Phenology

Observations by Gary Fewless for Green Bay WI (Lat.N 44.51° Long. W 88.02° ), except as noted. For flowers lacking conspicuous petals or sepals I define "anthesis" as release of pollen by mature anthers.

August 2002

Observations by Gary Fewless, except as noted

Date	Observation (Click on links for photos)
Aug25	Immature Little Brown Bats (Myotis lucifugus) hanging out on on shaded sides of building during the day. I now expect to hear from people who have bats in their homes as immature bats are curious about new openings and spaces such as dryer vents, bathroom ceiling fan vents and other odd "entrances" to peoples homes. Best bet is to leave your a door or window open and let them find their way back out. Broadway District if Green Bay (Matt Welter).
Aug23	A few leaves of Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta) turning red, Oneida County (Gary Fewless).
Aug21	The first sign of fall leaf color change in northeastern Wisconsin (at least for this year) is the yellowing of the leaves of Spreading Dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium), Florence County (Gary Fewless).
Aug21	Gray Goldenrod (Solidago nemoralis) in flower, UWGB (Gary Fewless). I'm seeing a few red leaves on Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta) and Gray Dogwood (Cornus racemosa) on UWGB's Cofrin Arboretum, but most plants are still fully green.
Aug18	Whorled Milkweed (Asclepias verticillata) in flower, Brown County, Town of Suamico (Gary Fewless). It appears to have been in flower for several days.
Aug17	Great Blue Lobelia (Lobelia siphilitica) well into flower, Baird Creek area (Gary Fewless). It has probably been flowering for at least 3-4 days. We are getting to the point where there are not many species of plants that haven't flowered yet. The conspicuous species not yet in flower include several prominent Asters, Goldenrods and Sunflowers. The trees in the Green Bay area are still in full summer green. We may begin to see color change in the earliest species within the next couple of weeks, especially in stressed or less robust individuals. Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) and the vine Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta) are among the first woody species to begin leaf color changes in our area.
Aug16	Purple False Foxglove (Gerardia purpurea) well into flower, Door County. I estimate that it has been in flower for at least 4-5 days and maybe longer (Gary Fewless).
Aug15	Large-leaved Aster (Aster macrophyllus) is in flower in Brown County (Gary Fewless). It has probably been flowering for at least several days and maybe more. In forests this species may be present in very large numbers as sterile (non-flowering) plants. If an opening in the canopy occurs, they may flower in large numbers in the next growing season.
Aug13	Prairie Dock (Silphium terebinthinaceum) in flower, UWGB (Gary Fewless). This is a planted individual in the prairie on the Cofrin Arboretum. In 9 years of observations of this same individual plant this is by far the latest it has flowered. Previous observations ranged from 07/21 to 07/29, with an average of 07/26. Prairie Dock makes a very good phenology subject because individual plants are large and easy to locate, the flowers are large and conspicuous, and individuals live for a very long time. Common Nighthawks migrating, Sauk County (Andy Paulios).
Aug10	White Snakeroot (Eupatorium rugosum) in flower, Bairds Creek area (Gary Fewless).
Aug09	Canada Geese are beginning to aggregate in the East River adjacent to the marshes at night (Gary Fewless). A sign of the imminent change of seasons.
Aug08	The first open flowers of Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) at UWGB (Gary Fewless). This is a good time of year to see clearly the clonal nature of the Golednrods. As you look across a field you can see the earliest flowering plants (mostly Solidago gigantea at this stage in the Green Bay area) as distinct "islands" in the field. Each flowering group (clone) may actually represent a single individual plant, the stems all connected belowground.
Aug07	Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) in flower (apparently for at least several days), Florence County (Gary Fewless).
Aug06	Flat-topped Aster (Aster Umbellatus) in flower, Florence County (Gary Fewless).
Aug05	Pearly Everlasting (Anaphalis margaritacea), Flat-leaved Bladderwort (Utricularia intermedia) and the very first flowering plants of Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) and Northern Bog Goldenrod (Solidago uliginosa) in flower, Florence County (Gary Fewless). Yellow Warblers migrating south,Wisconsin Point, Superior, WI (Andy Paulios).
Aug04	Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) and Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) both in flower (anthesis) Baird Creek area, and Allouez (Gary Fewless). Common Ragweed is by far the most serious problem for August and early September hayfever. At this time of year many people begin to complain of "summer colds" and many will even remark that they seem to get a summer cold every year at this time. It may very well be that they are suffering from Ragweed hayfever. One plant of Giant Sunflower (Helianthus giganteus) with 3 open flowers seen, Baird Creek area (Gary Fewless). Fresh, recently emerged Viceroy and Black Swallowtail butterflies, Baird Creek (Gary Fewless).
Aug03	Wild Clematis (Clematis virginiana), Allouez (Gary Fewelss).
Aug02	Wild Cucumber (Echinocystis lobata) first flower, Allouez, along the East River (Gary Fewless).