April visit to Sugar Hill's Cliff Trail
Do you want to
see a wildflower display so exuberant that it made my computer
programmer brother's jaw drop? Then stop by Sugar Hill's Cliff Trail. I've
included a few photos of the highlights of our Sunday hike, but you
have to visit for yourself to see the dozens of different species
ranging in color from white to pink to red to blue to purple.
Red Columbine is beginning to
bloom on the rocks near the top of the trail.
I'm ashamed to
say that I always think that Squirrel Corn is Dutchman's Breeches until
I look it up in a book. Both are in the same genus and look quite
similar, but the blooms on Dutchman's Breeches have much longer spurs
(like pant legs) compared to the shorter lobes found on Squirrel Corn
(and shown above.) Maybe writing this down will help me remember?
Have you ever
seen this many trilliums? This photo
captures a small section of the huge patch coating the north side of
Sugar Hill.
Virginia
Bluebells near the Frenchman's settlement are plants out of place. If you want
to take a longer hike, you can see them in their natural habitat on the
west half of the River
Trail.
Don't forget to
take in the view when you reach the top of Sugar Hill. With the
leaves off the trees, it's easy to pick out St. Paul, trace the path of
the Clinch River, and enjoy the
pastoral scenes of nearby farmland. Plus, planted pears spice up
the view with their white blooms.
On the way back
along the river trail, we discovered that the flowers of sassafras are
perhaps even tastier than the leaves.
I hope you get
a chance to put on your hiking boots and visit your favorite wildflower
spot before the blooms fade.
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