It has been raining here as though we had nothing to do but drink cappuccino and ponder the upcoming sun-filled summer like they do in the Northwest. For us this is supposed to be the highlight season. But it seems likely that the azaleas are going to get drowned out this year. They are certainly looking bedraggled at the moment. Instead of just moaning about the azaleas I thought it might be good to go back a couple of weeks to mention a few things I missed like the bluebells at Worthington Farm.
The Worthington Farm is a part of the National Monocacy Battlefield Park. That means that it gets care and tending by the National Park Service. And though the history is interesting, for us it is nearly 6 miles of trails through woods and along the Monocacy River. It’s interesting in most any season as a natural oasis just minutes away from downtown Frederick, but there is one special highlight for the park that occurs every April. The Virginia Bluebells have taken claim to a large portion of the banks of the river. And in April, when they are fully in bloom they are quite a sight to see. This year the weather was overcast and the river near flood stage at peak bloom.
But even this overcast shot gives you some idea of the extensive bloom. The flowers themselves come in a range of shades.
Including Pink and White, though these are less common.
There are also numerous wildflower companions to the bluebells in April at Worthington.
and butterflies
But most of all I’ve enjoyed tracking the progress of Baltimore Orioles that have typically ended up nesting in the giant Sycamores that line the entrance road to the park.
As the season moves on it gets harder to spot the orioles, but just before the leaves are fully out they are very visible against the blue sky as they assertively announce themselves to the world. We’ve had the Orioles come to our place for a visit, but we have yet to see them nest any closer than the Worthington Farm (about 2 miles away). I think they like the safety of the large trees.
Lovelovelove the pictures. I know understand why Beth compared this to the March bank at Winterthur. Your pix remind me of how English gardener Gertrude Jekyll described this exquisite American wildflower:
Many thanks Seattle weather for giving John the time to post these gorgeous pictures of a beloved native plant!
Wow! Great quote on the bluebells. I shall treat them with even greater reverence in the future 🙂