Looky, but no touchy

A couple of plants are now beginning to bloom and it's important that you learn to recognize each.

Poison Ivy

Wild Parsnip

Once you know how to recognize them, please be aware of each while you are out and about enjoying nature over the next few months.

For more info, please read my recent posting on my blog, Curious By Nature.

Hope this helps.  Happy trails!

An Obscure Find

The trail through the Mooney Carrese Forest at Veterans Memorial Park continues to surprise and delight me with each visit.  This beautiful and serene woodland is a worthy destination for nature observation.  In addition to the variety of deciduous trees accompanying the white pine and eastern hemlock, there is a continuing parade of blooming wildflowers dotting and, at times, carpeting the forest floor.  Several interesting water features also crisscross the woodland trail.  I routinely hear or see wood ducks and mallards during my visits.

I am conducting a wildflower inventory at this property.  During my visit Thursday afternoon, I spied a small gathering of these -

Wild Calla has the scientific name of Calla palustris, which means "obscure, of marshes."  I was very pleased to come across this obscure find!  This beautiful plant is coming into full bloom now.

Happy trails!