more on Connetquot and flowers

Here are Mike Bottini's comments on yesterday's post about Connetquot:

"I'm not sure how you are defining 'largest' (flow volume?), but the Peconic is the longest river on Long Island. The famous trout fishing at the park stems from the fact that the trout there were fed (twice a day), resulting in some huge fish concentrated in a relatively small area. Very unnatural and the antithesis of what trout fishing is all about. I considered it a type of zoo. Those conditions probably led to the outbreak that shut them down. Freshwater fish management here, and many other areas, is archaic. They are stuck in the 'stock and hook' mode, with stocking based on what people want to catch, not what is native, sustainable, and ecologically appropriate."

I think the notion that Connetquot was LI's largest river was indeed based on flow volume. In any case, it's worth noting that three of our four major rivers -- Connetquot, Peconic and Carmen's -- are Pine Barrens rivers that originate from ground water springs rather than run-off (not sure about the fourth, the Nissaquogue, but I think it is similar). These rivers are all constantly pumped up by ground water seeping in all along their course.

As to Mike's remarks about the fish hatchery, I have to say that I agree completely. I'm not sure if the hatchery is being reopened on the same basis as before but the likelihood of further outbreaks is very high. There are, by the way, a few fisherman still there trying their luck.

I'm trying to keep up with the flower calendar but keeping falling behind. The Catalpa trees are already past their prime (I don't think they had a very good year). At least two different kinds of loosestrife are in bloom: Whorled Loosestrife and what I think is a garden escape. The first Sheep's-bit, the violet-blue Jasione montana, are also coming up. That's a plant that I had a lot of trouble identifying as it is not in the Peterson Wild Flower book. A single wild rose (Virginia Rose or Marsh Rose, I am never quite sure) showed up yesterday and more are on the way. Sandy wiped out most of our local wild rose (which was on the edge of the marsh area and must have been flooded out) but at least one big stand along one of our right-of-ways survived and is starting to bloom. Multiflora rose and rambler roses are already in flower along with garden varieties but the native wild rose is still the most beautiful in my eyes.

A single Great Blue Heron is hanging around after all its brethren (and sisteren) have left us for their breeding grounds up north. Still missing: the Little Blue.

Eric Salzman