some good from an ill wind

It's an ill wind that blows no good. It looks like there will be a record crop of Blueberries (High Bush) and Rubus blackberries this year, almost certainly because of the way things were opened up by Irene and Sandy. Ditto Pokeweed -- although I eat the young shoots but not the berries (those beautiful purple berries are reputed to be poisonous although it's hard to believe that a berry that practically shouts 'Eat Me' can be so poisonous).

Flowers opening up right now: Multiflora Rose, Hawkweed, Arrowwood Viburnum, Poison Ivy, Catbrier, Wood-Sorrel. Also Golden Heather both in the dunes on the beach and in the upland Pine Barrens (but not here).

Steve Biasetti has sent out a Faunathon report covering the 19 years that it has taken place. No less than 380 species have been seen over the years of which 259 are birds. 116 species have been seen every single year and another 26 have been recorded in all but one or two years. If you want a copy you can e-mail me at or Steve directly at .

Eric Salzman