Hikers explored the DEC wildlife area along the winding waters, fields and woodlands of the Honeoye Creek in the area of Richmond Mills Road on a beautiful sunny day last Sunday.

Honeoye Creek carries outlet waters from Canadice, Hemlock and Honeoye Lakes to the Genesee River

The Honeoye Creek joins with the Hemlock Creek and merges into the Genesee River.  This wetland area is known for its reoccuring flooding, and evidence of our March and April snow and rain storms coming from Hemlock, Canadice and Honeoye Lakes and their tributaries could be seen along the creek banks.

Patches of heal-all
were found in the field along the creek trail

Naturalists identified several early wildflowers and plants along the creek trail.  Georgia and Pam identified known and unknown plants with the help of Gene’s Wildflower Book.  Heal-all (self heal), cleavers (bedstraw), yellow bedstraw, nettle, red ozier dogwood, honeysuckle, plaintain, blue violets, and spring beauty were found along the field trail.

Leafless poison ivy vines, growing up a tree in the spring, was also pointed out. Hikers should be aware that these vines are not grape vines and their oils can create an unwanted contact poison.

The most striking find were a very large patch of flowering adders tongue (trout lily) all along the high creek bank where the shagbark hickories and other trees meet the trail on the west side.  Everyone agreed they had never seen this many flowers blooming in one area.  Georgia indicated the flower was edible and a few were eaten, with no known side effects. Follow up research confirmed their safety.

Flowering adders tongue

Thanks to the Evanski’s for sharing their new home on Honeoye Lake with us and all hikers who brought outstanding dishes to pass for a relaxing social after the hike.