The temperature was about sixty degrees Fahrenheit and the sun was shining. We saw Spring Beauties clustered around trees and spread over the brown leafy forest floor before we stepped into the woods..
Around us, the Chorus frogs were singing.
A family group was leaving as we entered the woods. The little boys were excited. "We saw three snakes." The smallest boy held up three fingers to be sure we understood. " And we got to touch one," the older boy said.
We walked further into the woods.
Throughout the woods, we saw the leaves of the Yellow Adder's Tongue (also called Dogtooth Violet or Trout Lily)
The Ramps (Wild Onion) leaves have begun to show up in clusters throughout the woods.
The Woodland Hyacinth leaves are up also.
The last time we walked here, we found three Bloodroot but this time they were scattered throughout the woods.'
A few had already dropped their petals.
The Purple Cress were showy throughout the woods, vying with the Spring Beauties for most abundant.
The last time we walked here, we saw one Cutleafed Toothwort blooming. This time we had our choice of plants to photograph plus many that were still in bud.
The Honeybees and Hover flies were flying from flower to flower, collecting nectar and pollen. This bee is on a Hepatica.
Tom spotted this newly opened bright purple Hepatica.
The Hepatica were not as showy as they are some years. A few had yet to bloom and many had already dropped their petals.
Tom, ahead of me on his power chair, was the first to spot the garter snake. We were hoping it would slither onto the boardwalk so Tom could get a good photo. Instead, it slipped under the boardwalk and reappeared on the other side.
We had one last look before it disappeared.
(Garter snakes are harmless insect eaters. They are mild-mannered...like Clark Kent, alias Superman.)
The snake scared me...thanks Tom :( I did enjoy the flowers!
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