Seasons

Biking despite virus crisis

Image | | edwinridout
June 19, Trudy & me after 5 hours and 34 bumpy miles on Dahlgren Heritage Rail Trail.
June 19, DHRT, mid-trail, by Trudy H. Notice discarded RR ties/sleepers on right.
Early June 2020, water scene by Bob Pawlak from the DHRT, maybe around mile 15.
June 10, 18 miles, VCR Trail end: me, Trudy, Carol, Bob K, Leslie, Joanne. Missing: Janice.
June 2, 15 miles, Lee Drive and VCR Trail: Edwin, Trudy, and (not shown), Leslie and Bob K.
May 25th: Trudy, me, David, Leslie, Joanne: Bealeton, 25 miles, 2 hours, 12.6 mph.

Mayapple

| edwinridout

I watch for these each spring in our back woods, and saw our first ones pop up two or three days ago. This morning, suddenly, there was a plethora. Didjaknow, just like the Aspen, their colony shares a single root? Mayapple is also called mandrake. It flowers in May, but its “apple” comes later. The fruit may be eaten in small quantities but only after it turns yellow, and only after removing the seeds. Linnaeus described this plant in 1753. See more at wildfoods.ca.

Our twin magnolias

| edwinridout

Perhaps at their peak today. Blooms open about the same time as forsythia but they don’t last nearly as long. Rain, wind, or frost often decimate them overnight. For years we’ve called them northern magnolia (to distinguish from the more popular evergreen southern magnolia), but their correct name is probably saucer magnolia. They were 1993 gifts from David and Wena.