8/11/2018 Ricker State Park, Groton State Forest, Groton, VT
ID: 12 ENTRY DATE: 20180811 TIME ARRIVED: 11:00:00TIME LEFT: 19:00:00
DATE COMMENT: 2nd day at Groton State Park
SUMMARY: Fine day, warm, humid. Walked along Cross Vermont Rail Trail starting from Ricker Pond State Park.
WEATHER COMMENT:
WEATHER SKYBLUE SKY PERCENTAGE: 0 WEATHER: SKY CLARITY: 0
WEATHER STATION REPORT: https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=btv
Pictures Taken For:
PICTURE POST: 0 iNaturalist: 1 OTHER: 0
ROUTE TAKEN: Walked on access road and path within Ricker Pond SP and Cross Vermont Trail going north for about a mile (and back).
TERRAIN: Ricker State Park is on gently sloping grade going generally downward from the entrance to Ricker Pond. The Cross Vermont Rail Trail is on a lower grade cutting across variable terrain that is sometimes flat, sometimes at a moderate grade.
PHENOLOGY: Area is a mixed forest that varies in composition. Balsam fir, maples, oaks, white pine were all seen. Several ground plants seen flowering.
CONVERSATIONS: Had a conversation with the ranger about 1. the ash borer signs (see Extra Notes), and, 2. the stand of dead trees as we approached the state forest from Barre through Groton. The stand died about two years ago - don't recall if they knew why.
EXTRA NOTES: Saw a sign posted on the rest room in the campground about the Emerald Ash Borer. It was found within the state forest and was one of two hot spots within Vermont. There was another sign posted on an ash tree near the lake shore that explained that the exposed area on the tree was to detect the presence of the insect.
Observations
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What
Common Evening-Primrose (Oenothera biennis)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Saw Within the Ricker Pond State Park near the Cross-VT Rail Trail
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Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found near the Cross-VT Rail Trail
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Whorled Wood Aster (Oclemena acuminata)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found along the Cross-VT Rail Trail.
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Tall Meadow-Rue (Thalictrum pubescens)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found along the Cross-VT Rail Trail.
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Common Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found along the Cross-VT Rail Trail
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Painted Trillium (Trillium undulatum)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found along the Cross-Vermont Rail Trail within Groton State Forest.
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Bluebead Lily (Clintonia borealis)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found along the Cross Vermont Rail Trail within Groton State Forest.
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Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found along the Cross Vermont Rail Trail within the Groton State Forest.
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Harvestmen (Order Opiliones)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found on a milestone-like monument along the Cross-Vermont Rail Trail within Groton State Forest
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Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found along the Cross-Vermont Rail Trail within the Groton State Forest.
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Rose Twisted-Stalk (Streptopus lanceolatus)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found along the Cross Vermont Rail Trail within the Groton State Forest.
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White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found along the Cross Vermont Rail Trail within Groton State Forest.
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Appalachian Rockcap Fern (Polypodium appalachianum)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found along the Cross Vermont Rail Trail within Groton State Forest.
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Amanita Mushrooms (Genus Amanita)Observer
ceaustinDescription
I'm making a guess based on the general size, color, and ribbing on the crown. Found along the Cross-Vermont Rail Trail within Groton State Forest.
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Ghost Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found along the Cross-Vermont Rail Trail within Groton State Forest
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Meadowhawks (Genus Sympetrum)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found along a road at the junction of the Cross Vermont Rail Trail. I only had time for the one picture before it flew on.
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Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found along a road at the intersection with the Cross Vermont Rail Trail. I had time for a couple shots before it flew on.
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Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found within the Ricker Pond State Park within Groton State Forest, by the Cross Vermont Rail Trail. I had only a moment to take this one picture before it hopped into the thicker vegetation and disappeared.
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American Pelecinid Wasp (Pelecinus polyturator)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found within the Ricker Pond State Park within Groton State Forest. I'm taking the suggestion given as it looked pretty close.
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Arabesque Orbweaver (Neoscona arabesca)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Made an ID based on the top suggestion, which looks similar. I yield to the experts which know better. Found starting to make a web off one side of our tarp at our camp site in Ricker Pond State Park. I dis-swayed it from continuing.
Photos / Sounds
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White Ash (Fraxinus americana)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found along the path between parts of the Ricker Pond State Park Campground. At the bathroom, there is a bulletin board that featured a post about the Emerald Ash Borer - it had been spotted in Groton State Forest and the area is under quarantine. This sign states that this tree, partially stripped of trunk bark, is a monitor for the insect. Yikes!
Photos / Sounds
What
Pickerelweed (Pontederia cordata)Observer
ceaustinDescription
Found along a path between two parts of the Ricker Pond State Park Campground.
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