NATURE NOTES - Springton Lake Village
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Vo lu m e 1 7 , N o . 3
T h e S p r i n g t o n L a ke Vi lla g e Ma r c h 2 0 2 1
VOICE
NATURE NOTES
Skunk Cabbage, Symplocarpus foetidus, is a large-leafed plant that grows in wet areas, es-
pecially near streams, ponds, marshes, and wet woods. We have it near the bridge on the
path. It is easy to recognize, with its huge leaves rising directly from the ground. Skunk Cab-
bage is one of the first plants to bloom in the spring, and may bloom from February to May.
The first part of the plant to appear is the spathe. The spathe is a brownish-purple, shell-like
pod with green splotches. As the spathe gets bigger, it will reveal another part inside, called
a spadix. The spadix is a little knob covered with small yellow flowers. By late spring, the
Skunk Cabbage will send up a tightly rolled leaf. When the leaf unfurls, it may be one to
two feet long and a foot wide.
When leaves are bruised or crushed, the plant releases a strong odor which smells like
rotten meat. This smell attracts insects. Insects find the flowers of the Skunk Cabbage
and pollinate the plant by taking pollen from one cabbage to another. Many fly species,
as well as some butterflies, bees, and beetles pollinate Skunk Cabbage. In the fall,
Skunk Cabbage leaves fall over and begin to rot. Many animals, including slugs, milli-
pedes, and isopods eat the old leaves but Skunk Cabbage leaves are poisonous to
mammals (including us). The large fallen leaves also provide good shelter for small ani-
mals. In late winter and early spring, the new flowers give off heat. This heat is strong
enough to melt snow around the plant. Flies and other insects seek their warmth.
In late spring, the Common Yellowthroat will sometimes build its nest in the hollow of
large Skunk Cabbage leaves. Wood Ducks and Northern Bobwhites eat Skunk Cab-
bage seeds. Some plants that often grow alongside of Skunk Cabbage include sedges,
jewelweeds, and Marsh Marigold.
Why do Geese honk when they fly over? (from Birder’s World) Canada Geese have a ritual of pre-flight be-
havior, including vocalizing. The calling alerts other geese, often members of the immediate family, to gath-
er together and prepare to take off. Once in flight, loud honking starts. The honks are “contact calls” and
are thought to help coordinate the movement of family groups and the flock as a whole, as well as to com-
municate the status of individuals in the flock. Many other species call in flight, but they are not as noticea-
ble as geese. Almost all songbirds make frequent contact calls when migrating at night. They tend to fly in
loose groups, so they use the calls to communicate and stay on course. The calls increase toward daylight,
perhaps communicating where to land, perhaps even from birds that have already found a stopover site.
Swans: Be on the lookout for Tundra Swans (formerly known as Whistling
Swans) as they migrate north in late February or March to nest on the Arctic tun-
dra. Adult Tundra Swans are white with straight necks, black legs and bills and a
tiny spot of yellow in front of each eye. Juveniles are gray with a flesh colored
base to the bill and no yellow. The swans weigh up to 20 lbs. and their wingspan
is almost 7 feet. Their call is a goose-like nasal or musical honking, often three
notes. They also have a whinny or barking sound.
Page 2 Volume 17, No. 3
CICADAS
If your goal in 2021 is to be loud about what you want, you'll have
some competition from some occasional visitors to Pennsylvania.
Prepare to say hello to a whole lot of Brood X, or Great Eastern
Brood, cicadas. They only emerge from the ground in large num-
bers every 17 years, and they make a big impression when they
do.
If you thought the annual cicadas that serenade you on summer
nights were loud and prolific, that's nothing compared to what's headed Adult Cicada
Pennsylvania's way this May, give or take a few weeks.
Count on billions of these periodical cicadas tuning up in Mid-Atlantic and Midwest states. There are two
species of periodical cicadas — the 17-year cicadas, found in northern states, and the 13-year cicadas,
found in the South. This is either wondrous or woeful.
It's wonderful because the synchronized emergence of Magicicada cassinii, as this cicada brood is scien-
tifically known, is a true marvel of nature. The species' extraordinarily long life cycle — the longest of any
insect on the planet — is part of an evolutionary strategy that has allowed the cicada to survive for 1.8 mil-
lion years, or from the Pleistocene Epoch, But if you enjoy the silence of long spring evenings, this news is
less than thrilling. When these cicadas all tune up at once — which they're wont to do because the survival
of the species depends on hooking up — you may want to be anywhere but here, especially if we're all still
isolating because of the coronavirus.
