nature

April 27, 2024, Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary Wildflowers

I went back to Mariton early this morning to see what was new in the way of wildflowers. Jack-in-th-Pulpit are all over the trails. I really love this plant. I couldn’t help but photograph almost every one I saw. I was hoping to see more birds today, but not much luck. Of course I was looking down at the flowers most of my walk so I’m sure I missed quite a few. Lots of Trillium starting to bloom along the trail. There’s a nice patch of Large White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) in the first quarter mile of the main trail. I spent a good portion of the morning and early after noon wandering the steep hillside, listening to the birds and searching for flowers. I’ll be back next weekend to see what’s new.

April 8, 2024, Cloudy Solar Eclipse at Woodland Hills Preserve

Today was the Solar Eclipse. I knew there wouldn’t be much to see in the way of views with all the cloud coverage, but I took a walk anyway. I drove to Woodland Hills Preserve which is mostly open fields and wetlands. The red-winged blackbirds are back in full force and the cherry trees are blossoming. Totality was approximately 3:20 PM EDT. The sky became dark, and I was able to capture just a slight glimpse of the eclipse with video shot on my cell phone. Not much in the way of views, but it was still an enjoyable time.

January 18, 2024, Thursday, Janet Johnston Housenick and William D. Housenick Memorial Park

Late afternoon observations at the Janet Johnston Housenick and William D. Housenick Memorial Park. The time was approximately 5 pm, 27 degrees with overcast skies. The park was quiet. I only saw one other person out in the snow walking their dog. The air was cold and damp; the kind that chills you to the bone. It’s been a while since I’ve seen the sun. The east coast seems to be very stingy with its sunshine this time of year. A layer of snow blanketed the ground making it seem even colder. Brown tones of bark and decaying leaves stand out against the icy blue of early evening. Everything is quiet and still except for the sound of the distant traffic.