Confluence Wildflowers

Sunday, we took Alex for a short social distancing hike.  With most parks closing, the Eno River Association expanded the hours at their Confluence Natural Area and implemented one-way hiking to promote social distancing while out in nature.  We arrived at 8 and only 2 other cars were here.  It was foggy this morning but no rain.  Hiking the Two Forks Trail, we came to a break in the woods at the north end of the big meadow.

Then the trail headed back into the woods.  There were a lot of jack in the pulpits blooming.  I don't think I've ever seen so many.

A good number of wild geraniums were also blooming.

There were a few spots to go out to East Fork Eno River; it was flowing well from recent rains.

Soon we came to the confluence, where East and West Forks come together to form the Eno River.

Continuing on, the trail followed West Fork upstream.

There were several spots to get out on the creek as well.

The loop finished up and we took Shepperd Mill Trail.

We finished up back at the parking lot as a few more cars were arriving.  But we managed the entire hike without seeing anyone else on the trail.

Osprey at Blue Jay Point

Saturday, we took Alex for a hike along Falls Lake Trail at Blue Jay Point County Park.  We parked along Six Forks Road at Upper Barton Creek and hiked into the park.  It was a late spring day, but there were still some good wildflowers to see along the trail.

There was one lone atamasco lily and a few jack-in-the-pulpits.

We came to a parking lot where a sign indicated distances along the Mountains-to-Sea Trail.

Past here, some mountain laurel were blooming.

When we got to the old road going out to Blue Jay Point, we headed down there.  A double-crested cormorant could be seen in the distance.

And there was a great blue heron near the small island.

At the point, a nesting pair of ospreys had build a nest in a tree.  We spotted both of them flying around, one brought back some branches to repair the nest and the other had half a fish in his talons.

We watched the ospreys for a while and then continued on.  We went a ways on Section 5 of Falls Lake Trail and then turned back.

Horton Grove Wildflowers

Saturday, I went for a hike wildflower hike at Horton Grove Nature Preserve.  Fortunately, Triangle Land Conservancy preserves are still open for hiking.  Parking at the main area of Jock Road, there were only two other cars when I arrived at around 8.  I first set off on Holman Loop Trail.

This trail makes a loop through a grassy area where prescribed burns support the meadow.  A gazebo along the trail makes a nice overlook.

From here, I took Hart Trail into the woods and started seeing a lot of wildflowers.

A number of dwarf crested irises were blooming, one of my favorites.

At the end of this trail, I took the Justice Loop Trail where more wildflowers were blooming.

The trail follows a ridge above the gravel Jock Road then descends.  I crossed the street and took Walker Trail to Jordan Trail.  Some painted buckeyes were flowering along the trail.

At the Great Barn, I crossed the street again to pick up Sowell Trail out to an old farm pond.

It was really scenic and I stopped for a break here.  After hiking around the pond, I got back on Jordan Trail to head back.

Walker Trail led back towards the parking area and I did a quick trip around the Peaks Loop.

By the time I got back to the parking, there were several more cars here, but overall it was not crowded at all on the trails.

Wildflowers along Haw River

Friday, we took Alex for a hike at Lower Haw River State Natural Area.  With no official trails, its more used by fisherman than hikers.  The parking along US-64 on the east side of the river was crowded so we parked on the west side of the river at the Chatham County canoe launch.  Only one other car was here.  First, we hiked north passing some rocky bluffs along the river.

A lot of wildflowers were blooming and the pinxter azaleas were really pretty.

Purple dead-nettle are non-native species.

About a mile in, we had to cross a tributary.

The trail started to peter out at this point and we only went a little ways further and took a break.  There were some dragonflies buzzing around.

On the way back, we stopped at a couple scenic points along the river.

At one spot, we climbed out on the rocks into the middle of the river.

Alex thought a spot where leaves and pollen in the water was solid and tried to jump down.  He made a big splash and was quite shocked to have gone under.  Back at the parking area, we headed south.  There were some nice cascades and little drops along the river.

And lots more wildflowers blooming along the river.

At a steep bluff, little flowers were thriving in the shaded shelter.

The star chickweed were really pretty.

At this point, the trail ended and we took another little break here to enjoy there river.

Then we hiked back to the car and headed home.