An Afternoon Walk at the Fairfield Audubon
I took an extended walk through the Fairfield Audubon on Sunday 17 September.
Walked the Deer Trail and other side trails. A link to the trail map.
Here's a picture of a Crested Wood Fern, Dryopteris cristata. This is the only location where there is a complete specimen, and even this one did not have sori. I have only found two other locations of Crested Wood Fern.
This fern is right next to one of ponds nears the entrance and on the main trail.
There are many areas of the Fairfield Audubon has large expanses of Princess Pine, Flat-Branched Tree Clubmoss, Dendrolycopodium obscurum.
This patch of Princess Pine is in the Fragrance Loop behind the new deer fencing. (Picture taken in spring. Not in September)
A close-up from the Fragrance Loop, also in the spring time.
This solitary D obscurum was farther down the trail. Picture part of the afternoon walk.
Found this mushroom on a side trail near a small stream.
At a large pile of cut logs along the Deer Trail. This was one of many mushrooms growing on the pile.
This field of ferns is along the Deer Trail. Due to all the summer rain, the under story is filled with ferns where the water can sit for a while. Ferns due like damp to wet feet. This is probably a field of Hay-scented Fern, Dennstaedtia punctilobula, as it can spread aggressively.
The Deer Meadow did not disappoint. One could hear the bees buzzing all along the meadow.
Here's the best specimen of Osmunda spectabilis, Royal Fern, at the Fairfield Audubon. Its feet at constantly wet and it has lots of room to grow.
Saw a few Ghost Pipes, Monoflora unitropa. Ghost Pipes are a type of plant that has no chlorophyll. It gets its nutrients from tree roots via an intermediate myccorhizal fungi. More information here.
Finally a pond picture.
A long walk around the Fairfield Aububon along the Deer Trail and other side trails. Was good weather. Learned a bit about taking pictures in tree covered areas. Not as much light as one would think. Had to set the camera to 1/60th and get the f-stop I could get.
Didn't see any new ferns. Will have to search harder next time.
Keith