Author Archives: Pam

Honeoye Outlet Creek

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Hikers-002 WebHikers 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

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

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.

Poison Ivy Vines-004 Web

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

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.

Spring Woodland Wildflowers

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Adders Tongue appears first from forest floor

Adders Tongue appears first from forest floor

For about 15 years I have been silently observing the early woodland wildflowers that pop out of the forest floor sometime around mid April in the area of the “little finger lakes”.  I enjoy photographing the flowers in their growing stages, and identifying at least 5 new plants every year. So far my bank of knowledge includes about 15 plants.Three common woodland flowers you may observe on our hikes are Mayapple, Adders Tongue, and Trillium.   All can be seen in their early and mid stage in the next couple of weeks.

Not all Adders Tongue has flowers

Not all Adders Tongue
have flowers

Adders Tongue, Dog Toothed Violet, Fawn Lily, or Trout Lily leaves first appear peaking out of the forest floor through the dried leaves.  The leaves of the trout lily (so called because they appear about the same time as the trout)  are a greenish/brown mottled color. Some of the plants later produce a yellow flower which is the early food for the queen bumblebee.

Mayapple in early stage

Mayapple in early stage

Mayapples or Mandrakes appear second, curled up tightly, then unfold their leaves to what looks like a little umbrella. They are usually found in clusters, later develop a very large white flower, then a fruit.  About  mid July the oval fruit (which is located under and  inbetween the two leaves) turns a lemon-yellow color and is now ripe for eatting. It should be noted that all parts of the plant are poisonous except the fruit when it is  ripe. I believe i contacted the poison once on my arm while laying on the forest floor photographing them.

Trilliums are appearing now in their bud stage, and colors can range from Red(Birthroot), White, Pink, Purple, and Painted.  Trilliums are an endangered or threatened species and there are stiff fines associated with collecting any part of the plant on public lands or not receiving permission from private landowners.   They seem to like to grow in shady, rich moist woodland soils, along with wild leeks, and maple trees.

More wildflowers to come next week….

Young budding Trillium

Young budding Trillium

Red Trillium - Birthroot

Red Trillium – Birthroot

Mayapple unfolding to umbrella look

Mayapple unfolding to umbrella look

 

Snowshoeing the Springwater Trail

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[singlepic id=64 w=320 h=240 float=left]The snow is deep and beautiful to snowshoe on up in the Springwater Mountains. The Springwater Trail is open to the public for weekday, weekend, or upcoming holiday winter recreation opportunities.

The current trail skirts an active maple syrup farm at Sugarbush Hollow in East Springwater and can be accessed just off Pardee Hollow Road and Coates Road.    The trail passes through farm fields that feel like the tundra this time of year at the top of the mountain and a sugarbush of over tapped 3000 sugar maple trees.  On warm winter and early spring days you can see and hear the sap flowing from the trees. The sugarhouse may be open, bring a lunch and warm up, and watch the maple men and women make maple syrup Feburary-April in the afternoons and evenings.

[singlepic id=65 w=320 h=240 float=right]The Springwater Trail has two winter access areas.  Park 1/2 way up Coates Road to  the snowplow area.  You can park along the side of the road but do not block the driveway on your right.    Continue to snowshoe east up Coates Road.  If you want a more difficult snowshoe travel an elevation climb of 200 ft. to the top of the hill on Coates Road to the trailhead sign on your right. Continue down and across the field on the CoyoteTrail and watch for the blue blazes that drop down into the Sugarbush. Follow the blue blazes for about 2 miles to  Pardee Hollow Road just past the pond to the south of the Sugarhouse for a pick up location. Estimate time 1 1/2 hours.   If you would like an easier access route off Coates Road, follow the orange blaze just past the snowplow area on your right.  This orange trail connects with the blue trail in the sugarbush area and ends at the same location. Estimate time one hour.

The other winter access area can be accessed off Pardee Hollow Road.  You can park at the sugarhouse, walk south past the sign and turn right on our West Trail.  This trail is a little more difficult with two 200 ft. elevation climbs to the top of the mountain.  It passes through a wild apple orchard, black cherry and sugar maple plantation, crosses a field and then drops down through a dense forest and skirts another sugarbush area.  Follow the blue blazes, turn right on the orange blazes for a continuous loop back to Pardee Hollow Road and the Sugarhouse.  If you wish you can  follow the blue blazes to the south of the white house for a pick up location on Tabors Corners Road. Estimate time two hour.

The view from the top of the return route.

The view from the top of the return route.

The Springwater Trail is a moderate to difficult trail with it’s elevation climbs and snowshoers should be prepared. Snowshoes can expect colder weather at elevations of 1800 – 2200 ft. and wind at the top of the mountain.  Please stay on the trail, follow our rules, and do not touch the maple lines or equipment which will be actively working.  For directions to the Springwater Trail contact us at springwatertrails.org.