David Reik, Photo Blog

 I visited the various preserves in the vicinity Weir Farm on 2021-5-7, 2021-5-13, and 2021-5-18.  Here's a link to an interactive map I made which has location numbers that I'll refer to:  https://arcg.is/1qLeqC  .  Here's a static screenshot of the southern part of the interactive map. Here's a static screenshot of the northern part of the interactive map. 1.  A somewhat overgrown green-blazed trail met Nod Hill Road in Wilton.  There didn't seem to be any good parking opportunities here. 2.  A green frog (Lithobates clamitans) on the green trail.  You can tell this is a green frog and not a bull frog by the ridge going straight back from the frog's eye. Near 2.  The newly emerged leaves of a sweet pepperbush shrub (Clethra alnifolia) were bronze. Near 2.  Parts of the green trail were wet, but there were lots of conveniently located stones. 3. A dwarf ginseng, (Panax trifolius) plant on a blue-blazed trail. Near 3 on the blue tra...

 On 2021-5-26, I hiked from Simsbury Town Forest to Onion Mountain in Canton, and back.  Here's a link to an interactive map that has location numbers that I will refer to: https://arcg.is/1e9HKH  .  Here's a static screenshot of the interactive map. 1.  A map of Simsbury Town Forest was posted near where I parked.  I only hiked a small part of Simsbury Town Forest before I headed westerly into Massacoe State Forest and further westerly into Canton and up onto Onion Mountain. 2.  In Massacoe State Forest, the trails were narrow with blowdowns, but I managed to follow trails westerly towards Onion Mountain.  At 2, I saw a box turtle. 2. 3.  Some say that pitch pines are rare in Connecticut.  I don't think so. 4.  As I started to climb Onion Mountain, I noticed this American Cancer-Root, Conopholis americana, plant.  As I proceeded southerly, I saw many more of these plants.  These plants have flowers but no chlorophyll...

 I visited Bradley Park in Wilton on 2021-5-6 and 2021-5-7.  I made an interactive map of Bradley Park with location numbers that I will refer to.  Here's a link to the interactive map:  https://arcg.is/0TWeqz 1.  Where I parked on 2021-5-6,  in a turning circle at the end of Oakledge Lane.  2.  I took a picture of a Canada mayflower here. 3.  This observation pier, now in ruins, was once a prime attraction at Bradley Park. Near 3.  This plaque was recently recovered from obscuring vegetation, I was told by a local.  Maybe the observation pier will be rebuilt. 4.  There was a yellow-blazed trail here that traveled through a field of boulders to a residential development of some kind. 5.  These flowers on an autumn olive plant (an invasive shrub) had a nice smell.  This was at the end of another trail that led to a residential development. 6.  One of the few fallen trees on the Bradley Park trails.  This was ...