The trail around the pond at Garden in the Woods is completely flooded, along with a few other select trails. These guys are blooming all over the place in spite of the flooded lowlands. The trilliums will look quite nice in a few days, right now they're all just potential.
Showing posts with label Garden in the Woods. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Garden in the Woods. Show all posts
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Daily Photo - Dutchman's Breeches
The trail around the pond at Garden in the Woods is completely flooded, along with a few other select trails. These guys are blooming all over the place in spite of the flooded lowlands. The trilliums will look quite nice in a few days, right now they're all just potential.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Garden in the Woods
Well, the dragonflies weren't quite as accommodating as they were yesterday, but I got some good pics.
I even started spotting newts in the Lily Pond. Once you see the first one they're everywhere. This was my best attempt out of over 20 pics. Even in bright sunlight I couldn't get a good handheld shutter speed. Thankfully there were plenty of chances.
I was disappointed that the Hop Brook Trail was closed due to storm damage, and it didn't say when it might be reopening. It is by far the best place to see Ebony Jewelwings (Calopteryx maculata). I found several on the other trails in the garden, but there was a huge number of them on that trail last year, and as the morning wears on the ones out in the garden start to vanish, I assume back to the trail.
There were a lot of very friendly frogs there as well. It is actually my preferred place for frog pictures due to the number of children and amount of traffic the pond gets. the frogs will mostly sit still through just about anything. Most Mass Audubon sites the frogs are gone before you get within 10 feet.
I'll admit it I really love these green bees. I first spotted one a few years ago in a Morning Glory, and just find them more fun to photograph than a standard bumblebee. There are apparently 4000 native bees in addition to the honeybee, so while crops will likely be collapsing with no honeybees, there will still be bees.
I think this was labeled a Arctic Iris, or some such. I know I read it on the what's blooming board, but I forgot to check the label while I was there. I should find out though, as Iris are some of my favorite plants, and it's hard to add this to my collection if I don't know what it is.
I'll probably try to go next weekend too as the Sweet Pepperbush is almost but not quite blooming.
I even started spotting newts in the Lily Pond. Once you see the first one they're everywhere. This was my best attempt out of over 20 pics. Even in bright sunlight I couldn't get a good handheld shutter speed. Thankfully there were plenty of chances.
I was disappointed that the Hop Brook Trail was closed due to storm damage, and it didn't say when it might be reopening. It is by far the best place to see Ebony Jewelwings (Calopteryx maculata). I found several on the other trails in the garden, but there was a huge number of them on that trail last year, and as the morning wears on the ones out in the garden start to vanish, I assume back to the trail.
There were a lot of very friendly frogs there as well. It is actually my preferred place for frog pictures due to the number of children and amount of traffic the pond gets. the frogs will mostly sit still through just about anything. Most Mass Audubon sites the frogs are gone before you get within 10 feet.
I'll admit it I really love these green bees. I first spotted one a few years ago in a Morning Glory, and just find them more fun to photograph than a standard bumblebee. There are apparently 4000 native bees in addition to the honeybee, so while crops will likely be collapsing with no honeybees, there will still be bees.
I think this was labeled a Arctic Iris, or some such. I know I read it on the what's blooming board, but I forgot to check the label while I was there. I should find out though, as Iris are some of my favorite plants, and it's hard to add this to my collection if I don't know what it is.
I'll probably try to go next weekend too as the Sweet Pepperbush is almost but not quite blooming.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Hunting Dragonflies
This was my prey. Ebony Jewelwing - Calopteryx maculata. It has been almost a year since I saw them last. I've only seen this critter in two locations yet, Garden in the Woods in Framingham, MA, and Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary in Norfolk MA. They're worth the search, though I still haven't managed a great picture yet. They like hiding in the darkest areas. Basically sunlit trails. Easiest place to find them is on the Curtis Trail in Framingham, but bring the mosquito spray. I found a dozen or so but paid for each one with a bite.
Other dragonflies were less shy, the meadowhawks in particular. I convinced several to sit on my fingers by slowly moving it up behind them and they just moved their feet to perch on me instead. They'll even stay still with a camera less than an inch from their faces. Makes for an easy subject.
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