The Orange Trail 6/18/10

It was a beautiful day for a walk. I had remembered my sunscreen and my insect repellent, and was ready to go. And, I did have a wonderful day. The college kids are out of school now, so I was passed by quite a few runners. I got tired just looking at them. I only saw a few new things.

Coral Fungus



Morning Glory



The Sumac is flowering.



I think that these are the seeds of the sugar maple. Could be wrong though. I thought the red shadings were very beautiful.




I guess that the mystery plant from last week is, indeed a Black-eyed Susan, even if the leaves are different from the ones growing in my garden. I did some reading and there are quite a few different kinds. This type is very pretty, so bright and cheery.




The size of this grapevine has been fascinating me for a few weeks now.




The Common Mullien continues to grow, and is now beginning to put forth its flower stalk. I know it's not strikingly beautiful, but it is becoming one of my favorite plants. Maybe because it's so easy to recognize.




I identified this berry incorrectly last week. It's Honeysuckle, not Autumn Olive.



And, it also comes in an orange variety.



And, this is they mystery plant of the week. I got a little cocky and was sure that it was Wild Lily-of-the-Valley. But, when I got home and looked, it appears that it isn't. So, now, I don't know what it is. It isn't flowering yet, which makes identification more difficult. As luck would have it, this grows in my shade garden. I have been yanking it out for a few years now. There are a couple of nice specimens growing there now and I think I'll let them be, and see what the flowers are like.



There is so much beauty in the little things around us, when we slow down and take a good look. And, aren't I lucky, that I have the time to stop and notice those little things?

Red Clover is so common. Yet, each flower head is a picture of pefection.



Who knew that, as Purple Flowering Raspberry flowers aged, they faded?



I didn't realize that the flowers of the Common Milkweed came in different shades either. These are paler than the flowers that I posted last week.



Yarrow -- each little bloom perfect in its own right.



Virginia Creeper -- a terrible nuisance plant, but a tapestry on the forest floor.



Even worm trails look almost like some strange kind of writing.



Today, the Red Trail. I'm bringing a friend. She powerwalks, in a gym, round and round in a circle. She's terribly fit and her walking has improved her health 100% which makes me very happy. But, I think she needs to get out and breathe the fresh air, look at the sky and what is around her, once in a while. Don't you?