vaneramos | Heading north

I crossed the river Wednesday afternoon to look for bloodroot again. They were past, but Erythronium was blooming (dogtooth violet, trout-lily), the same leaf that appeared in last week's mystery photo. The plants cover the ground everywhere, but in seven springs of hiking through those woods, I never saw them flowering. I'd assumed they opened earlier, but now know they appear after bloodroot. Only those atop the limestone cliff actually bloom. It was a blustery day, so I'm thankful for stop action.

Hopefully we'll see wildflowers at the cottage this weekend, but I'm not optimistic. Ice usually persists on the lake well into April, so the forest stays cool and spring drags several weeks behind. But the forecast calls for clear, mild weather Saturday and Sunday

Yes, I'm driving to Lake Fletcher with djjo tonight, a much needed retreat. I feel raw and harried, but stress usually falls away once I head north. Hardly anyone uses the lake in April, so it will be a treat to shed this anxious rubble, relax on the dock with little or no clothing, and get sun on my etiolated skin.