Eleven people came out to hike the trail along Saunders Lake from the south end. The day was pleasant, with varying degrees of cloud cover. By the afternoon, the weather had turned quite warm and humid, so the breezes from the lake were very welcome.
It was a great day for wildlife-spotting. We saw a fritillary butterfly, fledgling red-winged blackbirds, swooping black terns, a catbird, a kingbird, a tiny chatty bird with a long beak, a muskrat swimming, and a doe.
As for plants, we spotted a variety of uncommon ones, from massive burdocks…
…to yellow evening primrose, delicate meadowsweet, and blue lettuce.
Evening Primrose 
Meadowsweet 
Blue Lettuce
A surprise element was the wasps on the path in two places. As we also discovered at Stoney Creek two weeks ago, you really have to pay attention to where you’re stepping this summer. Keep your eyes and ears open and be ready to make a wide detour around these creatures.
In spite of insects, these hikes are worth it—especially when we get to enjoy everything else nature has to offer, along with the conversation and friendliness of like-minded fellow hikers.
Thanks to Stella for leading the hike and to Trail Maintenance for clearing the way. You can find more photos on Flickr.
