Seeing all the dogwoods in bloom in the Burg, I became interested in revisiting the Ogle Cabin along Cherokee Orchard to see if the trees were flowering there. It also gave me an opportunity to check out the progress the construction crews were making along the road. When I arrived, few people were there. A few redbuds and dogwoods near the cabin were in bloom, and scattered around the homestead were yellow trilliums, purple phacelia, and phlox. Nice to be there, but no time to linger, so back in the vehicle and west to the Wye!
Having already completed the Chestnut Top Trail in its entirety a week prior, my only intention here was to revisit the popular wildflower zone within the first half mile. It was neat to see how things had progressed since my first trip. The longspurred violets, bishop's caps, and white erect trillium were still going strong, but now the yellow trilliums, silverbells, purple phacelia, redbuds, and stonecrop were blooming. It was especially great to spot about six patches of fire pink, but it's still early for this plant as well as several others along this trail, so I'll hope the third time is the charm next week. Just getting started, though, gotta chug along...
Continuing westward, it was time to see if anything was happening down in White Oak Sink. When I went last week, there wasn't much going on blooming wise except for a few violets, spring beauties, anemones, and budding trillium. What a difference a week makes! The number of spring beauties in bloom increased exponentially, carpeting many of the flatter areas. The yellow trilliums were blooming now, too. I was able to find the path that leads to the waterfall that trickles down into one of the existing caves. This cascade is so unique compared to all the others in the park. A number of white trilliums were growing along the slopes dropping down into the cave.
After about a mile into this part of the hike, the trail dips down into a saddle along the ridgeline. Now things began to get exciting. Redbud trees in full bloom were everywhere along the ridge, even forming a purple tunnel over the trail for a few hundred yards.
Just when I thought I had seen it all, on the drive back I caught a stretch of wild columbine growing between the road and a rocky hillside just east of the Wye. I lucked out in that a pull off was located just ahead, enabling me to pull off and get a closer look. Eventually I made it back into town, whooped but superbly satisfied from the days adventures.