We saw a Bear! ~ And lots of flowers!

We traveled to one of our local ATV trails today and about 10 miles into our journey my husband (who is driving our side-by-side) says, "Bear!" I look to my left and sure enough a bear is running off through the woods! I just saw a streak of movement and a brown blur but he saw it first and quite clearly!

Let this be a cautionary tale... these trails and a myriad of other trails all starting at the same campground are used by ATV's, hikers, bicyclists, horse packers and campers. We all know to be cautious but sometimes it's all so sudden you are caught unaware. We did warn another couple we met on the trail and posted on the local social media.

Other than that it was a lovely ride with some great photo opportunities.

Description of Pink Lousewort Elephant Head Pedicularis groenlandica:

If you look at the flowers from a distance, the name just seems ridiculous, but a closer view shows amazing individual pink elephant heads, complete with floppy ears and long, twisting trunk.
Pedicularis groenlandica is a showy flowering plant in the broomrape family which is known by the common names elephant's head and elephanthead lousewort. This erect plant can grow to a height of 30". Its sharply-toothed fern-like leaves are located low on the stout stem. The stem is topped with a large inflorescence of bright pink to purple or white flowers. Each flower has a long, pointed beak which curves upward, superficially resembling the trunk of an elephant, and the lateral lobes of the flower resemble an elephant's ears. Like other louseworts and related broomrape genera, this is a root parasite and grow best mixed with grasses and other plants. Zones 3-8

 Elderberry plants (Sambucus canadensis) are truly multi-purpose. Growing your own offers many unique benefits. You can plant several in a row to create an attractive hedge or screen, or you can use them as wildlife attractants that will bring even more natural beauty to your backyard. In spring, an elderberry plant features magnificently scented white flowers and, in summer, it will produce a bounty of dark purple-black berries that you won’t find in many grocery stores. The berries from the elderberry plants are commonly used for making delicious wines, jams, sauces, and pies. The flowers are used for making fritters, pancakes, or tea. You can craft combs, spindles, or pegs from the hard wood and create basketry dyes with the twigs and fruit.




Anaphalis margaritacea, commonly known as the western pearly everlasting or pearly everlasting, is an Asian and North American species of flowering perennial plant in the sunflower family. It is widespread across most of the United States and Canada, as well as northwestern Mexico.