Late October has been warm, dry and sunny here on Long Island’s north shore. Perhaps this weather pattern is a result of an early “La Nina”. The result of cool Pacific water pooling up off the coast of Ecuador. The cool ocean water displaces the flow pattern of the Mid-Latitude Jet Stream to the north bringing warmer weather to the NE in winter. Recently the MLJS has been streaking across the sky at about 10km (6 miles, 33,000 ft) tracking north of us above southern Canada.
For whatever reason, the sky today is deep blue with lovely white puffy cumuli. These form each day as sea born southwesterly winds carry moist air over our sun warmed island. The rising air condenses its moisture which drifts like majestic white airy sculptures, altering shapes as they flow gently overhead. Below, vibrant red, gold, orange and chestnut-brown foliage contrasts with the blue sky, making a stroll along Brookhaven Town’s Rail Path a pleasant and colorful excursion on this late October day.
On this colorful day I share the Rail Path walk with a hen turkey and her flock which emerged clucking happily from the brushy growth and adjoining woodlands through which this former railroad ROW path courses. This hen had taken up residence on this section of Path two years ago. I have been observing her regularly over that period. She had eight poults early in the year (See “Attack By A Hen Turkey”). Today her surviving four poults are now almost full grown. One can only identify “mom” by the fact that she leads the flock and the youngsters follow her. They exploit the grassy margins of the path pecking the remnant seed heads of Timothy grass then quietly disappear into the woods.
Today October 23, 2024, after a few weeks of cool nights and warm very dry days there are few flowering plants to identify. But those that do persist in flowering so late in the season are a notable few. On the south side of the path at the base of a tall clump of still green Giant Knotweed (Reynoutria sachalinensis?) I observed a place where several small ivory-white flowers, each with a hairy bulbous base stood out sharply among the shadowy green and dry brown grasses around them. These are the lovely White Campion (Silene latifolia) which often persists flowering into late fall.
Further east a few Chicory (Chicorium intybus) plants with their cornflower-blue ray flowers grew along the path margin. These plants, much reduced by the mower’s blade, somehow survived that event to persist and add a singular contrasting azure to an otherwise dull brown, red and yellow landscape. (I thought about their roots too, my grandpa and I would dig them up in late summer. He would dry them, then roast them with coffee beans to prepare his favorite morning brew). Further on, a late flowering vine of Japanese Honey suckle (Lonisera sp ), with light goldenrod yellow blooms from which protruded characteristic long, arched stamens. As children my sister and I pulled those long thin stamens to suck the sweet nectar of clinging to the stamen ends of this fragrant sturdy vine. It was among the few species other than moss and lichens which grew in our urban back garden.
In another place, the aptly named “Butter and Eggs” a yolk-orange and butter-yellow member of the snapdragon family (Linaria vulgaris) survived with its gray-green leaves and stems by growing just beyond the reach of the mower blades. But closer to the asphalt path a chopped down, ferny remnant of Queen Anne’s Lace (Daucus carota) was not so fortunate. Yet it somehow managed to produce (though not to normal size) its characteristic flat, white, compound umbel flower with its typical “dried blood drop” center spot. Not far away, a White Bindweed vine its arrow shaped leaves and tendrils climbed the knobby stems of the Giant Knotweed patch. There, a single, lonely and barely opened flower of White Bindweed (Calysegia sepium) bloomed about six feet above ground. The last one of the many white flowers of the this same vine which, only a few short weeks ago, had graced the dull green of Knotweed banks. These above were it seemed the last flowers of the 2024 season.
But this day was not for end of season flower species, but for magnificent fall colors.
The Rail Path’s two dominant species are the dull, gray-green-leafed Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) a low bushy tree, and the invasive weed which grows to ten to fifteen foot tall, the dark green leafed Giant Knotweed. At this date both of these species remain determinately green with only a few yellowing leaves. But they represent the canvas upon which the vibrant colors of many other local species make their seasonal appeal to the eye.
The magnificent lemon yellow (or gold) of a mature Catalpa (Catalpa speciosa ? ) which rises here well above 100 feet. (But not far away the look-alike Empress tree (Paulownia tomentosa) remains a dull green at this date. The greenish yellow Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) which hides away all summer nearly invisible among all that is green, stands out in fall when loses it leaves and takes on it yellow coat well before the other species. Here too we find the (Ailanthus altissima) turned a grayish yellow and burdened with large clumps of numerous light brown samara-type seeds. These swriling fliers help to disperse this invasive tree. (It is noteworthy too that A. altissima is also the host of the troubling Japaneses Lantern Fly (Lycorma delicatula) of which I have observed four spotted and colorful specimens along this one mile path during this 2024 season— and dutifully stomped them out.).
The low growing trees or bushes of Winged Sumac (Rhus copalina), Smooth Sumac (Rhus glabra), Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) all turn a firebrick red in fall. While the tall Black Oak (Quercus velutina) turns a chocolate brown, and the Scarlet Oak (Q. coccinea) true to its name turns a maroon or dark red color. This is true for the common Red Maple (Acer rubrum )also true to its appelation turns a striking bright red and yellow.
The vines of greenish-yellow Japanese Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus) encase and entangle many trees along the Path. The vines produce bright yellow berries which when ripe, peel back a bright yellow three part seed coat to reveal a bright scarlet twinned berry within. The vines eventually loose their leaves but the colorful red and yellow berries remain. These are often cut for fall and winter season indoor displays.
The Fox Grape (Vitis sp ) turn a greenish yellow, while Virginia Creeper the five leafed climbing vine (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) turns a bright scarlet. Black Cherry (Prunus serotina) adds a mix of yellow and dark green. Escapes from suburban gardens, often found growing beneath powerlines where birds roost such as the flowering Pear ( Pyrus sp domesticated) turn from dark green to magenta in this season. Many of these flowering fruit trees (cherries and apples too) retain their tiny inedible hard fruits, but which hungry Blue Jays,Cardinals, and many other species will exploit for survival food.
So don’t pass by too rapidly on the Rail Path in fall (or any other season) there is more to see here than a straight asphalt exercise route.
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