What a day to be outside....sun and above 40! Snow was melting and out at Mable Reynolds there were an amazing amount of animal tracks ranging from large ones to these small ones. Happy New Year to all!

Christmas vacation is great. I can walk the trails before it is getting dark. We saw signs of a squirrel hunter today at Guppy Farm. People do hunt this area all year round. The waterfall in winter.

We found lots of flocks of robins today scattered around pockets of water seeping up in spots on the O'Loghlin hillside. They and the deer had been scratching in the wet leaves in these areas.

Finally had time today to get back on conservation area lands. Although I've been told not to worry about hunters on the properties I avoid walking in the woods during deer season.

The snow had been packed down in a nice walking trail by snowshoes at the O'Loughlin property. The big hemlocks blocked some of the wind we would've felt walking up on the west facing ridge at the federal farm. Much rabbit activity was noted under rose and berry bushes. Nice to be in the woods again.

Still learning about ferns. This one is a wood fern. It stays green most of the winter and grows in a vase-like clump.

I love coming up to Guppy Falls on a rainy day to look at the waterfall.

On Saturday a bunch of workers from the conservation area committee helped to cut down invasive species such as buckthorn, daphne, and honeysuckle. We also rerouted the trail around the fallen tree on the trail up to Guppy Falls. Also on the trail are these witch hazels blooming now.

After the rail, the water is running quite well. This picnic table was built by the YCIP students from LaFayette this summer. Grab your cider and apples: this is a beautiful spot for a fall picnic.

We drove up to the Reynolds Nature Preserve as Greg and Dave were leaving. They had just mapped out a new trail which loops through the eastern part of the property. You can follow the old tractor trail all the way to the east and then the newly scoped out trail turns to the north and loops around. A great walk and could be a great place to cross-country ski in the winter. Hopefully some volunteers will be cutting the trail in the near future.

As we walked in there were many apple trees we walked by. The one that caught our eye was the crab apple with the gorgeous eye popping red apples.

Just a reminder to all who use the conservation lands that bow season starts on Oct. 16th.

Fall and spring are probably my favorites for walking through the woods. The colors are ever-changing and small things can be stunning.

The trails are crunchy with fallen dry leaves today. Virginia creeper is providing the best reds in the wood at the moment.

We walked through the fields at the Federal Farm today and were treated to golden rod and asters which came up to our shoulders. The honey bees were busy but the monarch butterflies stole the show.

The woods are taking on autumnal smells. Quite a bit of color around due to late summer blooming flowers. One is the white snakeroot. The little flowers look like small explosions.

It was looking like the beginnings of fall today up at the Federal Farm. The hawthorne fruit was a beautiful color of red orange.

The boardwalk across the wetlands on the Bob Sykes trail were alive with these dragonflies today. If you stopped they would come rather close allowing me to take a picture.

Saw these giant puff balls at the Guppy Farm last week when I didn't have my camera with me. I was happy to find another today. My car keys are in the foreground for scale.

The grasshoppers crossed the walkway on the Bob Sykes Trail before me today. At the far edge are a number of great lobelia's in bloom.

On a more disturbing note, someone felt the need to cut the lock off the chain at the entrance to the Federal Farm and drive in. If someone witnesses vandalism please call the county sheriff, Janet Aaron, the town clerk or notify me. Too many people have put in time to create and maintain these beautiful areas to allow vandalism occur unnoticed.

Always something to look at- even if it is small.

After the rain, the fungi come out. This one is spindle coral, I think.

This is one of the many wooden structures that have been built due to the generosity of Bob Sykes. He has milled the wood and donated it the town to build many bridges, walkways and tables on town conservation lands. Tonight he will be honored by the Skaneateles Town Board for this gift.

Back from vacation and the deer flies are gone...what a treat! The slug was having a meal on the fungi.

After the rains of Friday, the fungi are really blooming. What color!

This picture was taken on Friday during WelchAllyn's Community Day. These are some of the wonderful volunteers who braved the inclement conditions to take care of the conservation area lands. Thanks to all and especially to Jim Colvin who organized this project with Bill Pavlus.

This family of geese were enjoying the higher water levels due to the rain last night. Wet and slippery walking on the trails. The bridge at the O'Loughlin property looked great after being repaired by our friends from WelchAllyn!

Yesterday, many people from WelchAllyn worked hard helping out the conservation areas by trimming, weed whacking, and replacing boards on a vandalized bridge. Their help was tremendous especially considering the downpour they worked through. The work crew was led by Bill Pavlus and Dick Marx who spend countless hours making the conservation areas an amazing resource for all, Our heart felt thanks go out to all the workers!

