Eager for signs of Spring, we set out on the good trails at Lithia Springs. The first four vernal pools were still, with no sign of life, but later on we heard the wood frogs before we even saw the pool. There’s a photo of us lined up quietly so we could listen to the wonderful wood frog chorus.. Wood frogs have a rather soft pitch quacking sound that is a pure delight to hear. Pussy willows always enchant and we saw just a few. Our trail was relatively a loop, but the occasional look at the trail map saved us from getting lost. We saw the tiny red blossoms at the tips of the American Hazelnut bushes. They have the shape of a bachelor button (sort of) but are only about an eight of an inch long with just a few tiny petals. Bright red, really exquisite. And then the wonder of the day: lots and lots and lots of Hepatica!!! White, lavender, deep lavender blue, all along a stretch of trail and dotted all over the high south facing slope of the land above the trail. Wow! Lunch was held on a log that accommodated most of us, and smaller logs for others. Peanut butter and jelly ruled the iunch bags and apples and water rounded it all out. Tom shared his bag of mini Milky Ways. I brought home a piece of Scoria, a lava rock. Yes, there were volcanos here too. Scoria is a lava rock, and was so plentiful that bringing one home seemed to be OK. A bittersweet vine posed as pure sculpture as we ended our wonderful day. Tomorrow I’m off to the Cape to be with Ginni and her friend Pat. We’ll be walking the beaches and trails and swimming in an indoor pool. Happy April Fools Day tomorrow 🙂 Behave yourselves!! Penny 
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