Thursday, April 11, 2013

Spring Awakening at Lake Barkley

Redbuds stating to bloom at Lake Barkley 

It amazes me how quickly the forest can go from winter browns to spring greens.  In just a matter of 48 hours of warm weather the forest has awakened with the sounds of arriving migrants like Northern Parulas, Yellow-throated Warblers, Black and White Warblers, Black-throated Green Warblers, and Yellow-throated Vireos.  Gray Tree frogs have also added to the symphony of spring and can be heard calling around the park.  The trees have also begun to bud out and produce leaves, and the redbuds are finally blooming dotting the roadsides and under story with purple.
Pussytoes at Lake Barkley SRP

  The number of wildflowers has increased too and includes Spring Beauty, Bluets, Pussytoes, Sandwort, Pennywort, Rue Anemone, Birds Foot Violet, and purple, yellow, and white violets.