May 7, 2016 4 min read

I wanted to look at a nearby wetlands, and the lane took me along a steep hillside dropping off to a creek.

First, I wanted to photograph the wetlands with its mallards, turtles and other miscellaneous residents. Others might curse their existence because they become unusable land to some, those who own them know wetlands are nature’s water purifier.

It has been said by others more knowledgeable than myself that after flowing through a mile of wetlands, water will be as clean as it was before it was polluted.

Much like an opossum and turkey vulture clean the land of the bodies of dead critters, the wetlands cleans the environment of polluted water.

My second reason to visit the wetlands were the wildflowers growing on the hillside. There were large patches of a bright royal purple flower decorating the landscape that really caught my attention. I believe they were larkspur.

I am not sure without my dear late wife, Eileen’s outdoor knowledge. She certainly knew all the wildflowers.

Just a couple of days ago while driving home from Mike Webber’s home near Scenery Hill, I noticed the nearby bottom land was not its customary green and brown but instead a delicate blue.

I should have exited the car and taken a closer look but thought they were either blue-eyed Mary’s or bluettes. Either way, one thing is certain: the wildflowers are blooming!

While taking a walk along Ten Mile Creek between Ten Mile and Amity, I spotted a nice stand of Virginia blue bells.

I haven’t been there lately but there is a nice growth of blue bells near the covered bridge in Mingo Park.

Of course, there are also ever-present violets in their various colors at the park as well.

I would think now is the time of year to drive along the lower section of Templeton Run near its juncture with Enlow Creek, or travel a bit further to the Enlow Valley itself. Here the hillside will likely be covered with trilliums, phlox, sweet Williams and the bottomlands covered with blue-eyed Mary’s and blue bells.

This particular strip of land has been saved from development by the Pennsylvania Western Conservancy and is, in reality, a Washington and Greene treasure.

Far too many places with an abundance of wildflowers have fallen victim to the bulldozer. Such places need to be saved so that future generations can enjoy them too.

I know of many places where spring was greeted not only by the call of the red-winged blackbird and sight of the vultures soaring in the air but also the hepatica and spring beauty. The yellow dandelion-dotted roadsides all look alike, and those flowers being present mean it is spring.

Many times, as we walked along the narrow road paralleling Templeton, our admiration of the many flowers was interrupted by the call of a love-lorn tom turkey. And while the old man’s hearing isn’t what it once was, there are many bird calls. They are gifts to those who listen.

All winter, we waited for this time of year.

There are the trout calling my name, just waiting to be caught. Then there are the bluegill and crappie that thrive in Cross Creek Lake and other bodies of water.

It is a time when decisions must be made. Do I drive to Cross Creek and fish for crappie or get up before daybreak and dress in camo for turkey?

Decisions, decisions. It’s tough to decide but I must admit I hate to get up before daylight, so I lean toward the fishing. Much like a baseball coach with too many good players, deciding what to do is a good situation to be in. Maybe I’ll just head to the club and shoot.

George H. Block writes a Sunday Outdoors column for the Observer-Reporter.