Mt. Hope...I just couldn't make it!

 We are officially "past peak" here in central New York.  It is hard to find any red leaves, but I found this one.

 This is not the usual way to get to the trails...but I guess it is the fun way.

 Grace and Kim climbed right over....

 Luke, on the other hand, climbed up one side of the gate, and then sat at the top until Becky lifted him down.

 I think Kim hiked about 4 times as far as the rest of us by running ahead then running back to us...over and over again.

 We started at the bridge, taking the flat trail...I didn't think my knees were up to the hilly trail. (And I was correct)

 My five girls...we are only missing Alexis.

 Luke

 Mark out on a limb

 Kimberly Irene

This is the bridge that is exactly the halfway point of the walk...if you continue on the trail it gets very steep and hilly...this was the first time I knew I couldn't make it around the loop.

I headed back the was I came...on the flat trail.  I feel defeated!

A trip up Mount Hope

There were no blueberries at the blueberry patch this morning and we were all very disappointed. We had gotten up at 6:30 to get 7 of us ready to get to the berry patch my 8am.

We were greeted by a big sign saying "CLOSED...REOPENING ON TUESDAY".

We were NOT happy! So instead we headed up Mount Hope to see what we could see.

Reflections

rock skipping boys
brown knapweed

Last years thistle

We did manage to eat a lot of wild blackcaps on our walk...and a few delicious wild red raspberries.

white spotted damselfly

male widow skimmer dragonfly

Mark-11

Luke-6

The first trip up Mt. Hope this spring

Today we made our first trek up Mount. Hope. The water was running high and fast out of the resevoir. We had record rain in April and we could tell this afternoon.
The maple leaves are just beginning to show themselves. I am always amazed at the autumnal colors they have as they emerge.

We found a few "fiddleheads". I am sure many more will appear in the next week or two.

Wake-robin (or purple trillium), but I prefer "wake-robin" because the name is so fitting at this time of year.

white trillium

The kids wanted to pick a bouquet to bring home, but I informed them not to pick trillium. They droop and die within minutes of picking them. We saw many that had been thrown along the trail that had been picked. It made us a little sad to see them tossed away.

I don't know what tree these blossoms are from. They were in very large trees. If you can help us out with identification, please leave a comment.

"Whose that trip trapping over my bridge!!??"

We always image a grumpy troll living under the wooden bridge.

It's still VERY cold water

No trolls under the bridge, only a bunch of my kids.

I'm not sure that vine will hold you, Amy.

Kimmy really wanted to bring home this "walking stick".

Luckily, we managed to talk her into leaving it behind.

L.E.N.S. Photo Challenge: Light

A search for "nature" at Mount Hope

Peek-a-boo!

cow vetch and ox-eyed daisy

It was a beautiful cool, crisp day today.

Perfect for taking a nature hike at Mount Hope.

wild raspberries

A few wild raspberries were found.....I think wild raspberries are the most delicious treat that God every created.

wild blackcaps

Second to wild redraspberries has to be wild blackcaps.

These make the best jelly anyone could ever taste.

purple aster

ox-eyed daisy

an unknown, gorgeous bloom

We brought a magnifying glass, net and "bowl" and heading into the woods, searching for nature.

Because we had our magnifying glass, the little children wanted to find "small" nature.

You can't get much smaller than this little toad.

Amy was the tiny toad catcher!

A dragonfly wing was found near the pond. It was perfect for studying with the magnifying glass.

A tiny red mushroom

Amy took this amazing photo---especially when you take into account this mushroom was less than an inch tall.

A family of Canadian geese.

The babies are almost grown now.

a visiting damsel fly

Luke wanted to keep the damselfly for a pet, but eventually decided on his own to let it fly away.

Becky said her day was complete after she caught....

this frog.

Becky also proved to be a great salamander and crayfish catcher.

Kimmy is the queen of the rock!

Final tally: 5 crayfish and 7 salamanders