Berkeley Springs was cool and sunny on Saturday, which is quite nice for our quick stroll.

The root tree of the graft broke through, so this tree and white and pink flowers, both of which were pretty.

The cherry blossoms are from Thursday, when we walked down to the wharf district. The rest of the flowers are from Sunday, and our visit to the WV Botanic Garden.

Here are some flowers we saw on our Saturday wander through multiple places in the state.

Plus! Bonus Dramatic Clouds!

Not many pretty wildflowers out right now, but I found a few yesterday hiking at New River Gorge.

OK, not flowers, but I still found them pretty.

Well, state parks and state forests, but since the state park was technically in a forest, we’ll just let it go.

Pictures are from Stonewall Resort and Coopers Rock.

The rhododendron are in bloom!

Rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum)

Are you a mushroom? No! I’m a fun-gi!

And here’s Stonewall Resort State Park

Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)

Wild Bergamot / Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa)

Spotted Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata)

I love day lilies. Over the years I have picked up several different cultivars, so when they bloom, the front of my house is gorgeous. (The nicest thing about day lilies is that unlike regular lilies, they don’t have a scent. (I cannot stand the scent of regular lilies.))

Bonus: Balloon flower

After several weekends of somewhat strenuous hiking, we decided we needed a nice, relaxing walk today, and so went to the WV Botanic Garden.

There are trails through the area, which are fairly flat and fairly even, including gravel paths that should be easy for strollers etc.

Although temperatures were a little warmer than I would prefer, it was a lovely stroll. We got there before the gate to the lower parking area opened, so there was hardly anyone there, and it was calm and quiet and peaceful.

A lovely walk.

Some of the flowers we saw on our hike at Watters Smith Memorial Park

Bluets (Houstonia caerulea)

Star Chickweed (Stellaria pubera) ?

Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)

These are what I found when as I wandered around my yard this morning. (I have a small yard, so it wasn’t a very long wander.)

Tulip!

Bluebells!

Rhododendron!

Saturday we went to Hawk’s Nest State Park and New River Gorge National Forest.

Redbud was blooming everywhere–the roadsides were pink with it in many areas (including along the interstate).

Some Bleeding Heart at the bottom of the Kaymoor Miner’s Trail in the New River Gorge.

Sunday we went to Coopers Rock for a quick hike (it’s supposed to rain, but we’re still waiting).

There are violets everywhere.

Ferns!

Gorgeous pine in the entrance circle. (Not sure what species. I didn’t get a close-up pictures of the leaves, and Michael and I can’t decide.)

Shaw agave (Agave shawii)

Common Periwinkle (Littorina littorea)

Coyote Bush/Brush (Baccharis pilularis) has incredibly soft flowers.

(Thanks Mary!)

Not that you can tell from this picture, but we saw a seal!

And the next day we saw dolphins!

Yeah, for both of those you’re just going to have to take my word for it.

My hydrangea took a significant amount of damage last winter, so although it survived, I got no flowers. So I decided to snap a couple pictures of the last hurrah of this hydrangea outside the Purple Fiddle in Thomas.

And just because I adore it so, my favorite building in Thomas.