HIKING : DIVERSITY

          On several recent hikes I found myself concentrating on the diversity of plants, animals, and environments.  While it seems animals for the most part are to fast for me to photograph while actively hiking, plants and environments are easy.  I see myriads of birds (Robin, Wren, Crow, etc),  small mammals (Chipmunk, Squirrel, Rabbit, etc.), a few larger mammals (Fox, Deer, Ground Hogs, etc.)  99% of the time they run away too fast for me to snap a shot.

          Plant diversity along my hikes is of course exciting to me.  I am not just interested in rare plants, but all plants.  Finding a colony of thousands of Trillium grandiflorum (Great White Trillium) is just as exciting as finding an extremely rare orchid.  On my most recent hike I found "rare" (aka. different) color forms of usually common plants.

          I found the white variety of the normally red Trillium erectum variety erectum (Red Wake Robin).  This is the 3rd colony of T. erectum I have discovered with the white Trillium erectum variety album intermixed.

          I also found solid green forms of the normally purple marked Arisaema trifoliata (Jack - in the Pulpit)