Here we go again

After some weather roller-coaster in March, April started with beautiful weekend. It was a chance to go and check trails.



The woods are still without traces of leaves, allowing a lot of sunlight to reach forest floor. However, it will take several days with positive overnight temperatures to really get plants going. The plants taking advantage of the abundance of sunlight on the ground will start first - ramps etc.

The one of earliest starters is already around - Skunk Cabbage. This plant is beautiful, but poisonous.



I did not have an opportunity to go and check my usual ramp spots, but I am sure they are already couple of inches tall. The Stinging Nettle, Dandelion and Chicory are still nowhere to be seen.

As far as mushrooms go, there is some brave cup mushrooms growing, mainly on the logs. Unfortunately cups acted like slimy reflectors, so my photos are not great.



There is some last year growth of Turkey Tail that persisted over winter



 

Fiddle heads are still couple of weeks away. In the known spots only the spore bearing stalks are visible at this stage.

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