Morning glory
All I did was write about drought, hot days and lack of various mushrooms. Mother Nature made a fibber out of me. However, the U.S. Drought Monitor map released this past Thursday, Aug. 15, still showed portions of the northern two-thirds of Venango County in the abnormally dry category.
Despite only a trace of precipitation from the remnants of Debby, Franklin received 1.93 inches on Aug. 7, according to National Weather Service data. The rainfall total so far for August 2024 is 4.18 inches which is above the normal of 2.49 inches for August. Franklin’s precipitation-to-date for Aug. 17 came in at 33.23 inches which was above the average of 30.11 inches.
Elderberries
The U.S. Drought Monitor’s Aug. 15 report removed several counites in the middle of the state from drought designations. Although, the western half of Elk County was still listed as abnormally dry despite some rain from Debby. Several posts on the Friends of Benezette Facebook group showed muddy water inundating several places. A video revealed that the driveway for the Elk Country Visitor Center turned into a raging downhill river. A PennDOT news release from Aug. 9 announced that “a section of Route 555 in Elk and Cameron counties has been closed due to flooding."
“As of 11 a.m. Route 555 is closed from the intersection of Rock Hill Road in Benezette Township, Elk County, to the intersection of Route 120 in Driftwood Borough, Cameron County,” the release stated. The road was later opened after flood waters receded.
“As of 11 a.m. Route 555 is closed from the intersection of Rock Hill Road in Benezette Township, Elk County, to the intersection of Route 120 in Driftwood Borough, Cameron County,” the release stated. The road was later opened after flood waters receded.
Sensitive fern
A review of National Weather Service data from the DuBois Regional Airport in Clearfield County displayed the precipitation totals for the region.
The weather station reported that on Aug. 9 the region received 1.28 inches of rain after seeing two days with .8 inches of accumulation. The region experienced 3.79 inches of rain so far in August which was well above the normal of 1.3 inches for the entire month.
The weather station reported that on Aug. 9 the region received 1.28 inches of rain after seeing two days with .8 inches of accumulation. The region experienced 3.79 inches of rain so far in August which was well above the normal of 1.3 inches for the entire month.
Begonia
The precipitation-to-date at DuBois Regional airport was reported at 31.87 inches for Aug. 17. That total is above the normal level of 27.27 inches.
Meanwhile the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center’s six-to10-day outlook valid for Aug. 17 to 21 called for near normal temperatures and a slightly above average chance of precipitation.
However, the outlook for Aug. 22 to 26, called for a slight chance of below normal temperatures and a 40 to 50 percent chance of below average precipitation.
While the weekend was a little wet, the upcoming forecast called for things to dry up after that. l did not see a chance of rain until Thursday, Aug. 29.
Meanwhile the National Weather Service’s Climate Prediction Center’s six-to10-day outlook valid for Aug. 17 to 21 called for near normal temperatures and a slightly above average chance of precipitation.
However, the outlook for Aug. 22 to 26, called for a slight chance of below normal temperatures and a 40 to 50 percent chance of below average precipitation.
While the weekend was a little wet, the upcoming forecast called for things to dry up after that. l did not see a chance of rain until Thursday, Aug. 29.
Oyster mushrooms
The moisture from last week's rain aided in a boom of mushroom growth. The tables have turned. I am not seeing any jack-o-lantern mushrooms. Other varieties were popping up every day.
After the rain, I couldn't believe my eyes. At the amount of Oyster mushrooms appearing on dead trees. While there were several lookalikes for the fungus, I was able to confirm my identification by smell.
Author Walter E. Sturgeon wrote that the " odor (was) fragrant at times... anise-like or fruity. "
It was a very nice smell for a mushroom. Although I had to admit that I never sniffed a fungus before.
After the rain, I couldn't believe my eyes. At the amount of Oyster mushrooms appearing on dead trees. While there were several lookalikes for the fungus, I was able to confirm my identification by smell.
Author Walter E. Sturgeon wrote that the " odor (was) fragrant at times... anise-like or fruity. "
It was a very nice smell for a mushroom. Although I had to admit that I never sniffed a fungus before.
Parasol mushroom
American parasol mushrooms also decorated our trails in the woods.
Sturgeon described the cap as a choice edible, but the stem should be discarded.
"The true Macrolepiota procera is a species known from Europe. Our species differs but in most guides it can be found under this name. … Our Parasol Mushroom will someday have a new name", Sturgeon added in his explanation of the mushroom. As I kid, I would find these and give them to my Grandfather Weckerly who liked to eat them fried in butter. However, at the time we knew the mushrooms by a different name.
Sturgeon described the cap as a choice edible, but the stem should be discarded.
"The true Macrolepiota procera is a species known from Europe. Our species differs but in most guides it can be found under this name. … Our Parasol Mushroom will someday have a new name", Sturgeon added in his explanation of the mushroom. As I kid, I would find these and give them to my Grandfather Weckerly who liked to eat them fried in butter. However, at the time we knew the mushrooms by a different name.
Bolete mushrooms
Various Bolete mushrooms were scattered about the forest floor. Identification for me was tricky. For a proper identification, a spore print and dissection were needed
The Western PA mushroom club has a great guide Boletes on their website at Boletes | The Bolete Filter (wpamushroomclub.org).
