Overview: Join us on the first of four hikes with Volunteer Naturalist Fred Losi to experience the seasonal variations of Sagamore Creek. We will repeat this route in three future hikes in 2020. Today’s hike will include a visit to two beautiful frozen waterfalls. Please dress appropriately for expected weather conditions.
Yesterday, we had a great ‘Winter Season’ experience, exploring the area around Sagamore Creek. Although expected seasonally cold temperatures weren't present to freeze the waterfalls, the area was still quite beautiful. We enjoyed the day very much and look forward to the April Woodlands of Bedford, when we will return to see the same area during the Spring Season. Below are a few items of interest.
- We noted a juvenile Great Blue Heron in the waterway and observed it catching and eating a small fish. Here is our full eBird checklist.
- We were able to investigate three very interesting plants, all ferns or relatives. On the upper trail, just west of Alexander Falls, we discovered Shining Clubmoss, Huperzia lucidula. On an elevated area, just east of where the trail hits Sagamore Road, we discovered both Bronze Fern, Sceptridium dissectum obliquum and Fan Clubmoss, Diphasiastrum digitatum.
- The sap exuding from the entire lower section of the Black Cherry Tree, Prunus serotina, is called Gummosis. This sugary sap is almost entirely polysaccharides and can be caused by many different conditions such as insects, fungal infection and others. A good writeup on the subject was published by Purdue called Causes of Gummosis in Black Cherry.
- Many thanks to Frank for sharing his Flickr Album of photos with us.
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