April Showers

This weekend has been full of much needed rain showers starting with a series of serious storms Friday night. What a light show. A couple of the storms had what the weather people call near continuous lightning. It is the season for showers and there is plenty of opportunity to see wildflowers in between cloud burst. There is color now everywhere clear to the mountain tops. Redbud and serviceberry and fruit trees and some dogwoods. Any place you go you should see some wildflowers in bloom. The Virginia Bluebells are at peak along the Cowpasture River at the Walton Tract. The trilliums are just coming out across the county. A couple of special sites worth the trip are just north of Bath in Highland County. As you head toward Bolar on 607, look for Marsh Marigold in and along the creek. When you get to the new bridge, it is worth a stop to see a huge patch in bloom. Marsh Marigold is considered uncommon, but Highland County has some amazing patches. Just up 220 a little further, look for route 611 on your left. In the exposed shale cut are some Bleeding Hearts just coming into bloom. Go around the corner on 611 to see some big patches of this pretty flower. This is also the time of the year to be pulling up Garlic Mustard. With the ground wet, you should be able to wiggle the plants and get tap root and all. Be sure to bag and destroy the plants since they can set seed even after being pulled. The leaves and taproot are edible. Check the bathcounty.org website for some links and more information on this invasive alien plant.