I'm not sure what these are, but the bees love them.
Marsh grasses stretch toward the town of Dedham in this view from atop the railroad embankment.
I found this hatchling snapping turtle, Chelydra serpentina, right on the path. In this area, the turtles come out of the river in June to lay their eggs, which hatch in September.
Since I was going its way, I brought it with me. I left it at the edge of the river, where it promptly buried itself in the mud. In a few years, if it survives the myriad perils of life in the wild, it'll look like this.
September must be a great time to be a butterfly or a bee, judging from the vast array of flowers about.
This view of the Charles River was taken from the railroad bridge just across the town line in Dedham. Across the river is West Roxbury, part of the City of Boston.
This was a snapping turtle nest, but it's been raided by a skunk or other scavenger. All that is left are bits of leathery white egg shell.
Homeward bound, I emerge from the tunnel under the railroad embankment into dense forest.
The toadstool is here, but where is the toad?
Monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, are common here.