Out of season Happenings

As fall progresses into winter, many of the plants and animals are making preparations to survive the difficult season to come. Deciduous trees are recycling the last of the nutrients out of their leaves and storing what they can deep in their trunks and roots. Some birds are departing for warmer weather in the south, while others increase consumption of fatty insects and seeds and develop their fluffy winter plumage. Insects time their life cycles to wait out winter- many fall larvae will slumber as pupae, but the majority have laid eggs which will hatch come spring. And of course, mammals have ramped up foraging behavior, putting on layers of fat and storing away caches for later consumption.

During late fall, gray tree frogs search for a safe hibernaculum under leaf litter, where they will allow the water in their body to freeze through the coldest season. The frogs typically only call on warm humid nights during a long mating season in spring and summer. This individual was calling from a car early one November morning.

Many of these species depend on specific environmental cues to trigger physiological and behavioral changes. Colder temperatures, less daylight, and changes in food/nutrient availability are some of the most important ways organisms sense the turning of the seasonal wheel. Getting the timing right is crucial. Wait too long, and the first frost can kill you. Start too early, and you miss out on vital growing time–or your rations might not last until spring.

Native organisms have evolved with the climate of their land, and are usually able to sense the seasons and respond accurately. Sometimes, though, the climate sends mixed messages. During times of transition, especially late fall and early spring, some plants and animals’ sense of time is off, resulting in some interesting out-of-season activity.

Chicory flowers are typically present for a long season beginning in mid summer. Each flower will only bloom for a day, though each plant will produce many flowers over the course of several weeks. Most have long finished flowering by October, but this individual struggled to produce one more flower in mid November.

With the long warm spell and unseasonable humidity experienced the last few weeks (possibly a lingering effect of the hurricanes), we have noticed a few signs of spring around the BRDC campus.

On your walks during these last days of fall, keep an eye out for some of these sneak peeks into next spring. Unfortunately, most out-of-season blooms and animal activity can be fatal mistakes. However, they can serve as a reminder of nature’s resilience and all the intricate balances it maintains. Even these “mistakes” are captivating–both for their beauty and as unique natural phenomena.

During late fall, gray tree frogs search for a safe hibernaculum under leaf litter, where they will allow the water in their body to freeze through the coldest season. The frogs typically only call on warm humid nights during a long mating season in spring and summer. This individual was calling from a car early one November morning.

Wood sorrel is an opportunist, starting its growing season before most of the competition in spring and popping up throughout summer in places most plants struggle to thrive. This new patch appeared in mid October and quickly went to seed by early November- much later than typical for this plant.

The Rain Did NOT Dampen the Weekend

The 45th Annual Mount Rogers Naturalist Rally, held May 10th-12th this year, was a BIG success. The weather always threatens to ruin the weekend and as usual, it was set to be extremely rainy. Alas, the rain came but not in the amounts nor the times to disrupt the Naturalists gathered together for this fantastic event that celebrates the flora and fauna of the Blue Ridge and the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area.

Twenty-nine guided trips went out Saturday and Sunday, all full of enthusiastic attendees. Many focused on birds, wildflowers, salamanders, insects, stream ecology, fly fishing, and edible and medicinal plants while others pursued art and science. Lets not forget the awesome kids programs about salamanders and rocks!

It takes a lot of individuals to make this come together. We couldn’t do it without the love and passion our guides have and share for their fields of expertise. Nor could it happen without all the volunteers and their loving hands providing sustenance for the many participants. It is a pleasure to bring like-minded souls together to Explore, Discover and Share the wonders of the Blue Ridge.