The official start of summer is here!
There is so much to look out for as you walk in the Fells this season. While many flowers have bloomed and animals are active, there are still plenty of summer blooms and behaviors to keep an eye out for.
During the summer months you can expect to see the red berries of False Solomon’s Seal, purple flowers of Joe-Pye Weed, bright orange flowers of Butterfly Weed, small white flowers of Spotted Wintergreen, and many others. Later in the summer the fruit of Black Cherry trees will ripen and the flowers of Swamp Azaleas will produce fragrant flowers.
Reptiles will continue to take advantage of the sun and heat and can often be seen basking on rocks or on sunny paths. Be on the lookout for garter snakes, milk snakes, or eastern painted turtles as they lay in the sun, and don’t forget to take a stroll around Long Pond for a glimpse of one of our reptiles.
You may also see some active bird species during this time of the year. Early in the summer you may hear the tee-yee courtship call of the American goldfinch. American goldfinches will start making their nests in July and August in trees or shrubs. They nest later than other birds in order to ensure that there will be seeds to feed their young.
There is a lot going on in the natural world now and in the coming months. Make sure to keep your eyes and ears open and enjoy each unique walk in the Fells.