Wildlife Festival at Silver Creek Falls

On the Saturday before Mother's Day, my daughter Megan and I went to Silver Creek Falls for their Wildlife Festival. In one of the big lodges there was the best wildflower display I had ever seen. There were three rows of tables set of with vases of fresh wildflowers. Each had a tag with its name and its scientific name. Almost all of the flowers came from the park.




Megan, Jesse and I went on one of the guided wildflower walks. It was very interesting. Not only did I see some tiny wildflowers I had never noticed in the park before, but we were told some interesting stories about the different flowers.

This is a Green False Hellebore or Corn Lily. It is a violently poisonous plant. Indians considered it to have strong, powerful magic. The root was supposed to ward off all evil spirits. If you see a plant in the woods with hosta-like leaves, you would be wise to stay away from it!


Candy Flower (named because of tiny red stripes on white petals). It is also known as Siberian Miner's Lettuce (the leaves are edible).



Wild Bleeding Heart















Skunk Cabbage (sitting in a pond with a lot of iron oxide in the water)


Pathfinder (Aster family). When it's leaf is turned back, it is supposed to point you in the right direction.















Trillium















Trout Lily (also known as Fawn Lily and Lamb's Tongue. They are pink on the coast).
Fairyslipper (Their numbers are dwindling. When picked, the plant dies).






















Large-Leaved Avens (The outer basal leaves are larger than the inner basal leaves).

To the right are Woodland Strawberries.





Chickweed Monkey Flower (They have perfect little red hearts on each one!)



Merten's Saxifrage









Western Serviceberry (Years ago this was often used in the spring for funeral services).


Can you find the little red spider?







Jesse was certain that every stump or fallen log was placed intentionally in order that he could have his own little chair. :-)
Can you see the woodpecker?