The photos below show diversity and beauty you can see along the Kirkland Trail now. Trail edges are dominated by flowers of the first five plants in the first row (knapweed is a nasty invasive); the last three flowers in that row are garden plants added to the trail where removal of Japanese knotweed is continuing. Yellow warbler, common yellowthroat, song sparrow, goldfinch, indigo bunting, cardinal, robin, and catbird continue to sing along much of the trail, though they’re seen less often at this stage of summer. Even though the water is low and algal filled, the pond remains a hot spot for activity, with frequent appearances of great blue heron, green heron, killdeer, spotted sandpipers, geese, and mallards. Several butterflies flit along open trail edges. Numerous other plants are in flower, too; look for both kinds of jewelweed and three varieties of beebalm (Monarda), red, wine, and pink. But the summer is passing; goldenrod has begun to flower, boxelder seeds are maturing, and honeysuckle is in fruit.
