Spring Photos From Herrontown Woods

While I've been documenting the imperialist tendencies of nonnative lesser celandine in Princeton, ever vigilant, some friends have thankfully been sending photos of local nature that speak to beauty, stability and enduring diversity. 

Joanna Poniz sent some lovely photos of a wood frog in one of the vernal pools at Herrontown Woods, 

and skunk cabbage growing up against a boulder.

Oftentimes patches of trout lilies have lots of leaves and no flowers, so it's special to find one.

Here's a nice patch of spring beauties.

Local botanist Betty Horn also periodically sends photos, documenting the ongoing survival of hepaticas at Herrontown Woods, and an especially large patch of spring beauties on the trail to Council Rock in Woodfield Reservation. 

Joanna captured a threefer here, with trout lily, spring beauty, and bloodroot growing together. This is a good example of how native species have a tendency to intermingle, creating concentrated diversity.

Inge Regan captured this twofer, which looks like a onefer until you take a closer look and realize that the smaller flower isn't another bloodroot but instead a rue anemone.

Joanie Marr sent these photos of the many different kinds of daffodils growing around Veblen House and Cottage at Herrontown Woods. 

Someday I'll learn the names of all of these varieties. 

I was happy for Joanies' photo of the black vulture that hangs out at the Veblen Cottage this time of year. We got beyond viewing it as a bad omen, and now take pleasure in its annual return. Seeing it perched alone on a branch, I worry that something may have happened to its mate. They mate for life, and this pair has for many years raised young in the corncrib next to the red barn. Maybe it's just standing guard while its mate tends the nest. I'd check the corncrib to verify, but don't want to disturb.

No matter how endearing, it's still hard to end a blog post with a vulture, so back to Joanna's frog.