Shenandoah Mountain Wildflower Walks 2016 enjoyed a record turn out and pleasant weather. Thanks to the dozen Headwaters Master Naturalists and the 47 wildflower enthusiasts who joined us for the 2016 Shenandoah Mountain Wildflower Walks on April 30th!

Though the weather threatened rain, that was no deterrent to seeing some of the great spring wildflowers of Braley Pond, Hone Quarry, and North River Gorge. Though our wildflower numbers and species are still being tallied, some highlights of the day include seven violet species*, wild yamroot, pink ladys slippers, yellow star grass, wake robin trillium, whorled pogonia, heartleaf, jack-in-the pulpit, and (a perennial favorite) fringed polygala.

Top photo is from the Braley Pond hike by Carl Droms. More of his photos from Braley Pond here:

Friends of Shenandoah Mountain‘s Lynn Cameron along with HMNs Elaine Smith, Malcolm Cameron and Lacey Dean captured the shots below. See Friends of Shenandoah Mountain’s complete album of photos from the walks on facebook: Wildflower Walks a Success! Elaine has more photos on her Flickr photostream here.

North River Gorge group. Photo by Malcom Cameron

Crested dwarf irises. Photo by Elaine Smith

Phlox. Photo by Elaine Smith

Along Hone Quarry Road. Photo by Lynn Cameron

Jerry at Hone Quarry. Photo by Elaine Smith

Chip Brown at Braley Pond. Photo by Lacey Dean

If you attended one of the walks and have photos to share, see here for sharing options.

Find more photos on our facebook group page HERE.

Feel free to post photos of the day to the fb page or to the 2016 Shenandoah Mountain Wildflower Walks album on the fb page.

– Chip Brown, Wildflower Walks Coordinator

* Click here (and on arrows) for Eric Jones’ photos of six of these found on the Braley Pond walk.

More about the Walks from Friends of Shenandoah Mountain here: Wildflower Walks a Success!

Stay tuned for the 5th annual Shenandoah Wildflower Walks on Saturday, April 29, 2017!