Last year, we hiked a little ways along the lower leg and ran into lots of flowers. You can read about our last small foray in this post. This year, we must have visited between the seasonal spring and summer blooms, because we didn't encountered many. Still, an occasional flower would appear.
In White
In Purple
Like many parts of the park, the trail was worn in places. Sometimes to the roots of the matter...
Holding the Trail Together
On the lower leg, the bluff dominates along the right. Sometimes little caves appear and offer a respite from the summer heat. You don't have to be in them. Coolness emanates and refreshes. Sometimes these recesses take the shape of something recognizable.
Face in the Bluff
The other presence that dominates is the greenness of life. Ferns find this location ideal. In fact, the trail is part of the Fern Rocks Nature Preserve, a noted area for botanists for its variety of flowers and ferns.
Finding a Niche
Some life even drops into view to catch the rays of sun.
Hanging Out
For a stretch of the trail, a creek runs alongside. Of course, I couldn't resist taking a picture.
Stonefort Creek
Frequent companions on our hike were the tiger beetles. I had seen them in the past on the trail, but this year, we encountered more than a half-dozen of the insects. Perhaps it was mating season.
A Pair Waltzing Beetle Style?
Sandra and I had walked the entire trail two years ago, but the length seemed to catch us off-guard. We hiked and I was expecting the rise to the top to appear, but no, more creek, more ferns, more cool caves appeared along our way. At two miles long, Trillium has only one peer at Giant City State Park which is longer.
Stairway to the Top
Finally...
we reached the stairway to the top of the bluff. After stepping up, we sat, pausing to soak in the moment and to gather ourselves for the second leg of the trail.
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