Wildflowers Walk on April 8

We took Yellow Trail 12 to the Island looking for Trillium.   Not yet, but plenty of Skunk Cabbage.  It was a cloudy day so the Lesser Celendine was not open.   We saw Spring Beauty buds but not full flower - which we had seen on Tuesday on Trail 13.      The photo  from the walk shows Jane pointing to the "State Champion"  Butternut Hickory which was struck by lightning in 1997.  CLICK HERE to see it big and read the sign insert.

Before the walk we spent some time learning to use Newcomb's Wildflower Guide.   Irregular flower, opposite leaves, lobed = locator key 143.   ahh- ground ivy - Gill on the Ground   On another weed Jane showed us the long pointy seedpods which identify it as belonging to the mustard family.   Herb Minkus had told us on Monday that it was Bittercress. --  CLICK HERE - look familiar? scroll down for a photo of the weed growing out of gravel.  We saw plenty of both weeds on our walk.