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Rockhopper Trail

Bhavna and I ventured out to another trail in West Amwell Township we had not visited before. This one was odd in that the trailhead starts on private property. We passed an old barn and some cars. It was a bit strange.

It had rained the entire week, and the trail was more than just soggy; it was "water into your shoe" deep in certain places. Fortunately, Bhavna had worn proper hiking shoes for this adventure, and we pushed through until the trail changed from its carpet of leaves to the rocky terrain we've come to expect when hiking in the Sourland Mountain Range.

It had rained the entire week, and the trail was more than just soggy; it was "water into your shoe" deep in certain places. Fortunately, Bhavna had worn proper hiking shoes for this adventure, and we pushed through until the trail changed from its carpet of leaves to the rocky terrain we've come to expect when hiking in the Sourland Mountain Range.

The trees are still bare, but the spicebush (Lindera benzoin) is blooming.

Rockhopper Trail | 1 April, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 23.4 mm
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) | 1 April, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm
Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) | 1 April, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) | 1 April, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm

This week the blanket of leaves revealed the start of new life. Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides), which I didn't notice a week ago, is now starting to bloom. I hear the buzzing of invisible insects.

Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) | 1 April, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm
Rue Anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) | 1 April, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm
Hepatica Americana, the round-lobed hepatica | 1 April, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm
hepatica nobilis | 1 April, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 55 mm
1 April, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 16 mm
1 April, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 34.2 mm
Rockhopper Trail | 1 April, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 16 mm
Shroom | 1 April, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 16 mm
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) | 1 April, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | Fujinon XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 16 mm

Cut-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata), a flowering plant that I have not noticed in recent and past hikes, finds its life amongst the leaves at the base of the forest trees.

Cardamine concatenata, cutleaved toothwort | 1 April, 2020 | FujiFilm X-T2 | AF-S Nikkor XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR @ 16 mm

52 Week Smartphone Challenge: Week 13: New Beginnings

As you can tell if you have read the other post on my blog this week, I have been venturing out to the nearby nature trails in search of early spring wildflowers. The featured image is of Sanguinaria canadensis, commonly known as bloodroot.. The little flowers are the first signs to me that nature had entered a period of new growth after the cold, dreary months have passed. Seeing these wildflowers whose blooms last for a relatively short time give me a sense of normalcy to the health danger we now all face.

I used the rear 6mm f/2 "telephoto" lens which has an approximate 35mm equivalent of a 51mm lens. It's great for portraits but can also be used to "zoom" in on small subjects.

Like most of my iPhone images, this one was capture in Adobe Lightroom Mobile. I applied my "iPhone Filmic" preset in Adobe Lightroom on my macOS. Amy Maranto has given a humorous response to the challenge with an unusual portrait. TiongHan give me a lot to think about in his response to the challenge. He learns a lot about patience and restraint and "the Japanese way". The Only D800 in the Hameau shows us the new growth of the bay leaf plant, an essential ingredient in cooking and cocktails.

Submitted for my 52 Week Smartphone Challenge.