these plants were all over the common area at the nature center and all are considered weeds. most of them are beneficial to honeybees and are also edible. we have many of them in our own lawn and we plan to keep them for the bees we will be adding soon.
after exploring the lawn, we ventured out around the other buildings on the site to look at the many plants in bloom. we saw many more than are featured here and we also saw many other plants such as
sedum, many different ferns, shrubs and trees that are currently blooming or setting buds. there were too many to photograph and remember so i suggest that you go over to
warner park and take a
guided walk sometime, it is well worth the time.
the creek that runs through the nature center was a beautiful sight.
at this point, we broke up into groups and travelled to the deep well trail head to hike on the mossy ridge trail and see what was in bloom.
it's not hard to see why it is called the mossy ridge trail. this is a north facing slope and there were many outcroppings covered in moss.
look carefully, this hillside was covered in trout lily blooms
the largest tree in the park, a tulip poplar estimated to be about 150 years old
speedwell
we finished the day where we started, a picnic lunch at the visitors center with a table next to a small
gravesite for the children who were born and died in the original house on the property.
get out there and see what's around you!
here's a look at what is blooming in our garden right now. these are annual dahlias
my shade garden out front has lots of new plants. solomon seal, hellebores, hardy begonias, sweet woodruff, toad lily and more.
weeding is something we do a lot of. while doing just that, i came across the flowers for the heuchera-coral bells and it became so obvious why they are called that...
the tomato garden. we had our herbs here last year but they have been moved back to the herb garden and the tomatoes have moved in. they are doing well, some have set fruit and they are all almost as tall as me.
this year we have built raised beds for the vegetable garden to see if that helps us improve the yields. 
the new hosta bed is beautiful and i think it will look very nice with the hellebores that were already growing there. thank you again linda, i had fun gardening with you. (the other thymes, doretta klaber and elfin will be cut up and inserted between the stones as soon as i can get out there to do it!)
it's not hard to see why it is called the mossy ridge trail. this is a north facing slope and there were many outcroppings covered in moss.
stinging nettle...i was standing there and i looked down and asked ever so ignorantly-"what's this plant?" luckily, i was wearing long pants and didn't have to worry about it stinging me!
the largest tree in the park, a tulip poplar estimated to be about 150 years old
we finished the day where we started, a picnic lunch at the visitors center with a table next to a small gravesite for the children who were born and died in the original house on the property. 
the goldfinches are eating thistle seeds like there is no tomorrow and the males are now sporting yellow feathers
and it is warm enough for the shiitake logs to start pinning and fruiting!
sorry about the photo quality, the only camera i could use at the time was the one in my cell phone.
on the left, bubba, the biggest possum we have ever seen and a dedicated snacker of peanut butter sandwiches.
bubba and rocky. bubba doesn't like rocky in his tree and he was turning around to try and bite him or at least scare him away from the sandwiches.
this little guy was out in the yard and he froze when i approached him to take his picture
