Finding Fall Wildflowers Along the Mahoning Flats Quarterly Feature: Hess Recreation Area by Jenn Puckett
The saying goes - April showers bring May flowers. What some folks don’t know is that native species fall flowers are out there to be found if you know where to look! A recent visit to the Hess Recreation Area yielded some great finds. While fall is the time for changing leaves, it’s good to remember that all the natural landscape is transforming. Temperatures are dropping and the birds are getting ready to either migrate or preparing for the chilly months to come. Chipmunks and squirrels are growing undercoats to stay cozy during the cold season. The air grows cooler and all of nature begins to slow down. This is a reminder to me to take my time and enjoy things in a more mindful way. My mom and I have always enjoyed hiking together and this was a perfect opportunity to get out on the trail together. We entered at Perkins off Route 54 and followed Meadow Lane to the Mahoning Flats Natural Area parking area. There is not a lot of space here but more parking is available at Hess Recreation Field and you can access the same trail from there. The trail itself is fairly level. As always, make sure to watch your step and wear appropriate footwear. The first bloom we found was White Snake Root. This is a native plant species that can easily be confused with other flowers. However, this is a poisonous plant, particularly to cattle if consumed. Like many things in the great outdoors, let this one be. It’s not dangerous to be near, only if consumed. More reason to pack a snack!
The next was Goldenrod, which has a bad reputation that it doesn’t deserve. Many think their allergies come from this native species. It’s often mis-identified as ragweed (which is the main cause of sniffles at this time of year). This lovely native plant is an amazing pollinator and provides food to butterflies, bees and more. Ragweed blooms at the same time as Goldenrod but is propagated by wind rather than pollinators. Since Goldenrod is the showier and more noticeable of the two, it often gets the undeserved blame for our sneezes. 25
Powered by FlippingBook