The Drive Home - Part 2

Since I hadn't found many wildflowers along the shore of Clear Pond, I was watching along the access road on our way out from the White Hill Wild Forest (see also Part 1, posted yesterday). It was a bit late for Shadbush in bloom, but I found some:

And more Red Trilliums:

Clover watched out the window as we slowly drove past a beaver pond, causing startled Painted Turtles to slide off their logs and back into the water:

While Clover watched out the window, Daphne watched me:

We got back on the main road, but I knew another nearby location for two more species and I headed that way. The first one I came to was Marsh Marigold. They were growing and blooming in abundance:

  Marsh Marigolds like to grow in shallow water, among the cattails:

I stopped by the side of the road, beside wetlands filled with Marsh Marigolds. The dogs, of course, had to wait in the car for me:

And just up the road was a patch of Large-Flowered White Trilliums. Like the Marsh Marigolds, they bloom here every year:

They really are spectacular:

And they grew all along the road, occupying the mowed area between the forest and the blacktop. By this time we were almost home, so I put my camera away and headed back to the farm:

The Drive Home - Part 1

Our walk along Clear Pond had yielded almost no wildflowers except for Painted Trilliums, but I'd seen other species in bloom along the road in to the trail head, so kept my eyes open as we traveled back out. The first flower I saw was another Painted Trillium:

And another. They were certainly do well this year:

And someone had engineered many stone cairns all along the one lane, dirt access road:

And then I saw a large Red Trillium:

Unfurling ferns at the base of a large, old Black Cherry tree:

And Hobblebush, a wild Viburnum. We hadn't seen any by the lake which were in bloom as apparently I was too late, but deep in the forest I found a few still blooming:

A wondrous creek, making its way through the forest:

The Trout Lilies were up but not in bloom. They are long past in most parts of the country. We are always later, being a northern location, but this year we were even later than usual:

Two more tall Red Trilliums:

Every time I'd get out of the car to photograph wildflowers, the dogs would watch me anxiously. They'd rather jump out and "help," but I wouldn't let them. But there was yet more to see, and I'll post Part 2 tomorrow:

Happy Dogs At Clear Pond - Part 2

The dogs and I were enjoying the scenic beauty of Clear Pond in the White Hill Wild Forest (see also Part 1, posted yesterday). Seamus was also enjoying the chilly water:

I was photographing wildflowers, and Jack came over to "help" me with this Red Trillium:

In spite of the black flies, it was a quiet and serene experience:

We walked back into the woods and picked up the hiking trail:

But soon walked back down to the pond:

Seamus went into the water once again, but the other dogs were careful to stay dry:

But it was time to return to our car, so once again we hit the trail:

I stopped at an old house foundation:

There was also a very large concrete foundation. I've heard that this was once a Boy Scout camp. There was an entryway under the floor slab which some wild animal had been using. I was worried that my dogs might try to go in there, but they wisely chose not to:

Before we left, we stopped at the brook which carried the runoff from Clear Pond. It too was scenic:

Seamus trotted across the brook as if it wasn't even there, but Daphne and Clover weren't so sure about crossing it;

Eventually Daphne, Clover, Fergus and Seamus crossed the brook, though Jack and I walked around and used the bridge:

Soon we were back at our little red car and on our way home:

Spring Flora White Hill Wild Forest - Part 2

I was walking around Clear Pond with the dogs and photographing whatever spring flowers I could find. I saw lots of Hobblebush, which often looked as if it was artfully arranged by a professional landscaper:

 Painted Trillium:

I couldn't identify this Violet, but perhaps it was a Broad-Leafed Wood Violet:

 Red Trillium:

 Trout Lilies were up but not yet in bloom:

I guessed these to be emerging Canada Mayflowers. Everything is so late this year that we may want to rename them Canada June-flower:

 Painted Trillium:

 Red Trillium:

 Coltsfoot is usually the first flower of all, and to find it so late in the season was confirmation to me that spring was much delayed this year:

 Red Trilliums:

We were on our way out when I saw patch of Marsh Marigolds, with a State Forest sign in front of them. Tomorrow I'll post about the dogs and their happy romp along the edge of Clear Pond:

A Spec-top-ular Experience On Coney Mountain - Part 2

We were hiking our way up to the top of Coney Mountain, the dogs and I, and enjoying the wildflowers along the way. Spring Beauties were in full bloom:

And Red Trilliums:

The climb was gradual and quite easy, even for an old codger like me:

And the dogs would stop and wait for me every so often:

We were nearing the summit:

The incline turned steeper:

And rockier:

And higher:

We were almost there:

Maybe this was the last incline?:

No, there was one more:

Ah, we made it. Coney mountain has a wonderful, 360 degree view and you can see why I coined the word, "spec-top-ular." The dogs were quite happy and so was I. I'll post Part 3 tomorrow: