7/23/15 Sheepscot Headwaters

Mix of sun and clouds with rain forecast. We picked this trail because there are others nearby if the deer flies are really bad. Upper 60's, so comfortable temps. Kelley seemed in good spirits and ready to hike. I have got away from detailing the trails because I felt I was repeating myself but today thought it's been awhile so....

Starting from the parking lot you climb a short section of the Whitten Hill Trail Kelley was behind me on this part because there was lots to sniff.

Northern Headwaters Trail

 Large fungi

Another part of the N. Headwaters Trail and Kelley takes the lead.

We turned off onto the Goose Ridge Trail because there are streams and a small pond for Kelley.

The only problem was the banks were steep for Kelley and she  needed help getting out of one. This section had had little use and was somewhat overgrown and though I pulled some grass in front of this bridge , Kelley would not cross it. ( she had in the past )

A little further on is an old broken dam

The rift is several feet long. We have continued on from here in the past but I can't see how Kelley got around it.

Pond beside the dam

Just starting into a shake.

It had taken us about an hour to get here and I didn't want Kelley to do more than two hours so we headed back and when we reached the N. Headwaters went back the way we had come rather completing the loop.

Back up the Goose Ridge Trail

Only flower today

Almost back. I like this section of the N. Headwaters trail with the old stone fences.

A pretty good hike with the nice temperatures and few mosquitoes or deer flies. Kelley seemed happy and was in the lead most of the way. We meant no one - a peaceful day.  2 hours

Garden ( For Sue)

Not a hike but garden pictures- taken early this morning- that Sue has requested. I live in the city and have limited space and not all of that gets enough sun so I try to maximize the areas that do - plants are scattered all over the place.  I grow many things vertically to save space. I often have more seedlings than I need and end up sticking them wherever, resulting in a disorganized garden.

Sugar Snap peas- pretty much done will be replaced, today or tomorrow by second planting of cucumbers The long vine is a winter squash which I found last year, did well there. I'm not going to get a " beautiful yard " award.

Eggplant in pots on walk leading to front door

The drive is the sunniest and warmest spot. The peppers on the left are in pots for added warmth. Behind them, staked, are tomatoes. On the right is left over kale, cucumbers and some tomatoes in pots. You can see the cukes ready to replace the peas are in trays in front of the garage doors.

Empty pots , with weeds, that held Asian vegetables - two harvests but they don't do well in summer. I will do another batch in fall. They had netting over them to keep the squirrels out. Behind them snow peas are also almost done for this year

Kale - doing really well this year - pole beans at the end of the bed and tomatoes behind the kale.

 Back deck - More peppers and some herbs and flowers. The large pot has a bush butternut squash

Summer squash and more pole beans. At the back are cucumbers. Behind the squash are bush beans that I am trying this year.

Salad greens bed - recently replanted - I try to stagger the plantings but often miss time. Also covered with netting to keep out the squirrels. Greens are also growing in the boxes on the deck.

Not shown are flowers stuck here and there - wherever there is a little spot of sun. 

7/22/15 City Forest

Mix of sun and clouds. about 70, and breezy- nice day. Kelley was reluctant to get in the car and then to leave the car when we got to our parking spot. I got her out by reminding her of the beaver pond.

Crossing the meadow to the pond.

She was happy with the pond

We met some friends we had not seen in some time and chatted with them as Kelley swam and rested on the bank. When I tried to start the hike Kelley was again reluctant so we gave it up.

I got one other picture

I ended up getting a lot of garden work done that I had been avoiding and Kelley slept, alternating sun and under some shrubs she likes. 

7/21/15 Perch Pond

Cooler today but very humid and very cloudy with another chance of rain. We started from the South trailhead where there are sections of bog bridge - dark woods.

Like the last time we were here, the deer flies were only a problem in the open old woods road sections. We mostly avoided them. But that was also where the flowers and insects were.

These unknown flowers were very small

Great Spangled Fritillary - there were several in a small area.

The other good thing about the open section we walked was the small pond

I thought the leaves pretty against the boards of a bridge next to the pond

I missed a turn I intended to take and we just headed for the large pond. This pleased Kelley

Kelley doesn't know she is a retriever and isn't much interested in chasing balls or even sticks in the water. I threw out a stick and she did go after it but dropped it before she reached shore.

We headed north along the shore to find more places Kelley could get in the water. At this point the trail is right next to the pond.

We soon came to some downed trees and rather than bushwhack around them we turned back.

One more dip

Found this large fungus on the way back

A pretty good outing. Kelley seemed to like this hike and lead much of the time. We met no one so a peaceful hike. 2 hours 

7/20/15 Essex Woods

Hot and humid with a possibility of rain.  Decided on a quick visit to Essex Woods.

One dog in the dog park but Kelley wasn't interested in it and we headed down the trail to the old rail bed.

Little breeze and overcast made for good conditions for shooting flowers.

 Pretty but unknown berries

Of course Kelley found some water

There are some wet lands that Kelley doesn't use because the banks from the rail bed are too steep.

I think a small thistle

Just clover

There was a nice patch of daylilies

 and lots of chicory

Neither of us was energetic so we just spent about an hour and headed home to try and stay cool. 

7/19/15 City Forest

Yesterday we were in the neighborhood - rainy day and rain is forecast again today. But not raining when we got up and looks like it might clear so we headed for the forest to get in a hike.

The meadow we cross to get to the trails had a good crop of milkweed so I was looking for monarchs. There were none but the bees were very busy.

Even with the rain  we have had we are below average for rain and I have never seen the beaver pond do low.

As Kelley enjoyed the pond I explored the plants around it.

I chose a little different route today and the side trail's little stream still had water.

There was lots of crown vetch along the old rail bed.

We only walked the rail bed to the next side trail - deer flies - fewer of them in the woods. Back on the West, Kelley found a little more water.

One more time in the beaver pond before we head up the hill. Clouding up and beginning to sprinkle.

The bee is out of focus - I didn't see it until I processed the picture

Pretty good little hike. Kelley seemed recovered from Ragged Mountain,
there were a few people and a couple of dogs, and our timing was good 1 1/2 hours