Song Sparrow

Botany Highlight: Sugar Maple

Sugar maple (Acer saccharum)

Species list: mallard, red-tailed hawk,  black-capped chickadee, downy woodpecker, white-breasted nuthatch, common raven, American robin, golden-crowned kinglet, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, white-throated sparrow, song sparrow (12 species)

Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus)

Hawthorn (Crataegus)

Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)

Black-capped Chickadee

Red Maple (Acer rubrum)

Large-leaved Aster (Eurybia macrophylla)

False Solomon-seal (Maianthemum racemosum)

Red-tailed Hawk

White Oak (Quercus alba)

Mallards (females)

Zigzag Goldenrod (Solidago flexicaulis)

Miles Hearn

                                          NATURE POETRY

Fresh October brings the pheasant;
Then to gather nuts is pleasant.     

– Sara Coleridge (1802–52)

White-throated Sparrow

Botany Highlight: Spindle Tree and Winged Euonymus

Spindle Tree (Euonymus europaea)

Winged Euonymus (Euonymus alata)

Species list: mallard, red-tailed hawk, mourning dove, northern flicker, hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker,  blue jay, American crow, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, brown creeper, American robin, ruby-crowned kinglet, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, white-throated sparrow. (16 species)

Mushrooms

Mallard (female)

Salmon

Black-capped Chickadee

Red-tailed Hawk

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Miles Hearn

                                          NATURE POETRY

Through golden noons and purple eves, and shadows cool and tender,
From scenes of tranquil happiness and dreams of deep delight,
October like a princess in her oriental splendor
Comes down the valley singing with her retinue of light.

– Kate Brownlee Sherwood (1841–1914)

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Botany Highlight: Spindle Tree

Spindle Tree (Euonymus europaea)

Species list: red-tailed hawk, northern flicker, hairy woodpecker, blue jay, American crow, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, American robin, hermit thrush, ruby-crowned kinglet, northern cardinal, white-throated sparrow. (12 species)

Inky Cap mushrooms

Salmon

Mantoba Maple (Acer negundo)

Mushrooms

Miles Hearn

                                     NATURE POETRY

Listen! the wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves,
We have had our summer evenings, now for October eves!

– Humbert Wolfe (1886–1940)