Murphys Point

This summer I worked at Murphys Point. For the past 4 months I have squeezed every ounce of my interpretive juice for the park to keep my Jedi Master pleased. Now, with the end of August in sight and almost certainly my final summer of being a park naturalist, I have reached a shameful and unforgivable conclusion: I have hardly spent a single full day exploring the park. 

Therefore, I dedicated my last day off to a bio-blitz, no, bio-blitzkrieg if you will, of the park. Here is a photo-rich account of what you find when you get off your ass and into the field with your net and camera for some good old-fashioned Geeking! (yes, I said it).

My quest began at the McParlan House. Cardinal Flowers heralded my arrival as I crossed the drawbridge to the Rat Snake fortress...

Cardinal Flower

The Black Rat Snake peeps from his lair

I then journeyed toward the Silver Queen Mine, careful not to disturb the water, as it was guarded by a perilous patch of Water Hemlock.

Water Hemlock (Cicuta Sp.)

Though not the same plant that killed Socrates, it is nevertheless extremely poisonous! I will think twice next time I consider corrupting the minds of youth or acting "impious."

The perils were not yet over, for the parth was guarded by a fearsome beast. We did battle.

Eastern Milksnake

The Silver Queen Mine is famous for its minerals, but it is also rich in botanical curiosities. A close study of the plants in this underground garden was long overdue.

"The air doesn't smell so far down here"

Rock polypody (Polypodium virginiana)

The Liverwort Marchantia polymorpha with umbrella-like gametophores, female ova-producing structures (it gets more complicated than that).

I returned to the office library for a Gandalf-like consultation of field guides, complete with the blowing of dust from the covers (ok, a small exaggeration). But on the return, a real treasure awaited. I nice study of a Gray Comma, which I had to convince myself was not a Hoary. This time, they returned. And in greater numbers. In fact, the very sweat of my labour lured in my reward.

Gray Comma