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.

Posted on October 14, 2018 01:09 AM by ceaustin ceaustin

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Evening-Primrose (Oenothera biennis)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 12:59 PM EDT

Description

Saw Within the Ricker Pond State Park near the Cross-VT Rail Trail

Photos / Sounds

What

Hobblebush (Viburnum lantanoides)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 01:00 PM EDT

Description

Found near the Cross-VT Rail Trail

Photos / Sounds

What

Whorled Wood Aster (Oclemena acuminata)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 01:13 PM EDT

Description

Found along the Cross-VT Rail Trail.

Photos / Sounds

What

Tall Meadow-Rue (Thalictrum pubescens)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 01:20 PM EDT

Description

Found along the Cross-VT Rail Trail.

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 01:31 PM EDT

Description

Found along the Cross-VT Rail Trail

Photos / Sounds

What

Painted Trillium (Trillium undulatum)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 01:34 PM EDT

Description

Found along the Cross-Vermont Rail Trail within Groton State Forest.

Photos / Sounds

What

Bluebead Lily (Clintonia borealis)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 01:41 PM EDT

Description

Found along the Cross Vermont Rail Trail within Groton State Forest.

Photos / Sounds

What

Canada Mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 01:41 PM EDT

Description

Found along the Cross Vermont Rail Trail within the Groton State Forest.

Photos / Sounds

What

Harvestmen (Order Opiliones)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 01:46 PM EDT

Description

Found on a milestone-like monument along the Cross-Vermont Rail Trail within Groton State Forest

Photos / Sounds

What

Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 01:48 PM EDT

Description

Found along the Cross-Vermont Rail Trail within the Groton State Forest.

Photos / Sounds

What

Rose Twisted-Stalk (Streptopus lanceolatus)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 01:50 PM EDT

Description

Found along the Cross Vermont Rail Trail within the Groton State Forest.

Photos / Sounds

What

White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 01:56 PM EDT

Description

Found along the Cross Vermont Rail Trail within Groton State Forest.

Photos / Sounds

What

Appalachian Rockcap Fern (Polypodium appalachianum)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 02:00 PM EDT

Description

Found along the Cross Vermont Rail Trail within Groton State Forest.

Photos / Sounds

What

Amanita Mushrooms (Genus Amanita)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 02:29 PM EDT

Description

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.

Photos / Sounds

What

Ghost Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 02:32 PM EDT

Description

Found along the Cross-Vermont Rail Trail within Groton State Forest

Photos / Sounds

What

Meadowhawks (Genus Sympetrum)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 02:40 PM EDT

Description

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.

Photos / Sounds

What

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 02:42 PM EDT

Description

Found along a road at the intersection with the Cross Vermont Rail Trail. I had time for a couple shots before it flew on.

Photos / Sounds

What

Pickerel Frog (Lithobates palustris)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 02:54 PM EDT

Description

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.

Photos / Sounds

What

American Pelecinid Wasp (Pelecinus polyturator)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 02:58 PM EDT

Description

Found within the Ricker Pond State Park within Groton State Forest. I'm taking the suggestion given as it looked pretty close.

Photos / Sounds

What

Arabesque Orbweaver (Neoscona arabesca)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 05:36 PM EDT

Description

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

What

White Ash (Fraxinus americana)

Observer

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 06:53 PM EDT

Description

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

ceaustin

Date

August 11, 2018 06:54 PM EDT

Description

Found along a path between two parts of the Ricker Pond State Park Campground.

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