The collective song of male cicadas calling for mates can reach up to 100 decibels. Think of a Harley-
Davidson motorcycle with straight pipes constantly running outside your window, minus the exhaust
fumes.
The male cicadas are the ones that make all the noise. They do it by vibrating their tymbals.
What are tymbals? Tymbals are "two rigid, drum-like membranes on the undersides of their abdomens."
Newly adult cicadas are in a rush to mate because they don't live very long after that — three, maybe four,
weeks. The females don't have tymbals and can't produce the same sounds. They wait quietly to do their
job in perpetuating the species, which is to lay as many eggs as possible, up to 600 over their short life-
time.
After mating, the females split the bark on living tree trunks, branches and twigs, burrow in and lay be-
tween 24 and 48 eggs at a time. And repeat.
Of course, scientifically, it's significantly more complicated than that.
If you're on the terrible-not-wonderful side of the 17-year cicada emergence equation, think of it this way:
You'll get to bear witness to what is still an unfolding scientific mystery. Scientists can't entirely explain the
synchronized emergence of periodical cicadas, but one evolutionary hypothesis is that the forced develop-
mental delay was an adaptation to climate cooling during the ice ages.
This is a scientific rabbit hole, so perhaps it's best just to see it as a sign of rebirth for 2021 after a year no
human on the planet wants to see repeated.
From Tredyffrin-Easttown Patch - Thanks to Deb Welter
VOICE Page 3
“MEDICAL” TERMS
Barium ..... What doctors do when patients die.
Cesarean Section ..... A neighborhood in Rome.
Catscan ..... Searching for Kitty.
Cauterize ..... Made eye contact with her.
Colic ........... A sheep dog.
Coma .......... A punctuation mark.
D&C ............ Where Washington is.
Dilate .......... To live long.
Enema ........ Not a friend.
Fester ......... Quicker than someone else.
Fibula ......... A small lie.
Genital ........ Non-Jewish person.
G.I.Series ... World Series of military baseball.
Hangnail ..... What you hang your coat on.
Impotent ..... Distinguished, well known.
Labor Pain .. Getting hurt at work.
Medical Staff .. A Doctor's cane.
Morbid ......... A higher offer than I bid.
Nitrates ....... Cheaper than day rates.
Node ........... I knew it.
Outpatient ... A person who has fainted.
Pap Smear .. A fatherhood test.
Pelvis .......... Second cousin to Elvis.
Post operative .. A letter carrier.
Recovery Room .. Place to do upholstery.
Rectum ....... Damn near killed him.
Secretion .... Hiding something.
Seizure ....... Roman Emperor.
Tablet ......... A small table.
Terminal Illness ... Getting sick at the airport.
Tumor ......... More than one.
Urine ......... Opposite of you're out.
Varicose ..... Near by/close by.
T h e S p r i n gt o n L a ke SPRINGTON LAKE VILLAGE
V il l a g e V o ic e
M a rt i na M a rt i n, Edi t or “Leading the way in creative 55+ housing”
Springton Lake Village is a cooperative community of 40 residences for individuals and
couples, 55 or older, established in 2002. Upscale and independent, with a neighborhood
feel, no additional residences will ever be built. There are no entrance fees. Equity owner-
ship assures members a say in how the community is run.
It is located in Marple Township, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and is operated by
101 Longview Circle
Media, PA 19063-2075 Springton Housing Association Cooperative , Inc., a non-profit corporation owned by the
residents. The Village is convenient to Philadelphia’s Main Line and the cultural, recrea-
tional and sports attractions of one of America’s great cities.
We’re on the Web! Ridley Creek State Park and Tyler Arboretum are close by, as are Delaware County’s finest
springtonlakevillage.com country clubs. There is convenient access to Interstate 476 and U.S. Route 1.
Our waterfront community features the serenity of Springton Lake and its half mile of pris-
tine shoreline. Residents enjoy peaceful woods, clean air, open skies, beautiful sunsets, a
walking path that winds through the property, a fitness center, and a flexible dining plan
four nights a week in the multi-purpose Clubhouse.
Springton is associated with nearby Dunwoody Village and White Horse Village, acclaimed
and accredited continuing care retirement communities with long term care facilities.
3/5 John Peters
3/5 Maggie Skitarelic
3/12 Alan Corson
3/21 Chuck Burr
3/21 Jerry Vogelsberg
MANAGEMENT REPORT
The snow has been beautiful here at
Springton, but we have had enough!
Spring is right around the corner and the
days are getting longer.
Downend Landscaping will begin the spring
property cleanup in late March. If possible,
prior to them mulching the beds, make
sure you identify your plants that are not
“weeds”.
As always, contact the office if you need
anything.
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