Monday, May 7, 2007

Two American giants




Two of the last American elms on Nantucket. These pictures are from late last week: spring comes late to the island generally, in the cold Atlantic. Note the classic vase shape in the first image.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

Cedar Apple Rust




These pics are from the archive. This is the most colorful stage of the lifespan of cedar apple rust, a fungus also known to the latins as gymnosporangium juniperi-virginianae. These shots are from last spring, take in the family backyard on Nantucket Island. This is one wonderfully bizzare lifeform: it has a two-year journey that necessitates windborne travel between two different species of trees: something from the rose family, often apple (malus), and eastern red cedar (actually a juniper). Here, in the island's wet, wet spring, the telial horns are blooming.

Uh, Captain, I think something's made it through the airlock....

Norway Maple




Check out this spring's amount of growth from the terminal bud.

Not sure what this is



Peak bloom of something: black cherry (prunus serotina)?

Fenced tree pit variations


Young Sweetgum



You can see the pollen bearing flowers here.

Parks Department tags