Walton Woods Lower Trail

January

February
Picture
Observations:
Observations:
Tiny false mermaid sprouts just under the leaf litter.

March

Early April
Picture
Observations:
Cooper's hawk, winter creeper, greenbriar, garlic mustard greens, flies, false mermaid sprouts, black squirrel, red bellied woodpecker, loud titmouse, bluejays, sound of ground thawing, bedstraw(Cleaver), wild chives
Observations:

Late April

Early May
Picture
Observations:
Blooms:
cutler toothwort, garlic mustard in bud, dutchman's breeches flower and seed, false mermaid blooming

Other:
​Mockingbird, bluejay, redbellied wp, bumblebee, robin, maple tree flowering, geranium greens, burning bush leafs flower bud, elm seeds, mayapple plant opening, trout lily greens, 
Observations:
Blooms:
multiflora (rust), geranium, burning bush, honeysuckle, bedstraw (cleaver)

Other:
​Thrush, catbird, flicker, yellow throated warbler, redstart, vireo, Oriole, mosquitoes, question mark butterfly, chestnut tree full leaf, tulip tree full leaf, oak tree starting to leaf out, maple full leaf, fleabane

Late May

June
Observations:
Blooms:
Greanium, spring beauty, dame's rocket, wild blue phlox, mayapple, garlic mustard, Solomon's plume, groundsel, oriental bittersweet, fleabane, Virginia waterleaf, cinquefoil

Other:
​WOODCOCK!, end of mayapples, fruits forming on burning bush, oriental bittersweet growing out of control, robin on nest over trail, forest deep dark green, mosquitoes out, cleaver in seed, toads everywhere, interrupted fern full and fertilities, sedges pointy and fruiting
Observations:
Blooms:
jewelweed, smartweed

Other:
Virginia Knotweed getting tall

July

August
Observations:
​Virginia Knotweed, st john's wort, and large creamy cluster of fungi. Plenty of mosquitoes to keep you moving.
Observations:
Ironweed, Pokeweed ripe with fruit, deptford pink, queen Anne's lace, crown vetch, Virginia knotweed, mugwort, water horehound in bloom, burning bush in seed (green)

Early October

November
October is such a unique month. It will go from lush green to bold reds and golds to empty trees in one month flat!
Currently out at Walton Woods many leaves have fallen but everything up in the trees is still bright green. Do these fallen leaves fall green then turn brown? Do they turn one by one on the tree and fall, taking turns "there goes Joe, it's your turn to turn and fall Suz!"? "WHEEEEE" - Suz
Most everything that blooms has bloomed and is either in seed or turning. The clearweed (Pilea pumila) is finishing its bloom with a ghostly clear/yellow coloring (see in the photos below), and the White Baneberry (Actaea pachypoda) still has a few doll-eye-like fruits. 
The fungi, however, is having a wonderful time, especially after that rain we had. 
Observations:
Burning bush is a surreal pink and green (last year the frost must have hit it before peak).
Tree has fallen at the burning bush photo spot. It has been long dead - rotted roots - abundant poison ivy.
Eastern bluebirds high in the trees.
Snow clinging to the shadows.
Maple leaves (Norway Maple) are still green but look very uncomfortable - crisp from the cold.

December

Observations: 
The Smilax and winter creeper seems to be the only green in the park.
Turkey tail is looking fresh and full (is this its peak season?).
Leaves and most berries are off of the burning bush. Privet is still holding berries.
Lots of bird activity, spotted a nuthatch, cardinal, many others I couldn't ID.
Lichen is very fruticose (where applicable) 
Big oak tree by the road has come down recently (last big windstorm?) the upper branches are brushing the trail.
​A few other trees are down too - notably leaving the woods one tree broke off just above its burl. ​