iNaturalist DC outing: skunk cabbage blossom hunt & winter tree identification - Saturday February 25, 2017

Yikes, February is upon us and it's time to plan the outing we've tentatively scheduled for the end of the month. The plan is to look for blooming skunk cabbages and to practice our winter tree identification skills while we're at it. Rock Creek Park along Pinehurst Branch is a great place for this, and there's a Metro-accessible trailhead nearby.

I know this section of the park pretty well and can show you where the skunk cabbage patches are. I can also ID most trees during the green season, but this is my first venture into winter tree identification. So unless one of you is an expert, we'll just have to make it up as we go along. We'll be looking at things like bark, growth form, and buds on the twigs, and we'll hunt for leaves and fruit on the ground to match to trees in the vicinity. Of course, we'll take lots of pictures for iNat observations.

Let's meet on Saturday February 25, 2017 in Rock Creek Park at Picnic Grove #8 on Beach Drive, just south of Sherril Drive (see red balloon in map below). There are plenty of parking spots at the grove. Note that both Sherril Drive and Bingham Drive will be closed, and Beach drive will be closed between Picnic Grove #10 and Wise Road. So you MUST approach from Military Road in the south.

Picnic Grove #8 is also easily accessible via Metro and Metro Bus. The Takoma Metro Station (Red Line) is about a mile away, and there are multiple bus lines that stop within a block of the Whittier trailhead (orange balloon in the map below) which is just a 5 minute walk from the meeting point (see map). You can catch the 16th Street buses (S2/S4) at the Silver Spring transit center (going south) or in Columbia Heights (going north, walk 2 blocks west from the Metro Station to 16th Street). Exit the bus at the Whittier stop which is just a few steps from the trailhead. Or you can catch the 14th Street buses (52/54) at the Takoma Metro Station (Bus Bay C, going south) or in Columbia Heights (going north) and exit at 14th & Whittier, then walk down Whittier to 16th Street. The trailhead will be directly across the street.

Depending on weather and people's inclinations, we can do a short loop or a longer loop all the way to boundary bridge and back. See the map for suggested routes. I have also mapped the skunk cabbage patches that I know about.

Resources:

Tagging everybody who was on the thread for the January gathering and a few more people who have made iNat observations in the DMV area.

@carrieseltzer @muir @briangratwicke @calopteryx @grizzlypieper @maryeford @jbrown @laura_sebastianelli @dossification @nloewen @ehurme @katzyna @csavy @jfrancis @danbeaupre @anneanderson @blairrowan @alonsoabugattas @jhammock @dctr @elliotgreiner @tkirk304 @jackcamino @mattluizza @stsang @judygva @delontadavis @botanygirl @ecologyelise @hughmcguinness @krosenthal @elliotgreiner @treichard @smallthingsrule @vincent12 @dctr @timbir5 @lakekoshare @jgingold @lynnparsons @belyykit @anneanderson @megan44 @somadjinn @ellen15

Posted on 04 de fevereiro de 2017, 06:22 PM by treegrow treegrow

Observações

Fotos / Sons

Observador

treegrow

Data

Fevereiro 19, 2017 02:57 PM EST

Descrição

Symplocarpus foetidus. Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC, USA.

Fotos / Sons

Observador

treegrow

Data

Fevereiro 19, 2017 02:51 PM EST

Descrição

Symplocarpus foetidus. Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC, USA.

Fotos / Sons

Observador

treegrow

Data

Fevereiro 19, 2017 02:46 PM EST

Descrição

Symplocarpus foetidus. Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC, USA.

Fotos / Sons

Observador

treegrow

Data

Fevereiro 19, 2017 01:49 PM EST

Descrição

Symplocarpus foetidus. Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC, USA.

Fotos / Sons

Observador

treegrow

Data

Fevereiro 19, 2017 03:39 PM EST

Descrição

Symplocarpus foetidus. Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC, USA.

Fotos / Sons

Observador

treegrow

Data

Fevereiro 19, 2017 03:44 PM EST

Descrição

Symplocarpus foetidus. Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC, USA.

Fotos / Sons

Observador

treegrow

Data

Fevereiro 19, 2017 03:47 PM EST

Descrição

Symplocarpus foetidus. Rock Creek Park, Washington, DC, USA.

Comentários

Feb 25 works best for me. Thanks very much for organizing this.

Publicado por judygva cerca de 7 anos antes

Both dates are good!

Publicado por jhammock cerca de 7 anos antes

This sounds great! 25th works for me. Thanks for organizing :)

Publicado por stsang cerca de 7 anos antes

I vote for 25th

Publicado por jackcamino cerca de 7 anos antes

Just moved to Kenya so no DC iNaturalisting for me anytime soon!

Publicado por seasav cerca de 7 anos antes

25th better for me too. Thanks!

Publicado por maryeford cerca de 7 anos antes

25th and 18th both work for me. Looking forward to this!

@csavy, hope to see some bat observations from Kenya for AfriBats! :-)

Publicado por carrieseltzer cerca de 7 anos antes

@carrieseltzer if they just hold still for a photo!

Publicado por seasav cerca de 7 anos antes

Interested!

Publicado por muir cerca de 7 anos antes

Did you pick a time yet, Katja? Looking forward to this!

Publicado por carrieseltzer cerca de 7 anos antes

Oops, sorry. Time flies. Yes, it looks like the 25th is definitely better for those people who are interested. I'll change the title of the post to reflect this. Are most of you going to be driving or are you going to use public transportation? If most people are driving, we can meet where there is parking.

