If you hike the Red Maple Swamp Trail at Fort Hill, you will be treated to thousands of tiny, white Canada Mayflowers blooming along the boardwalk. They are just beautiful!
The Canada Mayflower is a low-growing, woodland wildflower native to North America, known for its shiny, heart-shaped leaves and small clusters of white flowers in spring, followed by red berries in summer. It is also known as the “bottle-brush” flower as it resembles a tiny bottle brush.
Have you seen them this year?
As soon as I got out of my car, this chatty Catbird was trying to get my attention. He was just yacking away, making so much noise.
it wasn’t until he alighted on this branch way up high in the tree, that I got my camera out and starting clicking. What a perfect photo op. Thank you, Mr. Catbird! You made my day!
The Poet’s Narcissus windflowers are just gorgeous and blooming by the lower parking lot at Fort Hill. Poet’s Narcissus is a fragrant late-spring blooming daffodil known for its white petals and small, red-rimmed yellow cup, often called the “pheasant’s eye.” Isn’t it stunning?
”Mythological Origin: The flower is associated with the Greek myth of Narcissus, who, in some versions, died from heartbreak or drowned while looking at his reflection in a pool. The white flower that grew there is said to have a nodding head, mimicking his gaze into the water.”
We saw this pretty blue Spring Azure Butterfly while hiking at Fort Hill the other day. It was really difficult to get a photograph of it with its wings open as it was flitting everywhere and very close to the ground. But finally it alighted on a green leaf.
When it closed up its wings, it looks like a totally different butterfly aa you can see when it was on the ground.
The Spring Azure is a small butterfly with its wingspan 3/4″ to 1 1/4″. Have you ever seen one? They seem to be everywhere in the trails lately.
The yellow Cypress Spurge wildflowers are so pretty growing in the meadows of Fort Hill. It almost looks like a soft blanket on the landscape. (Click on blog link for other photo.)
As pretty as they are, the “Cypress Spurge has a milky sap that is toxic and causes skin irritation, blisters, and digestive issues if ingested, making it harmful to livestock and humans.” So, beware and stay away!
It was a gorgeous morning for a hike at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary. The skies were blue and there wasn’t a ripple on the water. (Click on blog link for other photo.)
We could see several Great Egrets by the little pond on the salt marsh searching for their next meal. 
I loved the ripples on the water in the last photo as the wind started to pick up. Such pretty reflections of these majestic birds!
