He who limps is still walking. ~Stanislaw J. Lec
I love wandering in the woods to find the first sleeping plants that awaken from the forest floor. It’s something of a rite of spring for me, despite the fact that I no longer have to suffer through a cold northern winter. Many of these spring ephemerals, as well as being beautiful, are important food sources for the first foraging butterflies and bees that emerge. Many are even downward-facing to better serve the insects that cruise the forest floor.
A couple weeks back we took an impromptu Friday evening walk to the nature trail at Stone Mountain Park; a friend had mentioned that it’s one of the best local places to see a few of my favorites. It’s an easy 3/4 mile trail that meanders beside a stream. It was lovely; the azaleas were blooming and as a bonus we saw our first Louisiana waterthrush of the season! T
here were many blooming mayapples – so hard to photograph nicely – and some pink lady slippers that I want to go back to check on. I found foamflower, I think, though it’s much taller than what I’m used to seeing in NJ. The common name comes from the delicate white flowers that look like foam. I love the extra long pistils on the flowers that rise above the white petals like little golden crowns. Books say that these flowers were often presented by Greeks as tokens of their love.
We also found green-and-gold which is another favorite. It blooms in shady woodland places. So pretty! I believe it’s in the aster family, so you know pollinators love it. We finished off our easy evening hike by deciding to head off the nature trail and into the forest proper. We didn’t g
et very far before we had to cross a wet area where the stream ran across a bunch of flat rocks. Despite being extra-super careful when crossing those slippery, moss-covered rocks, I managed to fall and twist up my leg. Bummer! Two weeks later and I finally worked up the courage to see a doctor today… the pain wasn’t going away and walking/sleeping/sitting haven’t gotten any easier. I have to go back for an MRI, but the chance is that I’ve torn a meniscus.
🙁
I’m studying up 
on knee anatomy (in between wildflower guides!) and hoping that rest and time and the brace the doctor gave me will fix it up. I welcome any suggestions for how to include/disguise this hideous-looking brace in my professional attire. I hope next time I’ll be more careful; wildflowers are a risky habit to have!
That does look like foamflower. I wonder if the size difference is simply because it’s on a richer site? Ours range from 6″ to 18″ in height.
Sorry to hear about your knee. It’s definitely disconcerting to start to get things that won’t just go away if you ignore them the way they used to. I’m recovering from an eye disease that’s lasted for six weeks and required a visit to actual doctors. Ridiculous!
Ignoring things until they go away is what I do… tho this hasn’t gone away. 🙁
I’ve real fear about interacting with doctors, but otherwise I’ll be totally intolerable I think. I had a day of relief – thanks to a shot straight to the knee – but I’m back to feeling miserable.
I hope your eye thing isn’t too awful!
Looks like it was such a lovely walk. Really sorry that you twisted your leg and ended up with such an injury. Knee pain is no fun at all. Take care there, and sending best wishes for an excellent recovery.
Thanks Robin. I guess I have to be more careful!
Hey Laura, sorry to hear about your knee. Glad you didnt crack your head! Might you consider some different footwear for steps on slippery stuff? Not sure.. anyway i hope you make it a point not to rush it back before you’ve had enoght time to mend. Grrat writing by the way! Brasil…
Thanks Brian… I was wearing my usual kicks! The ground was flat, the rocks were flat, just slippery! I’m a klutz!
Love the quote! Sounds like something in a fortune cookie! Sending good energy for knee healing so you can get back on the trail. XO
Thanks Jayne. I hate feeling like I can’t do what I want to do!
Oh, ouch. As an “older” woman, I so resonate with the thought of “I am stepping as carefully as I can” and then the fall. Ugh.
Heal quickly. Think of this down time as the perfect opportunity to re-read Don Quixote.
Don Quijote? Not sure I’m feeling bad enough for that! Maybe some Neruda!
I love the quote too. And your attitude. Let’s go back there now & then. But perhaps avoid the slippery rocks.
Yes, let’s avoid the dangerous stuff! 😉
Sorry to hear about your knee injury and wishing you a speedy recovery. I always take my nordic poles on trails now. They give me an upper body work out and really help on uneven ground. I have not seen a foam flower before. We are in the trout lily/ bloodroot/wild ginger flowering week leading into trilliums in the next few days. I love the woods in spring!
Your woods sound very rich, Ruth! Lots of long blooming trilliums here, too!
Wildflowers are indeed a risky habit, as much of nature can be (I share the inclination, and enjoy seeing your pictures). Hope the knee heals without too much tricky intervention.