FRENCH CREEK WATERSHED

Gary and I discovered a magical place just about 2 miles from our home. We knew it was there, had known about it for many years, and like so many other areas you would like to visit, we always were gonna stop. Well today we did stop. We walked for over an hour and a half, and were truly enthralled by all the beauty. Old sometimes virgin timber, mostly Hemlock. Lots of rotten trees either blown over by the wind or just dead and decaying covered with fuzzy moss, with plenty of dining room for the woodpeckers. The path is covered with tiny cones from the Hemlock trees, and millions of pine needles, making the walk very quiet. The trail follows French Creek from high up on the bank and affording plenty of viewing areas down on the water.
Take a few minutes and scroll through the photos, and imagine yourself on a relaxing walk back in time, inhaling all the forest smells and listening to the spring songs of all the resident birds.
The first photo is some Slider Turtles sunbathing.

Dried Teasel left over from last year.

This could be Carolina Spring Beauty ? ?

Silky Parchment

Ground Pine. Good for using in Christmas wreaths.

Cones from the Hemlock tree, covering the walking trail.

These are Mertensia, or Virginia Cowslip. Aren't they just beautiful. There was a large area of these growing about 12" above the ground.

Moss

May-Apple

White Trillium

This tree has been worked over by a Pileated Woodpecker.

EARLY MORNING WALK

Azalea

Even though they aren't open all the way, these lilacs still have that WONDERFUL fragrance !

After the rain, the sun came out last evening and in between storms, I took a walk around our property and on the nature trails.
This first picture is of my garlic and chives.

A cute little American Toad trying to hide.

A couple tulips.

Clouds after the rain.

Now that my walk is over, the sky looks threatening again.

NEXT, A BREAK IN THE WEATHER

Now we are in a weather break. There is temporary clearing, but another smaller storm looms on the horizon. We've had a 15º drop in temperature and added fog.

STORM BREWING

As we speak there is a storm coming at us from the West. The wind is picking up and the clouds are really moving. I checked the radar and not too much lightening. It shouldn't last too long, but it has been yucky all day. A good day to stay inside and bake bread.

WET AND RAINY DAY

This creek is French Creek about 1 mile above our home.
The Baltimore Orioles arrived this morning too. There are 2 pair here, and they really LOVE Grape Jelly. I've put out oranges too, but the jelly will disappear first.

NEW ARRIVAL THIS MORNING

This Rosebreasted Grosbeak arrived early this morning. There will be more coming along later. A cloudy and sometimes wet day.