Along the Air Line...

APRIL 2002 (PART 2)

Dew drops on the "drip tips" of Wild Strawberry (Fragraria virginiana).

Barberry (Berberus sp.).

Sensitive fern (Onaclea sensibilis).

Jack in the Pulpit (Arisaema atrorubens).

Solomon's-Seal (Polygonatum biflorum).

Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea).

Frost on common Dandelion (Taraxacum officionale).

More frost - this time on Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta).

Shrubs and low vegetation are well along, though the trees still have only flowers or small leaves (April 24th).

Mighty oaks from tiny acorns grow?

Field Horsetail (Equisetum arvense), an ancient plant.

The Canada geese (Branta canadensis) are back, as are mallards, wood duck, bluebirds, red-winged blackbirds, and great blue herons.

A praying mantis egg case survived the winter intact. Soon, hundreds of tiny mantids will emerge from it. These are Chinese mantids (Tenodera aridofolia sinensis).

Even the poison ivy (Rhus radicans) looks good in spring.