Peak Wildflowers at Sleeping Giant

Late spring this year, and the woodland wildflowers are finally at their peak today. Trout Lilies peaked last week (the Tower Trail was full of them), but the Blood Root, Dutchman's Breeches, Trillium and Marsh Marigolds were at their best today.   Compare with a post from April 24, 2010, when many of these flowers were past their peak and the Columbine (which blooms a bit later) was in full bloom.  Here's a sampling from today, in no particular order.  The greatest concentration of wildflower was near the intersection of the Violet and Red Circle Trails, and there was a whole lot of water gushing down the brook. But there are plenty of wildflowers going up the Tower Trail if you're looking for them (especially Trout Lily).

Blood Root, Tower Trail

Trout Lily, Tower Trail

Dutchman's Breeches and Red Trillium, Violet/Red Circle Junction

Marsh Marigolds - Red Circle/Blue in Tarkaland ;)

Fiddleheads and Dutchman's Breeches, Tower Trail

Garter Snake, Nature Trail

Dutchman's Breeches - I forget where.

Trout Lily, Tower Trail

Dutchman's Breeches, Violet/Red Circle Junction

Flooding on the trail at Red Circle/Violet Junction

Dutchman's Breeches, Violet/Red Circle Junction

Foliage of Bloodroot and Wild Leeks aka Ramps
(Never, ever, ever dig these up)

Partridgeberriesleft over from last fall. Giant's Elbow, Violet Trail.