Joan and I knew that pink lady slippers could be found, in season, at Christmas Rocks State Nature Preserve. We made a point of visiting twice, on April 26th and May 13th.
April 26th.
The reserve has two loops, orange and blue.The climb out of the creek valley from point C is steep, but we had seen lady slippers on that section before. Today we found one ...It looks greenish, but will mature into another color. A true yellow lady slipper is rare, and grows much taller.Four minutes later we found another, gorgeously veined and pink.Then we reached the overlook.The trees had begun to leaf out, but this early in the season plenty of light still came through.Ten minutes beyond the overlook there was a cluster, whose buds were just beginning to split.We also noted jack-in-the-pulpit, some still emerging from sheaths. All in all, and interesting visit, but the next one ...May 13th.
A bit over two weeks later, we were back.It was clear even at the entrance that the preserve was much greener.One of first greetings was from a scarlet tanager, always a treat.And then a red-eyed vireo. The leaves add a touch of chlorophyll to the golden sunlight, shifting many colors.
The loops are foot trails, but the way that follows the creek is an old road.Soft spots harbored critter tracks.A flowering Solomon's plume.Forty minutes after passing the preserve entrance, our first lady slipper appeared, a solo specimen.Let's step off the trail -- just a bit -- and view it face-on.Up at the viewpoint, on the orange loop. The vista is much greener now.
Twenty minutes on, the thrills began. Lots of lady slippers. Sometimes two stalks,
or four,
or five.It got to the point where I did not take a photo of every doggone lady-slipper! The moss was happy and had thrust out fruiting bodies. |
And there's a maple sprout on the left.
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Another lady slipper, up close. Click on the image to enlarge.
When a mayapple has two umbrellas,one of them is hosting a flower that will become the fruit.Near the end of the orange loop, a footbridge and fallen trees, not an uncommon sight.Violets.And finally, the herb sweet cicily.This second expedition was full of springtime exuberance, some now past its time, some in full bloom, and some still thinking about it.
After each visit to Christmas Rocks, Joan and I extended the day by visiting another, smaller location. These two were the Shallenberger State Nature Preserve and the Wahkeena Nature Preserve. I'll combine them in the next post.
