April 7

Cabin John Trail
8:30 am 58 F; overcast, breezy

hillsides covered in Dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria)
lots of trout lily foliage (Erythronium americanum) but no blossoms
shockingly small amount of spring beauty (Claytonia virginica) foliage; only a few blossoms
some cut-leaved toothwort (Cardamine concatenata), in bud
many stands of bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis), glorious
skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) in the gullies
more foliage: one toadshade (Trillium sessile), one alumroot (Heuchera americana), lots of mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)

Belmont Manor and Historic Park; Patapsco State Park
1:00 pm  68 F; overcast, still, unpleasantly humid

Still so little even poking up through the leaf litter!  But there was something special…
lots of skunk cabbage in the wet areas
scattered spring beauties
clumps of slender toothwort (Cardamine angustata) in bud, no blossoms

a stand of puttyroot orchid (Aplectrum hyemale)
several stands of cranefly orchid (Tipularia discolor)
a single bloodroot
spicebush (Lindera benzoin) blossoming like crazy
Christmas fern (Polystichem acrostichoides)
foliage: something that might be Virginia waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum); something that be be an avens species; cleavers (Gallium aparine)
seedpods from last year’s Carolina elephant’s foot (Elephantopus carolinianus)
aliens: vinca, lesser celandine, garlic mustard, Indian strawberry, hispid buttercup