The Mohawk Trail is another of our fine blue-blazed trails maintained by CFPA. Here's a waterfall at the Music Mountain Road crossing.
The woods were just bursting with native wildflowers today. I noticed that most of the Wild Geranium in bloom had one of these insects in them. This illustrates the complex relationships between our native plants and insects. The plants aren't just sitting there looking pretty, they provide food and shelter to our native animals.
Lots of Columbine! I happen to adore the native red and yellow colors. When you see Columbine in other colors it's probably the European Columbine.
These are delicate Merrybells, a native that we also planted at Eklund Garden in Shelton.
There is clearly some deer hunting going on around here. Look how thick the woods are. It sure doesn't look like that in Fairfield County, where much of the forest has been stripped by deer. It was in this area I saw a Black-Throated Blue Warbler, a bird that needs deep forests to thrive.
Lots of Virgina Strawberry along the trail and roadways, an ancestor of the domesticated strawberry. There are records of strawberry fields maintained by Native Americans, often in old cornfields. Not clear whether they planted the strawberries or the berries just grew in on their own.
This hut along the trail made for a great resting point. Hiking on a weekday, I didn't see a single person on the trail all day.
Marsh Marigolds.
Fringed Polygala, aka Gay Wings.
Starflower
Solomon's Seal.
On another part of the Mohawk, the trail followed a high rocky ledge filled with blueberry blossoms.
And came out onto this nice view. :) 
2 comments:
That is a pretty waterfall, is it seasonal or does it run all year? I wish we lived closer to western CT to see some of these trails.
Cape + Mohawk pictures are just terrific. Probably will go to Paine Open Space to do some fishing this weekend- will let you know if things have improved.
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