Birthday Wishes and a Patapsco Valley Hike

[lavendertook]

Very Happy Belated Birthdays to blslarner and kittyfosterami!!! I hope it was a great birthday week for both of you.

I'm sorry I've been so absent lately. Things have been feeling hectic and busy--some good things, but a lot of stressful things.

But of the good things was the beautiful weather the last couple of days, and the gorgeous hike I went on today with the fun company of zlabya and a local women's hiking group to the McKeldin area of Patapsco Valley Park, about half way between Baltimore and Westminster.


So let me take you on the trail:

It's lined with little wild flowers, though you can't see them too well in this pic--lots of violets and spring beauties, among others.

And here's the Patapsco River we walked along most of the way:





Our group kept a brisk pace, so I didn't have time to scamper about and get closer to those falls, but zlabya and I talked about going back on our own sometime when he leaves are all out, so next time.


Lots of lovely moss covered logs, like up ahead on the path here.


And rocks--lots with mica flecks shining pretty in the sun. A couple spots were a bit too challenging for me--I am grateful zlabya gave me a hand up one steep spot to spare my knee.


Our hike leader was very knowledgeable in wild flowers, so she named some of them for me. This is a trout lily--called the because the leaf, that you can see to the left of the flower, is splotchy speckled like a trout.


These are eastern spring beauties and they lined a good part of our trail.


And this was a blood root bloom on a very steep part of our trail.


I didn't learn the name of these pretty white flowers among the moss here.


Good sized turtles--a good 8 or 10 inches there. The one on the right looked to be a painted turtle, and the one in the middle looked to be a red-eared slider.


Skunk cabbages--some of the first greens to push up int he spring around here, so full and lush.

I look forward to seeing this path when the leaves are full, and then when they are turning in the fall. Today was just a perfect spring day, and this was a perfect way to spend it. And now I'm spent and will sleep good tonight.

I hope taking you on this hike will make up a little bit for my quietness. (((((my flist)))))

Comments

[spiralsheep]

Lovely photos! thank you for sharing. I was out in a wood like that today. It's amazing how similar the plants that fill the same ecological niches are, even when they're not closely botanically related, and yet not surprising at all when one thinks about the whys and wherefores.

[lavendertook]

Thank you! I'm glad you have similar woods to wander in.

[shirebound]

Turtles! :)

What a lovely place, and I'm so glad your knee is well enough to hike again. You can really refresh your spirit in a place like that.

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

It's totally the Woody End of the Shire there. All gentle hills and little streams.

Thank you. It took 8 weeks for my leg to stop hurting so much after re-injuring it with shoveling after that late January blizzard, so I am lucky I was just in shape for this hike. it was really gorgeous. I'd love to take the mooters to a part of this park system where there is a waterfall I've posted pics of before, close to BWI, but we'll see what time, weather, and inclination allows.

[grey-wonderer.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the hike. The photos are lovely. I adore the turtles! I plan to count going on your hike as my exercise for the day. Clever, right?

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I hope it invigorating for you. (-:

[elwenlj.livejournal.com]

How beautiful. Reminds me of The Woody End in the Shire. And all those lovely wild flowers. Like you, I'd love to see it through the seasons. And you have turtles in the wild!!!

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

Lots of turtles. I counted a good 30 in the lake near my apartment yesterday. I'm sorry you don't have turtles where you are. Where in the UK are you?

[julchen11.livejournal.com]

What a lovely place - I wish I could have been there... all looks so peaceful, so fresh I can even smell the spring air!
I'm glad you had a wonderful day, my dear.
Enjoy our Sunday!

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

Thank you, hon. It was lovely. Today is another beautiful day and I'm going to get a good walk in it. Hope you have a good Sunday.

[addie71.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing your hike. It looks so lovely and peaceful there.

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. It was very pretty.

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

I've walked part of that trail once, and it was a beautiful place. Thanks for taking me back there in your pictures.

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome. I'm glad you got out there and enjoyed the pics and I could bring you a good memory. *hugs*

[lbilover.livejournal.com]

What a beautiful place for a hike! Thanks for sharing the photos.

[lavendertook.livejournal.com]

You're welcome. it was lovely.