Saturday morning after a windy day and night, a not-quite frosty cold has returned. I returned to the Woods through the NE Gate to see what was happening. The Tree Loop was in good shape and other trails had no down trees, only smaller branches. The yellow-crowned night heron (one at least) had returned to the NW Pond and was warming in the morning sun in its favorite SW corner. The Main SW trail has finally dried all the way through the Beaver Dam. Soil is sodden just, short of muddy but no standing water there. Good to avoid mosquito development.
Along the Northern Loop all four of the invasive Ailanthus tree of heaven saplings had early leaves dead and hanging from the cold 25 F a few days ago. Bradford pear leaves on Pipeline Trail also seem to have had some (less) damage. Young, just emerging leaves of pin oaks also look damaged.
On the forest floor, the green is spreading.. Polygonum pink lady's thumb and Elephantopus elephant's foot's larger green leaves are common. Understory box elder are opening small leaves. The green closing-in of the forest is beginning.. slowly. No deer to be seen, but good population of robins foraging. There were many symphonies of songs and squeaks in the trees with the wind this morning. Many leaning trees dead or live with the strong winds produce a chorus of many voices in the Woods. New trail from Hackberry Alley to Big Tree Grove, blue flagged.
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