ON LONG ISLAND—THE LAST DAY OF AUGUST 2025

 It was a mixed day of temperatures…cool enough this morning for my first fire in the breakfast room fireplace…but hot enough in the late afternoon for a swim in the chilly—unheated pool. (Temp = 68F). 

Temps ranged from 59-74F today in a bright, clear, cloudless sky.  Though in the sunny locations the sun’s intensity made it seem much warmer than 74F.  

On my two mile walk..I recorded a few observations of the state of bloom or color carnage of the local vegetation and how it has responded to the weather this summer.  Perhaps such observations may be useful next year—on the last day of August.  

The area of observation=vtion is that of the Rail Road Bicycle and walking path in northern Brookhaven Township, Suffolk County LI New York.

Russian Olive Tree ( ) or brushy-trees have all set fruit. Most are fully red colored, but others remain brown. The latter color does remind one of tiny olive fruits…and thus perhaps the name of the tree.

Giant Knotweed ( ) are all in a flower. the flower panicles are all upright but most have not opened. I observed only a few Bumble bees visiting these. When fully in flower many bees and other pollinators will be attending to these many pale creamy white flowers. 

Virginia Creeper Vine (. ) is displaying it bright red leaves..the first bright red colors of the season.

Chicory is in bloom its bright blue flowers seen along uncut margins of the path.

Golden Rod is in full bloom—also common in serval area s where the grass cutters have left clumps of uncut area. 

Butter and Eggs () in full bloom with bright yellow flowers.

Canadian Thistle ( Cirsium Arvense) is in full bloom…though not very common in this area of the path

Pokeweed (. ) Has developed bright red stems and set its fruit. All of the fruit however remain green at this period in late summer.  

Mugwort has grown to its likely maximum height by this point n summer, and has set its terminal green colored flower panicles. None are opened or mature at this date.   

Black Cherry Trees ( ) show the first signs of leaf color changes some trees have as much as 10% (estimated visually) of their leaves in bright yellow color.

Catalpa Tree ( ) has a good crop of elongate brown-colored fruit or seed pods. 

Tree of Heaven (Alianthus  ) resplendent with big masses of yellow to brownish colored seed bundles.

(I did record a big flock of Starlings—well over on hundred birds…and as well a murder of crows.)