2nd Marsh -- July 15th, 2012

Amidst our hot spell I made it down to the marsh... on an overcast day. It was still hot, but bearable. The boardwalk is suffering. It's very passable but it seems to be deteriorating rather quickly in spots, and as always, nature is trying to take back her own.

At the Beaver Pond... the boardwalk is getting a little wonky.

This year has been a bad one for fallen trees. This large one is the only real challenge for visitors... it's a couple 100 yards west of the Beaver Pond...chain-saw required.

This one is east of the Beaver Pond.

... and these two are between the berm and the bridge over Farewell Creek.

One of the main players on stage this week... Fringed Loosestrife.

A cluster of Red Baneberry berries.

A few Touch-Me-Nots are in bloom.

Wild Parsnip

It's Queen Anne Lace's time to flourish too.

These red bugs love the stuff. It seems to be a mating ground for them.

Bull Thistle... Thanks John.

Painted Lady butterfly. They arrive in big numbers from the US every 10 years and in smaller numbers every year. They haven't figured out yet that they should return south when winter arrives, so they all die... according to John Acorn in his book "Bugs of Ontario". Will evolution eventually work things out for them?

Common Whitetail dragonfly... Thanks John.

Field Bindweed

The channel along the berm is full of Water Lilies this year.

Himalayan Balsam (aka Poor-man's Orchid, Policeman's Helmet, Ornamental Jewelweed)

Despite the heat, growth is lush.

Harmony & Farewell Creeks where they merge. The lack of rain is obvious.

My 'classic' Farewell Creek bridge shot.

The marsh is pretty 'quiet' this time of year but change is always evident.

The Friends of Second Marsh web site... 

http://www.secondmarsh.ca/

A direct link to a map of the paths/trails in the marsh...

http://www.secondmarsh.ca/Recreation_Map.html

A link to a page that has my past posts re the marsh, in one place rather than scattered throughout this blog...

http://rgbell.ca/2/

- fini -