Sunday, May 11, 11 AM - Annual Ephemeral Wildflower Hike: Second Chance

You are invited to you to join with CMC board member Howard Raab for the fourth Annual Ephemeral Wildflower hike at Kelly Hollow on Sunday, May 11. Our first such hike was an overwhelming success, so we're offering a slightly later opportunity which promises even more to see.This a chance to find and identify the beautiful Spring Ephemeral wildflowers which are so named because they appear above ground in early spring when they flower and fruit and then die back into the ground, all in a short period before the trees have had a chance to leaf out. Most hikers never see these flowers because they wait for late spring or summer to get into the woods. We will look for Trillium, Spring beauties, Trout Lily, Hepatica, Violets, Squirrel Corn, Dutchman's Britches, Jack-In-The-Pulpit and many others. We may also find some early mushrooms.Kelly Hollow is one of the most beautiful short loop trails in the Catskills with rocky streams and waterfalls. It has a combination of coniferous and deciduous forests with a lovely beaver pond near a lean-to at the top. The trail is an easy to moderate loop of about 4 miles. Bring lunch and/or snacks to have at the lean-to (there is a privy nearby.) Well behaved dogs are welcome.This hike will be limited to 20 people. As it was well attended last year, I would suggest that you register early.In case of steady rain, we will go the following Sunday, 5/18/14. If in doubt, call before 10:00am Sunday.To register contact: howardjraab@gmail.com, (845) 586-3112.Directions:  It is located on Millbrook Road in the town of Middletown, NYNJ Trail Conference map #42, F-5,6.  We will meet at the Old Schoolhouse 2.2 miles west of Margaretville at 10:30 am or at the trail-head at 11:00 am.Directions to trail-head: Go right (west) on the NYC reservoir road across Rt.28 from the Old School House, for 3.7 miles. Then left on Millbrook Road for 5.3 miles to the trail-head parking area on the right.