The Trillium Hunt....

First off...
we had these guys

visit !!!!

Indigo Buntings!

These blue beauties visited for a day and then...well, we haven't seen them again at the feeders. However blue was the theme of the day as Blue Birds flew through in groups. Hopefully some stayed again this year.

Friday morning I had to make a decision. Did I want to go look for Trillium and other Ephemeral flowers? Or did I want to go to the gym and work my butt off and then go shopping. 
Bleh.

Decisions, Decisions.

Shay, the Home Health Aide was curious. She doesn't have a background in nature, but she knows a lot about home health care. I explained I needed [was driven] to go find Ephemeral flowers that would only present themselves for a few weeks...and then...
I'd have to wait for another spring.

Charlie and I hit the ground running [okay walking fast] when we got to KVR. Years ago when I started my Trail Challenge, I'd randomly chosen the West Ridge Trail to start one of my mid May hikes. I recall seeing more Trillium that I'd ever seen in my life.

At that time I was hiking with my friend Bill and we were putting in 'mileage' and not concentrating on the wildflowers. Covid was ravaging the country and we were doing Distance Hiking.  

Anyway... I have never gotten back to that area in May. I've gone to other spots and have been overwhelmed by Virginia Bluebells and Spring Beauties. I decided to go see if I could get lucky with the Trillium.

I hit the Jackpot!

I hit the Jackpot in several ways.

We were surrounded by everything wild and flowering.

Here is a shot of Charlie On Guard. We were sitting on the forest floor when suddenly we heard something crashing through the forest. It literally sounded like an elephant. I saw it was a large doe running straight at us like a ninny.

I raised my hands and hollered, "Hey!" The doe never missed a step, but instead of running through us, she took a hard left and disappeared through the forest. 

Charlie growled and jumped into my lap. Brave dog that he is. I can't say that I've ever experienced that before.

It seems that finding spring forest flowers has become an obsession of mine.

Last year, I'd chosen a different trail to find Trillium. I found a few but the choices of light, position, and interesting-ness of shooting them was not very good.
This year I was so overwhelmed with choices and opportunities.

Even better?
Charlie and I were the only ones there. We spent two hours alongside this trail and never encountered another human or animal. We did hear a variety of birds and an owl.

I did wish I'd had ALL day. Charlie and I had a snack, watched our time and got home on schedule.

I may have satisfied my Trillium Itch for this year and will send myself a note to make sure I go back to this trail next year.

Trilliums....☑

Next wild flowers up will be the Wild Geraniums. 

 

Wild Hot Wednesday

Ok. Not Wild, but surely HOT!

As the Caregiver for my husband, I am now taking an online class regarding 'Caregiving' with the Veteran's Administration. I sort of dreaded the first class. Apprehension is pretty common when you aren't sure what you are getting into. 
[It isn't much different than the class called Building Better Caregivers]

I realized that I was not alone. I am not the only person caring for someone. 
I also realized that in some ways I have it much easier than other Caregivers. My husband actually sleeps at night. Imagine caring for someone who wanders 24 hrs a day?

Well. Enough of that.

~~~~~~

The mules are in the woods. They can walk around in the Buckthorn section of the woods and find patches of nice grass. It will be a bit before they can go into the larger section of woods. I want to figure out a way to keep them off the meadow for a while longer. The meadow suffered last year with it being so dry.

To say the least, being in the woods has taught my equine to deal with obstacles. They rarely twitch an ear to large logs or difficult trails.

~~~~~~~~
Against the other half's wishes I bought another hummingbird feeder and a little thistle feeder for the goldfinches.

Funny that adding a second feeder and attracting the goldfinches has caused someone to watch out the window and give me a running commentary on what kind of birds have come to the feeders!

Truth is, he is enjoying bird watching.

The hummingbird fights are something to see! If our military could build planes as agile as these birds that would be something wouldn't it?

Hummers are very territorial!

The female Grosebeak is also very territorial. -- Not a good shot -- but here she is defending a piece of an orange in the grass from a male Oriole.

I think the goldfinches are incredible in their color too. 

Enough of the birds right? I have yet to upload the photos from today where those golden beauties are hanging out in the Hickory Tree.

When I woke up this morning the fog was incredibly thick and it was muggy out. I fired up the 'Ru and went up to the ridge to see if the sky would provide a colorful sunrise.

I am in love with this area. The land is not flat, and the morning mists roll along on humid mornings creating an incredible landscape. The view never gets boring.

We accomplished some mowing today but won't be doing the rest of it until it cools off a bit.

Tomorrow it is supposed to get to 93 degrees. 

What bizarre weather. From using the heat last week and frosty mornings, too using the AC.

Oh boy! 

Bird alert! We saw Indigo Buntings today! They are so stunning in their bright blue feathers.