Middlesex Fells in September

Photos taken in the northeastern part of the Middlesex Fells Reservation in Stoneham, MA on September 27, 2008.

I started my hike on the Crystal Spring trail. Alas, the spring appears to be no more.

There were lots of pretty goldenrods growing in sunny places.

A different goldenrod variety, with the flowers growing along the stem rather than in terminal bracts.

These white wood asters were growing all over in the forest.

Close-up of the wood asters, with a bee.

A mushroom sprouts out of a bed of moss.

Unidentified berries. I'd probably recognize this plant right away if I saw the flowers instead.....

The trail goes over a rock outcrop. Note that the leaves haven't yet started to turn at all here.

I think this thistle-type flower is really a knapweed instead. Either way, it's a weed, although a very pretty one.

Spikes of staghorn sumac.

Maple-leaf viburnum with berries. Apparently these are not very good to eat so even the birds ignore them.

Another shot of the trail heading through the open forest to yet another rock outcrop.

This species of goldenrod is easy to identify -- it's a silverrod, the only one that is white rather than yellow.

From the top of this hill, there's a view over Spot Pond, which is actually a pretty good-sized lake. Unlike the other reservoirs in the Fells, this one is a natural lake rather than man-made.

Lots and lots of asters.

Crossing the road into the Virginia Woods section of the Fells, this is the pond where the frogs weren't, any longer. Actually, a dude who got there a few minutes ahead of me told me that there were frogs, but his small son had scared them all away already.

This ground cover with the bright red berries is partridgeberry.

In this close-up, you can see more clearly the peculiar thing about this plant: each berry is a "siamese twin" formed from paired flowers.

Heading southeastward, I met up with the Rock Circuit trail. Here's a typical view in this section of the park.

Back to the main photography page.

	I started my hike on the Crystal Spring trail. Alas, the spring appears to be no more.
	There were lots of pretty goldenrods growing in sunny places.
	A different goldenrod variety, with the flowers growing along the stem rather than in terminal bracts.
	These white wood asters were growing all over in the forest.
	Close-up of the wood asters, with a bee.
	A mushroom sprouts out of a bed of moss.
	Unidentified berries. I'd probably recognize this plant right away if I saw the flowers instead.....
	The trail goes over a rock outcrop. Note that the leaves haven't yet started to turn at all here.
	I think this thistle-type flower is really a knapweed instead. Either way, it's a weed, although a very pretty one.
	Spikes of staghorn sumac.
	Maple-leaf viburnum with berries. Apparently these are not very good to eat so even the birds ignore them.
	Another shot of the trail heading through the open forest to yet another rock outcrop.
	This species of goldenrod is easy to identify -- it's a silverrod, the only one that is white rather than yellow.
	From the top of this hill, there's a view over Spot Pond, which is actually a pretty good-sized lake. Unlike the other reservoirs in the Fells, this one is a natural lake rather than man-made.
	Lots and lots of asters.
	Crossing the road into the Virginia Woods section of the Fells, this is the pond where the frogs weren't, any longer. Actually, a dude who got there a few minutes ahead of me told me that there were frogs, but his small son had scared them all away already.
	This ground cover with the bright red berries is partridgeberry.
	In this close-up, you can see more clearly the peculiar thing about this plant: each berry is a "siamese twin" formed from paired flowers.
	Heading southeastward, I met up with the Rock Circuit trail. Here's a typical view in this section of the park.