ing to get out of town for some hiking/camping for awhile and finally got part of that in this week. I went out to Governor Dodge on one of those warmer days we had (minus the threatening rain clouds which waited until the exact minute I started my car and drove out of the park to actually do anything) to take advantage of the nice weather and a day off from my internship. I hiked the Lost Canyon loop, about 8 miles, but added on a few extra bits to see Stephens Falls and the Cave. There was hardly anyone out there either, guess a weekday in early May is a good time to have the trails to yourself. It took me just over 3 hours to hike, I stopped to admire the scenery occasionally but was enjoying the groove of hiking.The trees are all in various stages of budding out with little tiny leaves. The oak leaves look red and velvety, nothing like they look once they're mature. The hickorys look like they're flowering when their buds open, they also start out reddish and turn green. A few scattered apple and cherry trees are in the park, sometimes I could smell them before I could see them. Perfect timing to catch them in bloom.
All kinds of woodland flowers are in bloom, large patches of may apples seemed to be everywhere. Lots of tooth wort and woodland anemones too, some smaller patches of blood root and down near Stephens Falls lots of patches of wild ginger. Pictures will be in my Picassa Web Album soon, the link is on the right bar. Pictures from earlier this spring in my parents yard are there too!