Some ferns look so much alike that identification has been hard for me. I believe this picture is a Hay scented fern. The clue to the identification were the little nest shaped sori on the underside of he frond.

Continuing on with ferns, I spotted these Maidenhair ferns along the cliff trial at Guppy Farm today. Another easy fern to identify due to its unique shape.

Also wanted to mention for all those people who like to hike, the meadows near the woods at the Camillus Unique Area off Thompson Road are awash with wildflowers. Hiked there yesterday and was amazed at the beauty of these fields. Saw many kinds of rudebekia, poppies, queen anne's lace, and coreopsis. Definitely worth a visit.

This is what the fishing derby is all about.

Fern of the day is the Christmas Fern. Good way to remember this one is that each individual leaflets look like a Christmas stocking. It is also green all year round which makes it easy to spot.

Thought I would blog a bit about ferns, mostly so I could learn more about them too. The fern today is the sensitive fern one of the easiest to identify.

Found this painted turtle crawling across the driveway of the Federal Farm We helped him into the weeds on the side.

If the deer flies didn't bother you today, the walking was fine with a lovely breeze in the cool woods. The wild leeks are nothing but a small fireworks on a stalk now.

This morning 16 volunteers worked on cat tail eradication to help make it easier for our young friends at the upcoming Fishing Derby sponsored by the Skaneateles Area Advisory Committee on July 10th. Ages 4-15 are welcome to try to find the big fish that lurk in the pond. Thanks to all of the workers.

The fields at the Federal Farm were a colorful carpet of wildflowers today.

There is nothing like a walk in the woods after work to help melt away the days stresses. These charming partridge berries were blooming alongside the Bob Sykes Trail.

Stunningly clear afternoon. Met up with two of our committee members at the beginning of my walk who were getting DEC approval for a wheelchair accessible platform that will be built this summer at the O'Loughlin property. Always makes me thinks of the Adirondaks at this spot.

Squishy walking today with the sounds of the Guppy stream rushing down the stream bed. The greens were made more vibrant
by the water.

Also noticed the remnants of turtle eggs in the crumbly shale that had become dinner for a skunk or raccoon.

We went to the O'Loghlin property today and were treated to a stand of blue flags by the gate.

Hot day in the forest. Deer flies followed us as we strolled up to Guppy Falls. We heard and then saw a red bellied woodpecker in the woods. Went to the Cornell ornithology site, http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Red-bellied_Woodpecker/id, to listen to the call of this woodpecker. We saw this little blue eyed grass hiking up to the falls. Spring wildflowers have given way to blackberry flowers wherever a little sun gets to the forest floor.

Hot day, but much cooler in the woods. Scared up two deer beating the heat under a tree. The may apples are looking pretty good.

Saw this pretty bush on the trail up to the waterfall at the Guppy Farm. Does anyone know what this is? Met up with four people near the waterfall. One was climbing the falls and two were at the top. As we we talked to one of them the boy climbing the falls slid down ten feet or so bringing quite a lot of debris along the side. It is not a good idea to climb the falls from an erosion or safety viewpoint.

Under the hemlocks on the O'Loughlin property many star flowers are blooming.

This poor turtle had been hit by a car before I saw him on Gully Road. I picked the turtle up and moved it to the side of the road where it moved off into the brush. I don't know if the cut on the shell will heal but certainly hope so.

The brilliant sunshine of high pressure today, looking much warmer than it felt. Good amount of water going over Guppy Falls today. Ferns are unfurling all over the place.

Mother's Day 2010 and we awoke to snow! Walked the Bob Syke's trail this afternoon and saw many new leaves down from yesterday's wind. The honeysuckle looked nice although the smell was diminished due to the cool temperature.

Today had it all but warmth: snow, gropple, a little sun, and rain. On Saturday at 9am we will be hosting our annual wild flower walk with Greg MacGee leading the walk from the Guppy Farm kiosk. It is also opening day of turkey season. The walk will take place along the gully trail and Greg will warn any hunters before hand. If you go, you will see this long spurred violets growing along the trail.

Many patches of May apples are up and budding.

A showy carpet of trillium await all who walk the waterfall trail at Guppy Farm. It is a truly beautiful display in areas on either side of the trail.

I need help from the viewers of the blog. I know these two masses are the spawn of some sort of frog or salamander but which is which? Any ideas? Please remember that while I do this posting I am hoping to start a dialog with all who use the conservation areas and what they are experiencing. This is for all of us to share sitings.

These little spring beauties (a fitting name) were blooming today on the southwest facing slope going up the hill on the red trail at the O'Loughlin property.