This week, we are watching the Mississippi River and other Driftless rivers and streams slowly receding. Our Mississippi River flood in the areas near La Crosse WI crested at it's third highest level since data began to collected in 1874. Wetlands that had become vast lakes are re-emerging. Debris from the floods is everywhere. It is a testament to the power and importance of spring floods.
What did I come across on the trails this week? Boy howdy, alot!
Wildflowers - Much of what I saw last week plus...
- Jeweled Shooting Stars
- Wild Ginger - the flower is at the base and is pollinated by beetles
- Pussy-toes - male and female patches - they grow separate from each other
- Birds-foot Violet
- Maidenhead Fern Fiddleheads - a lovely small reddish head
- Wood Anemone about to bloom
- Rue Anemone
- Jack-in-the Pulpit - unopened; 2 hours later...open!
- Hoary puccoon
- Bittercress
- Trout lily
- Cutleaf Toothwort
- Miterwort
- Jacob's ladder
- Fields of May Apples
- Fiddleheads everywhere!
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| Maidenhair Fiddleheads near a fine acorn cap Image - Marge Loch-Wouters |
Wildlife:
- Yellow-Rumped Warbler
- Yellow Warbler
- Palm Warbler
- Pie-billed Grebe
- Northern Shoveler
- Wood Duck
- Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
- Blue-winged Teal
- Chipping sparrow
- Peepers
- Trout
This week's hikes: Beaver Creek Valley State Park (MN), Lytle's Landing Eight Mile Bridge segment of Great River Trail (WI), Fish Farm Mounds trails (IA)
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