Into the Woods NE Gate 17 June 8:15 AM before the storm Bill
arrives.
Dank, rich, sweet, heavy air. Old Ligustrum privet bloom perfumes the
entrance. Elephantopus, elephant’s foot has overgrown the trail..large green
leaves with no flowers.
A walnut is down across the trail at NL5, the jct of the
Northern Loop and the Rim trail. The E. Pond is very full 3.16 depth. An Ampelopsis wild
grape vine with bright green leaves hangs low over the middle of the water, fallen along
with a small dead green ash. ‘Cotton’ fluffy seed from the
Populus cottonwoods floats on the water. All the air is heavy and still.
The trails show considerable washing, cleared of organic
litter, twigs and leaves. Left me thinking again about natural hot-spots for
nutrients in the woods. Shallow low places where water collects and may
deposit extra nutrients.
The big masters of the forest, the largest old cottonwoods
are standing tall. They have seen droughts and floods before.
W. Pond at 2.55 feet depth with water extending to the next
highest stepping stone.
Three brilliant tiger beetles were scurrying along the trail
at the slope up to the southern end of the Tree Loop and along the EW fence line
trail. Unripe full green plums lay on the ground beneath the Mexican plum.
No deer or other quadrupeds spotted, although recent tracks
led south from the East Pond into the soggy Woods. White daisies and white apiacease
in bloom.
Six ticks and abundant large mosquitoes with DEET.
