A Walk At Clear Pond - Part 2

I was walking the trail along Clear Pond, in the White Hill Wild Forest, with my friend, Evelyn, and all our dogs (see also Part 1, posted yesterday). The pooches were having a grand time as we explored the shoreline:

After each trip to the pond, we'd return to the main trail and walk farther into the forest to find the next water access point:

 Steeplebush was blooming, and this one was next to a lovely White Pine:

Little Clover and Daphne ran along the water at the next shoreline site we visited:

And Seamus waded right in:

Peekaboo:

Seamus, Daphne and Jack kept cool:

And Clover tiptoed through the wildflowers (mostly Spotted Knapweed and Queen Anne's Lace):

Clover and Daphne checked out the waterlilies:

And I snapped a photo of this lovely scene with Bullhead Lilies, Pickerlweed and Steeplebush:

We headed back to our car and drove the short distance to a camping area:

There, we again headed for the shoreline of Clear Pond, where Meadowsweet and Common St. Johnswort were blooming prolifically:

We explored a lovely clearing beside the water, the dogs again got wet, and then Evelyn called them back toward the car. We had six happy dogs and two happy people:

The St. Regis River Access Trail - Part 3

The dogs and I were making our way back to our parked car, yet still we took advantage of every trail which would lead us down to the river's edge:

Daphne waded out into the Bullhead-Lilies:

And I spotted these flowers which I thought were Arrowhead, but the leaves were not shaped like arrowheads. I looked it up when I got home and learned that they were Grass-Leaved Arrowhead:

More river access and more Cardinal Flowers:

Beautiful Adirondack scenery and happy dogs, both of which I'll remember fondly when I can no longer go out and hike:

This smooth rock was like a big toy for the dogs and they seemed to enjoy running back and forth across it:

A close-up of a Bullhead-Lily flower. It's not a very pretty name, but it's a nice looking flower:

Clover went in the water once more and then I called the dogs up toward the main trail again:

There was a sizeable patch of Nodding Dogbane, a poisonous plant which I see everywhere now that I know what it looks like. It has pink, bell-like flowers but apparently their flowering season was past. But then I found a few which I could photograph:

We veered off the trail again to enter a stand of pine:

We walked through the pines back toward the river but the banks were too steep, so we turned around and returned to the main trail:

Once back on the trail, we were almost to our car:

I stopped for a few more blackberries and a few blueberries:

This is a relaxed, happy part of any hike. We've seen most of the natural beauty already and the dogs' excess energy is mostly spent:


As soon as we got close to the parking area, however, the dogs broke into a run. They love to ride in the car and couldn't wait to get back to it:

The St. Regis River Access Trail - Part 2

The dogs were keeping me company as we hiked along the St. Regis River in Santa Clara, New York:

All along the river's edges, Bullhead-Lilies grew and bloomed:

And Cardinal Flowers, our wild Lobelia, blossomed in profusion:

Daphne decided that she was a water dog and waded right into the water - repeatedly:

A close-up of Cardinal Flowers:

And Steeplebush:

We found a trail along the edge of the river and walked back almost all the way to the docks and parking area, the place where we'd begun:

But then we turned back up the riverside trail and continued on our way, enjoying the grand beauty of it all as we went:

Leaving the riverbank for the main trail, we climbed up a slope and back into the trees:

Spotted Knapweed was common along the trail where it was sunny:

And of course Queen Anne's Lace:

Most of the blackberries were not ripe, but I ate those which were:

We came to a trail junction and I opted to take the easy way back. After all, we'd missed most of it coming the other way because we'd stayed so close to the river:

Dad, are you sure you know where you are going?

Lots of Common Milkweed perfumed the air as we began making our way back to the car. I'll post Part 3 tomorrow:

The St. Regis River Access Trail - Part 1

I left for the St. Regis River Access trail early in the day and got within a couple miles of our destination before I realized I'd forgotten both my cell phone and my camera. I drove all the way home and returned, adding another hour onto the trip, but it was worth it:

Black-Eyed Susans bloomed all along the roadsides and all along the trail:

And the St. Regis River was inviting. Little Jack couldn't resist wading in while Clover rolled in the wet sand:

Steeplebush was in bloom, beautifying everything:

We walked slowly, examining things along the way and taking advantage of every path we saw down to the river:

Now, here's the real reason I wanted to go here. I figured it was Cardinal Flower season and I was right. Our wild Lobelia is so very red that it seems as if it might glow in the dark:


The dogs, of course, had no regard for Cardinal Flowers and walked right past them without a nod:

They had a grand time, and Seamus looked almost gaunt after his recent haircut. In fact, he looked so thin that I increased his morning bowl of food a bit:

Jack, Fergus and Seamus all went into the water together:

Happy, happy dogs:

Clover and Daphne went into the river also, but first they had to explore a riverside trail:

And everywhere along the shore were Cardinal Flowers in bloom:

Daphne splashed and played a bit, and then held still to cool off and get a drink:

I remembered that this wildflower was called Swamp Candles, but I had to look it up when I got home to get the more common name, Yellow Loosestrife. It is a member of the Evening Primrose family:

We were the only visitors to the area so leashes were not needed. That was fine with the pooches. Notice the row of Cardinal Flowers on the left of this photo. But we had just begun, and I'll post Part 2 tomorrow: