Before the trip has even begun, I am rewarded with the sight of a wildflower I’ve never seen before. Growing around the base of a wooden pylon in the parking lot it looks much like gill over the ground, but is of a more richly purple hue, with distinct purple lines radiating out of the mouth. The tiny, densely packed upper leaves(sepals?) have a distinctively squarish look; the clusters of four almost make a square when viewed from above. I just found out that Adirondack Wildflowers is no longer in print; I wish it was, because I cannot find it in my Peterson’s.

Immediately upon entering the channel blooming water lilies greet us, along with beds of pickerelweed (no longer in bloom), and some goldenrod and New-England asters just beyond the bridge.