Some boletes were edible, some were not. Nonetheless, a few boletes in my area were consumed and I was fairly sure that it wasn’t by humans.
The Western PA mushroom club has a great guide Boletes on their website at Boletes | The Bolete Filter (wpamushroomclub.org).
Some boletes were edible, some were not. Nonetheless, a few boletes in my area were consumed and I was fairly sure that it wasn’t by humans.
Sunflower with fritillary butterfly and bumblebee
Meanwhile, other plants benefitted from the rainfall. Jewelweed blooms were observed as well as hawthorn berries. The sunflowers went crazy and were attracting bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Despite my previous observation of short stalks, quite a few rose the occasion and were towering over the rest.
Ruby-throated hummingbirds
While the hummingbirds had many flowers to eat from, they still chose to squabble over the feeders. I believe at last count; we were up to eight or nine fighting over the two front feeders
That total didn’t include the feeder in the backyard.
I had read a post on Facebook that stated that the male hummingbirds would start their departure by the end of August. Local birder Gary Edwards in his book” Birds of Venango County” listed the hummers latest departure date as October 9.
That total didn’t include the feeder in the backyard.
I had read a post on Facebook that stated that the male hummingbirds would start their departure by the end of August. Local birder Gary Edwards in his book” Birds of Venango County” listed the hummers latest departure date as October 9.
Sadie
As the rain helped green up the garden, it washed the color out of the neighbor's pond. I felt confident enough to let the dogs back in to swim.as the water had cleared from signs of an algal bloom.
However, my relief was short-lived. After four or five days the pond returned to being green. I took a few water samples and turned to my microscope to deduce a culprit.
My samples and some random research led me to some little … critters called Euglena.
"Euglena is a genus of single cell flagellate eukaryotes. ... Species of Euglena are found in fresh water and salt water. They are often abundant in quiet inland waters where they may bloom in numbers sufficient to color the surface of ponds and ditches green (E. viridis) or red (E. sanguinea), " a post on Wikipedia said.
However, my relief was short-lived. After four or five days the pond returned to being green. I took a few water samples and turned to my microscope to deduce a culprit.
My samples and some random research led me to some little … critters called Euglena.
"Euglena is a genus of single cell flagellate eukaryotes. ... Species of Euglena are found in fresh water and salt water. They are often abundant in quiet inland waters where they may bloom in numbers sufficient to color the surface of ponds and ditches green (E. viridis) or red (E. sanguinea), " a post on Wikipedia said.
Euglena
Further exploration led me to confirm the Wikipedia entry that euglena viridis was responsible for green blooms while Euglena sanguinea was responsible for the red ones. The red blooms were often referred to as red tides. The blooms are deadly to fish as they obstruct the fish’s breathing.
Since the bloom in the pond was green, I focused my efforts on euglena viridis.
An overview of the flagellate on microbenotes.com provided some useful information.
"It is a solitary and free-living freshwater flagellate. It is found in great numbers in stagnant freshwater ponds, pools, ditches, and slowly-running streams, etc., containing a considerable amount of vegetation,” the post stated. “Ponds in well-maintained gardens, containing decaying nitrogenous organic matter, such as feces of animals, leaves, twigs, etc., are a good source of this organism. It multiplies rapidly and forms green scum on the water surface (like algal blooms) under favorable conditions.”
Since the bloom in the pond was green, I focused my efforts on euglena viridis.
An overview of the flagellate on microbenotes.com provided some useful information.
"It is a solitary and free-living freshwater flagellate. It is found in great numbers in stagnant freshwater ponds, pools, ditches, and slowly-running streams, etc., containing a considerable amount of vegetation,” the post stated. “Ponds in well-maintained gardens, containing decaying nitrogenous organic matter, such as feces of animals, leaves, twigs, etc., are a good source of this organism. It multiplies rapidly and forms green scum on the water surface (like algal blooms) under favorable conditions.”
| Another post from the National Center for Biotechnology Information’s website investigated research that tried to narrow down which euglenophytes were responsible for the harmful algae blooms. “Euglena sanguinea is known to produce the alkaloid toxin euglenophycin and is known to cause fish kills and inhibit mammalian tissue and microalgal culture growth. An analysis of over 30 species of euglenoids for accumulation of euglenophycin identified six additional species producing the toxin; and six of the seven E. sanguinea strains produced the toxin,” an abstract on the study said. If I understood the information correctly, while Euglena virdis was involved in the testing it was not found to produce the toxin. Another post on the center’s website added an interesting tidbit of information about the toxin created by euglenophytes. |   Euglena |
An abstract stated that “a Euglena-derived natural product, has shown that it can be utilized as a potential anti-cancer drug.”
In the meanwhile, another bout of rain cleared the neighbor’s pond again of the second algae bloom. While the gardens and the forest's received water recently, forecasts said that may be it for quite a few days. Mother Nature is the only one who knows; and she likes to make a liar out of me. That’s just the nature of things ‘round here.
In the meanwhile, another bout of rain cleared the neighbor’s pond again of the second algae bloom. While the gardens and the forest's received water recently, forecasts said that may be it for quite a few days. Mother Nature is the only one who knows; and she likes to make a liar out of me. That’s just the nature of things ‘round here.
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