After a few years' apparent absence, Indian Pipes are emerging again in the pinewoods in the southern tract, which is where I have encountered them more often.
It seems they are just beginning to emerge and I will have to return to see how widespread they are this time.
Several years ago this plant was rife. Perhaps there will be a recurrence.
It has been never clear why there has been so little wild hog activity at the preserve.
This is not a complaint, just an observation.
It may be that the property is surrounded by so many residents and their barking dogs, which may be a deterrent.
The site also appears to be visited by coyotes, so that may take care of the problem.
I have not found any evidence of rooting. All I've seen are tracks.
ADDENDUM: Spoke with a neighboring property owner and learned the tracks belong to some Pot-bellied Pigs that someone released recently.
I peeked into the small bayhead in one corner of the preserve to see whether the Habenaria floribunda were coming up. They were..
However, when I turned around to look at the fence line I spotted what I hope is only the beginning of a Lydodium infestation. I have plans to go back with some bags to see if I can collect it before it takes over.
This is the first time I've seen this pest plant here, though a couple of years ago I did observe a Lygodium Defoliator Moth at my light in another section of the preserve and was wondering how far it had flown from its host plant.
The colors in the preserve this year are stunning. Although most of the Liatris has gone to seed, the Balduina, Carphephorous and Blue Curls are rife in places as is the Lopsided Indian Grass. The Scrub Blazing Star has declined, but is doing well in one remaining isolated patch. Mechanical management apparently took a toll on the other populations here. I also found a striking metallic wood-boring beetle.
Today while I was collecting small pieces of debris emerging from the sand following the recent rains, I found a third species of Tiger Beetle.
It is Ellipsoptera hirtalabris, a common scrub species, but one I have never recorded here in the past 20 years of observations.
I also checked the Lupine planting areas. I did not find any living seedlings, but the recently planted Lupines that are being irrigated seem to be doing well.
The irrigation was an important factor in one of the driest Mays on record for the area.
When it comes to lupines, May is the cruelest month.
Few of t he seedlings that emerged last winter are still alive.
It would be interesting to know more about the plants that still survive, including one healthy specimen that was not flagged and may have emerged late.
The die-offs are a regular occurrence and more likely this year. This has been one of the driest Mays on record, according to the National Weather Service.
I was out at the preserve yesterday and stopped at one of the burn pile sites to see how it had recovered since 2008.
It is now 13 years later. The soil is still mostly unvegetated. The vegetation that is present is exotic or ruderal species. Natal grass, Brazilian pepper. Dog fennel.
This is part of legacy of past management decisions.
Let us hope everyone does better next time.
