March 28, 2008

Jekyll Island: Warm and sunny. Walk from the campground down to the historic district this afternoon, maybe four to five miles in all, the wind gentle and steady. Webworms seen in one tree, already crawling outside their web. (We had seen them from the road near Columbia on the 25th.) Wild grape noticed for the first time. A different five-petaled yellow ground flower found and photographed before it lost all its petals around 3:00 p.m. Oxalis, yellow and violet common, as was the flax-like flower. One obvious zeitgeber was the thin bamboo that grows along the roads and bike paths. New bamboo sprouts had emerged maybe a week or two ago, some of the spears three to four feet. Cherokee roses in full bloom near the Jekyll Island Club, and more dogwoods and azaleas seen, and one crab apple in full flower. Plantings around the historic houses were mostly bright, tall snapdragons. Assorted grasses and plantains seen but not photographed. As we walked, cardinals (redder here and with a different accent), doves and mocking birds heard. Slash pine, the giant trees with squares or shingles of bark, identified. Several orange and yellow lantana plants found coming up from the dock walk in front of the Club. On the news tonight, pictures of full bloom of cherry trees in Washington D.C.