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October 7, 1962 - Fall Flowers Fall Flowers Exclusive Sunday Review Sketch by Dennis Puleston of Brookhaven Focus on Nature by Poul Stoutenburgh, Cutchogue Nature's last extravaganza is her final burst of color in the fall. Surely this is a fitting tribute to a splendid season of color and delight. Starting the parade of blossom in the spring was t he lowly skunk cabaage, then con- ti n u i n g through a wide and - varied field of color we arrive at the present fall spectacular. Like so many performances, the finale often surpasses all the rest. . Now to start our pageant of fall is autumns own color — yellow. Here, in the Goldenrods and Sun- flowers, we are brought into the mood of harvest time and falling leaves. From the common road- side varieties, down through the wide and varied types, we go to tha sea's edge to find the splend- id Seaside Goldenrod. This, above all others, is my favorite f or hems is a plant that seems to thrive in the most severe envir- onment. Its roots mingle w it h the tide and in place of the tra- ditional brown soil, white beach sand is found. Salt spray and stormy winds only seem to en- hance the color of the goldenrod, but then these are the miracles of Nature that you and I may never know. Further along the beach we come to the many creeks and meadows that are so typical of our eastern Long Island Shores. Here the Sea Lavender adds a touch of blue to the opening golden m e a d o w s. Many a time I have picked a large bouquet of these tiny del- icate flowers in hopes of preserv- ing ' their blossoms through the long winter months. Dried, they hold their delicate blue color sur- prisingly well and they are a continual remainder that warmer clays will come. AS another location we seek out tare less common Sea Pink. A low, frail pink flower centered with bright yellow. The slightest breeze will set ifs head nodding. A more perfect flower is hard to find for although its seems ever so delicate, Nature has left nothing out in its exquisite make- up. A more stable and wiry plant found in the meadows is t he common Marsh Fleabane. Strong scented, it grows in huge clusters treading near the edge of t he salt marsh. Towering in the back- ground, with its larg soft pink blossoms, is the queen of t h is fairyland - the Marsh Mallow. Its prime requirement is m o i s t soil. I have a close -up of t his flower that stirs the imagination and wonder of all who see it. It is rare glimpses into the secrets of a flower such as this t h a t make so many of us life -long fol- lowers of all that grows afield. Hover can one help `jx be, charm- ed? surely when man no longer takes notice of ther1r the world will be sad9y :_111s reed of repair: As we leave the salt mars -es and head along the edge of the woods and fields, we are greeted eve ^ :ywhere by the fall A s t e r s. L'..te the Ga'.d prod, the Asters belong to a wide a n d varied clan. Perhaps the largest and most spectacular is the New England Aster which, because of its size and color, has found a place in many of our gardens. But much of life is not concerned with the large and showy. New York State alone has over 50 different spec- ies of Asters, so we can see the wealth of variety in colof and size that greets us. Some are tall and others short - soma are blue and others white - some 1 i k e rich moist soils and others dry sandy soils but no matter what the 'requirement might be, there is always a fall Aster to meet. it. Another plant that looks very much like an Aster, but is not, is our Blazing Star. Here, scat- tered throughout the Island, we find the rich purplezblue flowers adding their touch of color to our fall display. The south side in particular is well b l e s s e d, while Montauk has the most, flourishing ground. Continuing our walk, we a r e' reminded of the many flowers that strive to be seen though they started their show months ago. Butter and Eggs . is persistent and blooms right through t i 11 frost, whle the tall Jewel Weed never seems to think that bloom- ing should ever come to an end. The Joe -Pye Weed and Bone - set are reminders of eras gone by. The common Thistle adds its own touch of glamour with '"th seed pods and flowers; w h i l e the clumps of Pear ?y Everlasting and the giant Rattlesnake -r o o t greet us along the roadside as we head homeward. Out walk has barely touched the wealth of fall flowsTs about us. It is a shame indeed t h at more do not get out to acclaim this most spectacular of . seasons. Soon it will all be gone and this wonderland shall lay beneath the dry brown :eaves and sleep. Only then "perhaps will' we realize the wonders and 'joys of Nature's garden that greet us t'roughout the growing seasons. FIELD OBSERVATIONS L Ernest reports: Mecox - September 23 Baldpates Pintails (8) Wilson's Snipe 10 Southampton - September 25 Night Hawks (4) Parula War'yler Hampton Bays - September 25 Juncos White- throated - Sparrows Red - tailed Hawk Lincoln's Sparrow (4) Blue - headed Vireo Philadelpbia Vireo Yellow- bellied Sapsucker, $lueNrds Winter Wtem� White- throitt(O Sparrow Black and�"�v,*�hite Warbler Nashville 'Warbler Tennessee Warbler Parula Warbler Yellow Warbler Magnolia Warbler Cape May War'31er Black- throated Blue Warbler Myrtle Warbler Black - throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Bay - breasted War'iler g;ack -poll Warbler Pine Warbler Palm Warbler over-bird Northern Water- tlirush ' Yellow- throat Redstart Shinnecock Inlet American Egret (16) Snowy Egret (68) Brant Mpriches Inlet Duck Hawk oyster-catcher (4) Hudsonian Curlew (2) Dennis puteston reports: + Fire Island - September 29 Orange - crowned Warbler Palm Warbler Black- throated Green Warbler Quogue' $each - September 30 Lincoln's Sparrow Indigo Buntings White- crown =d Sparrow Duck Hawk Sparrow Hawks (10) Pigeon Hawks (2) Brookhaven - October 1 Wood Pewees (2- Black-poll Wanglers (3) Wilson's Warbler Ruby - crowned Kinglets (5) Golden- crowned Kinglet Gilbert Raynor reports: Week of September 23-30 Manorville Wood Duck (2)