Publicado por treegrow cerca de 7 anos antes

Driving. Tagging @judygva

Publicado por muir cerca de 7 anos antes

I'll be driving.

Publicado por judygva cerca de 7 anos antes

Driving. Can offer rides to other people in the Brookland vicinity or between there and Rock Creek.

Also, if anyone has ideas for March, it will be here before we know it so do chime in!

Publicado por carrieseltzer cerca de 7 anos antes

I am at Trinidad neighborhood near Gallaudet; can I ride with you @carrieseltzer or someone nearby could offer me a ride? I'll help with gas.

Publicado por jackcamino cerca de 7 anos antes

@jackcamino could you metro to Brookland or Ft Totten? Then I could pick you up there and drive us over. Or perhaps @muir or @maryeford could offer a lift since they live south of you and might pass by your direction.

Publicado por carrieseltzer cerca de 7 anos antes

@carrieseltzer either station should work, probably Brookland-CUA metro is better; I could do what you consider best.

Publicado por jackcamino cerca de 7 anos antes

@treegrow what time do you propose? I am trying to coordinate child care so that I can iNaturalist without Natalie on Saturday. Given that, morning would be best for me. The weather forecast also currently has rain starting in the afternoon, so if that remains then maybe we can stay dry.

@jackcamino do you still have my number? let's coordinate by text.

Publicado por carrieseltzer cerca de 7 anos antes

Morning works for me. Is 10 am too late? We can meet at one of the picnic groves in the park (detailed car & metro access description to follow). I imagine we'll be out there 2-5 hours depending on people's preferences. Distances are short and there are plenty of connector trails that circle back to the parking lot, so people can customize their participation easily.

I was out there last weekend, and the skunk cabbages are out along with an assortment of invasive early spring wildflowers. Trees are still in their winter condition, but they'll probably start leafing out soon if this warm weather continues.

Publicado por treegrow cerca de 7 anos antes

Wow! Thursday-Saturday are forecast to peak in the mid- to upper-70s! I can start earlier than 10, but if the group convenes later, that's fine -- Marshall and I will probably show up around 9 and wander.

Publicado por muir cerca de 7 anos antes

I can do 9 am. Does that work for everybody?

Publicado por treegrow cerca de 7 anos antes

9 is good, especially if latecomers can easily catch up :)

Publicado por jhammock cerca de 7 anos antes
Publicado por treegrow cerca de 7 anos antes

Not on topic, but what's the code to insert a map like that? Which is fantastic by the way.

Publicado por muir cerca de 7 anos antes

I just made it in Google My Maps. You need to be logged into your Google account to use it. It lets you doodle on a Google map and then you can share the annotated map with your friends or the public. Super easy.

Publicado por treegrow cerca de 7 anos antes

Awesome! I will plan to arrive at 9 (without Natalie, which makes me feel a little bad if Marshall will be there, but I'm being selfish and my mother-in-law is available). I need to leave by noon to pick her up. I'm excited to explore some Rock Creek trails that are new to me!

Publicado por carrieseltzer cerca de 7 anos antes

Sorry guys, this time I am afraid I am going to cancel; I have a visitor and plans had to change.

Publicado por jackcamino cerca de 7 anos antes

I'm holding out hope but not expecting to make it - hope you all have fun!

Publicado por ecologyelise cerca de 7 anos antes

I probably can't make it this time; like Jack, I have a visitor. Too bad because this sounds fantastic, especially since so much is blooming! Have fun. Can't wait to see your observations.

Publicado por maryeford cerca de 7 anos antes

@treegrow - Thanks so much for leading us on this adventure. @muir, it was great to see you and Marshall again. @carrieseltzer and @jhammock , I really enjoyed meeting you.

Publicado por judygva cerca de 7 anos antes

Thanks everybody for coming out to RCP today despite the scary weather forecast. Should we start a project for all the observations from these outings? I assume there will be more, and there's also the one from Woodend Sanctuary a couple of years ago. It would be nice to be able to see all these observations in one place.

Publicado por treegrow cerca de 7 anos antes

Thanks for organizing, @treegrow! Everyone, be sure to check for ticks. I pulled one off my leg :-( Will post my images of the unwanted hitchhiker later.

I think it's a great idea to start a project for the IDs from our outings! Who has an idea for March? It's almost here...

Publicado por carrieseltzer cerca de 7 anos antes

Great group picture!

Here are my day's observations: http://www.inaturalist.org/calendar/muir/2017/2/25

As usual Judy and Katja put my photos to shame -- amazing as always to see everybody and see your photos! re: March. Next weekend is my only free weekend, and the temp looks like it will be back in the 30s.

Publicado por muir cerca de 7 anos antes

I have created a project for our field trips: Washington, DC iNat Field Trips. Please add your observations. I'll make you all admins when you join.

Publicado por treegrow cerca de 7 anos antes

Here are my observations from the day: http://www.inaturalist.org/observations?on=2017-02-25&place_id=any&subview=grid&user_id=carrieseltzer (plus a few observations from home—I excluded my garden plants from this list).

My iNat list firsts included sycamore, multiflora rose, smooth aider, and burning bush! Goes to show that even I take those common plants for granted.

@treegrow I just added my observations to the project. Thanks for making that! Our first gathering was in Maryland so if there's a DC place rule we don't be able to include the observations from Woodend. Should we make the area bigger?

Publicado por carrieseltzer cerca de 7 anos antes

I didn't create any rules. I was able to add my Woodend observations without problems. Did any of yours get rejected?

Publicado por treegrow cerca de 7 anos antes
Publicado por carrieseltzer mais de 6 anos antes

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