Saturday, August 18, turned out to be a perfect day for the monthly nature walk at Government Island. Naturalists Kristen and Maria took a group for a trip around the Island in near perfect summer weather. First we stopped at an ash tree to learn about the emerald ash borer and view one of the "purple kite" monitoring stations that has been placed in an ash tree at Government Island. These unwelcome insects have been found in Stafford and pose an environmental hazard to the ash trees in our county. If you have ash trees on your property, you need to read about the emerald ash borer and report any infestation to the extension office at the Rowser Building. They will direct your info to the correct people.
Thistle is coming into bloom in the fields near the parking lot at this time of year. It is a favorite of black swallowtail and tiger striped swallowtails. At one point today I counted over 21 butterflies on this one plant. As summer progresses, watch for the goldfinches coming to the thistle plant for fibers to line their nests and thistle seed to feed the chicks. I have already noticed an increase of goldfinch activity in the area. Later in the winter this area is a favorite place for a variety of species of sparrows.
Along the path that follows Austin Run look for the spice bushes,
Lindera benzoin, displaying their bright red berries. This plant is a member of the same family as the Sassafras family. But don't wait long, or else the birds will eat the fruit.
As you get out towards the marsh, peak over the boardwalk railing, on the right,and look for the bloom of the duck potato plant,
Sagittaria latifolia, I have been waiting for this one to come into bloom, as I had never seen it before. It was a real treat to see some beautiful specimens in bloom today. They weren't there five days ago, and I am not sure how long they will be in bloom. One more reason to frequently visit Government Island.
Today we noticed quite a few mushrooms sprouting up along the path. As the forest gets moister, this trend should increase. Remember...even the experts aren't always sure what is edible and what isn't. Be safe and DO NOT EAT WILD MUSHROOMS. We did spot a very pretty example of a shelf fungi. This beauty is new to me and I have no idea which of the thousands of kinds of fungi it could be. Most shelf fungi are not poisonous, they just aren't palatable. Usually they are quit chewy, with some being almost wood-like.
Our next walk should be September 15. We will watch the park and see what is happening, and pick the time of day depending on the weather patterns, either a morning or afternoon walk. Hope to see you.
Maria C., Central Rappahannock Chapter, Virginia Master Naturalists
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