Midweek afternoon stroll along the Wincopin red trail in the company of Master Gardener Ann Coran, who invited us on a spring wildflower hunt.
Photo above taken from the ridge between the Middle Patuxent and Little Patuxent rivers, close to the confluence of both.
While pulling invasive garlic mustard along the trail, Ann drew our attention to numerous native ephemeral spring wildflowers. Above: Spring beauty (Claytonia virginica)
Cutleaf toothwort (Cardamine concatenata)
Blue stones. Unusual enough that a sign drew our attention to them. None of the other stones in the river are blue. Apparently no one knows why they are blue although theories abound: mineral leaching, result of heavy storms?
This hike, just 11 minutes away from our house, is a hidden treasure.
We will be back.
