler Wildflowet Garden And Bird Sanctuary
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