Raccoon Creek (Week 6)

The wildflower bonanza continues! We visited Raccoon Creek Wildflower Reserve again on May 1. This time, we took a slightly different route. Instead of taking just the trail below Shafer Rock, we climbed the trail up to the rock itself.

It never fails to amaze me how slight changes in Pennsylvania forests that to me seem minute, must make huge differences to plant communities. At the top of the ridge, many of the wildflowers are significantly different. I imagine there are changes in wind dynamics, but also soil composition and water dynamics at a height that is well above the flood plane. From now on, I will make sure my spring visits include a visit to the top of the rock. This was still an outstanding week to visit for wildflower peeping.

Mayapple bud.

Blue cohosh.

Mitrewort.

Blue phlox.

Squirrel corn.

Trillium.

Maple.

Flowering dogwood.

Chestnut leaves bursting from a bud.

Trillium.

Jack-in-the-pulpit.

Jack-in-the-pulpit.

White violets.

Violet.

American giant millipede.

Squirrel corn.

Centipede.

Dutchman's breeches.

Bluets.

Pussytoes with ant.

Common cinquefoil.

Lyre-leaved rock cress.

Slippery elm seeds.

Flowering dogwood.