Hibiscus and box turtle

On the west side of the west pond there were three 1.3 meter tall hibiscus with large showy white flowers each with crimson throat and stigma. They were standing in waterlogged mud surrounded by tall sedges. I recognized the dried brown seed pods from the plant I puzzled over this past winter a few hundred meters south, at the southern end of the cattail marsh.

I took my saw early this morning to clear the hanging bumelia snag blocking the dune trail. Across the dune I cleared several logs blocking drainage below the dam.. then walked north and cleared other branches and boles accumulated across the trails since May. North toward Tall Stump; east toward the Wash, clearing old broken hackberry and branches on big live cedar leaning across the trail at Fence Corner. At Elm Bridge water was no longer flowing. A large pool of tea-stained water remained, perking with life north of the bridge but the trail crossing was dry. The southern end of the two trail connector had been nicely cleared by floodwater coursing along it parallel and west of the Wash. Westward I cleared a pecan bole (heavy wood) blocking the Trans OWP west of Hackberry Alley. The Northern Loop was in good shape. The lower southeast end had become a course for floodwater flowing from a low point in the western levee.

There are now thousands of undersized pecans on the forest floor and full sized green persimmons. Defoliating bagworms feed on young persimmon saplings in the understory.

West of tree #151 encountered a young box turtle on the trail. No other turtles, deer, rabbits, squirrels skinks etc. The herp bucket trap arrays seem to be all gone except three on the west side closest to Rudy's. The ecology multi-hoop turtle trap is still by the west pond.

After 12 dry days, with highs in the mid to upper 90's each day, the eastern and northern Woods are dry. The shaded Woods along lower Chautauqua are still wet looking. I need to check the main southwest trail.

The Woods have the feel of the start of late summer. The leaves are older and rougher.. damaged by nibbling and galls. Bag worms and their silken defoliated branches are developing in the mulberries.

Along the southern service road the big yellow grasshoppers are abundant.