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We arrived at the preserve around 2:30. The Lancaster Conservancy volunteers have picked about 20 bags of garlic mustard! The conservancy had a table set up and they gave us a free pouch of purple cone flower seeds!

Susquehanna Trillium, freshly blooming!

Trout Lily

A panoramic view!

The weather was nice and sunny and it was around 60° with a light wind

Mertensia virginica

Phlox

Trillium

Isabelle

A view of the creek

A morphological display of the bluebells. The cliff in the background provides a nice dark backdrop to show off this plant!

The emerging fronds of a Christmas Fern

The Conservancy has done a good job of blocking off rogue trails that usually end up getting plants crushed. They also closed off the old road making for a more pleasant hike. There is also a lot of educational material and signage to help people discover different plants. I only saw one crushed Trillium very close to the pathway. In years past, we would see dozens. They are also giving a daily tour on weekends this month.

Bluebells blooming! Below Bloodroot blooming ! Dutchman’s Breeches and Blood root !Twinleaf blooming below that. It is amazing how well these spring ephemerals are thriving in our West Philadelphia, rowhouse yard. It must be noted that while we are on the plateau, the fence of our yard, and the row houses are providing a ravine-like atmosphere that provides the protection, that some of these Ephemeral ravine-thriving plants need.

My uncle and I went out on the Wacissa River this afternoon. We were hoping to find an owl. The owl was hooting and very close by but very busy nesting. We saw plenty of gators and a Black crowned night heron, an immature Blue heron among others. Notably, we saw two turtles that had been sliced in half by motorboats and were still surviving at least until now. Photographed below.

Yes the Sanguine Root condemns motorboats on the Wacissa.

On a lighter note, I was on my IPhone checking my email and texts as one does and my uncle asked if I was texting the owl. Oh yes indeed we are here ! Who Hoo Hoo and Hoo!! The owl texted (hooted actually) me back right away that she was busy with her nesting operations.