Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAugust 26, 2004 - Scenes from late summerThe Suffolk Times • August 26, 2004 Scenes AFTER TI IE RAINS of hurricane Charley and what they called show- ers (which were actually all -day downpours), our world is greener than green. As I sit out in the garde: alongside the pasture enjoying the spoils of a perfect day, I see the cow nearby chomping away on the tender new growth. The cows are so close I can hear the sound they make as they tear at the grass and move on. There are 10 or 20 cow birds moving about thecows. They're taking advantage Times - Review photos by Paul Stoutenburgh Left: This "varnish mushroom" was found on a decaying hem- lock stump. It gets its name from the varnished look of the upper surface. What we see is the flower of the mushroom. Above: Indian pipes are found in the shade of rich, moist woodlands. The white flower and stem seen here with its head bent down gets its name from its resemblance to a pipe. fostering healthy, aggressive young cowbirds. It scares me when I think what these 10 to 20 cowbirds will do to next years nesting birds. And this utterflies, and if you're lucky you will see the bus huibirdsymmng correct but have been handed downdevilishsceneis .being played out hroughout the countryside. the y attract as well. Remember, we have through the years. My dad used to have what he "marguerites. '. Now the cows have moved out of I focus only one species of hummingbird and that'sthat's the ruby- throated. Sorry to say, called ".I don't know if that was their real sight so on my weedy garden, and I must we only see the less colorful female. The reason we don't see thew name or if he liked to call them that because of his daughter Margaret. Atsayit's weedy. In my iris bed I can see a. few long gaudy male is that is probably showing off somewhere r any rate, I have some of his growingbythenorthfence. They grow five orpointedleavespokingup through the maze of weeds. a new female. He shuns all responsibility of rearing the six feet tall, with their clusters of bright yellow flowers. TheyWeedsalsosmotherthe dahlias I planted, but some young. Now I see ospreys cavorting over the back add much color to the garden. Like the PG hydrangeas, the marguerite have'risen above the weeds and are now blossoming, pasture. One lands on the windmill and surveys the area whileareawile the flowers now are weighing the tall plants down almost to the which makes it kind of nice for pick - ing. other two circle above Whether these are the new young screaming. ground. They, too, are doing well in the damp, wet time My bed of bee balm, which I plant ones or not I do not know. The are too far away for me to tell, but I e have just passed through. And so as I sit here in the garden Iforhummingbirds, is just about past. Now the one -inch round seed heads imagine it is a hunger call, like that of hungry children — marvel at the world around me. As I came out here today and crossed thehwillripenandfalltothegroundand make new plants for next year. One something like, Where's my fish ?" And lawn, I spotted mushrooms here and there. There were little brownplantwehavethatthrivesinthewet weather is the mallow. I have about then there are the barn swal- lows that work over the pasture. I ones, the size of quarters, a114.n a line. Then I saw some larger red 10 plants and all but one is flowering; the whites, the pinks, the reds and the could watch them all day. They are so graceful in flight as they dive and in ones with white bottoms. What we see when we look at a mushroom is combinations are showing off just fine. M hollyhock that outshoneMyy glide pursuit of insects. And oh, look, there's an interesting the flower of a plant that is working underground, g g itself by growing 10 feet into the air with its blossoms one - the chimney swift, ...as I sit living off the fungus of old shaped like a cigar, with dead roots from years ago. here in thecolumnofpinkhas passed its prime. It, too, will soon rapid wingbeats and erratic At the edge of the woods flight. It gets its name from garden 1 there are some varnishformitsbig, thick, button -like seed- pods. building its nest in deserted marvel at mushrooms that a good The one plant that is glowing bright chimneys. What did the do friend of mine just helped when they didn't have y the world us identify. These mush - yellow in the garden right now is the large clump of black-eyed Susan. g P y chimneys? They found ho1-around me.' rooms have rich brown and There's a hardy plant for you. It low trees, but now even they are hard to find. yellow tops that shine as if they were just varnished, comes up each year to spread its glow. I bought two plants of large zin- My holly tree that has been suc a prize through the years with its giving them their name varnish mushroom." They are grow - nias that grew almost like trees. We've cut dozens of flowers from red berries doesn't have a single berry onit. We ing directly out of a decaying hem - lock stump. them. The PG hydrangeas around the have always cut big sprays of holly to give away at Christmastime. Then deeper in the woods I can seegardenaredroopingwiththeweight of their large, creamy -white flower With a dusting of snow on the rich green leaves and bright berries, a clump of Indian pipes — some call them "ghosts of the summer woods." heads. They bend down, almost to the breaking point. To prevent further What a sight it has been. It startedben!rIt They have no chlorophyll. The plant is all white with a single flowerbreakingwehadtopickmanybefore the wind and rain out this year with lots of new green berries but now they have all disap- that droops to forma "pipe." As the plant came. One of the joys of any garden is to peared. I don't know what happened I did have a flock of cedar waxwin s matures and ripens, the pipes straight - en up, dry out and turn dark colored. watch the butterflies that dance around and settle for a moment on butterfly g come through. I wonder if they were the guilty ones. Cedar waxwings are They stand as sentinels through the winter. It's an interesting woodlandthebushes. We have three varieties: the purple, the pink and the great berry eaters and the may just have been he ones who stripped the Phenomenon that often catches your attention as you pass through thewhite. I must sa , the do attract the holly tree of all its berries. woods at this time of year. These Funny how you remember names or flowers terious goings on all about us makee this a wonderful place to live. It'ssomearerobablnotP too had we abuse it so much..