It’s my birthday and I can hike if I want to

For over thirty years, my favorite thing to do on my birthday has been to go on a hike in the woods with loved ones. I started this ritual years ago to get family who didn’t seem share my intense enthusiasm for the great outdoors. Hey, it’s my birthday and no one could refuse my simple request. Quite frankly, I have been blessed with a fabulous day to be born ~ May 4th. There is nothing better than having a birthday in May, when everything is breaking out of its winter slumber and painting the woods with a rainbow of colors. Years ago, I commented how lovely the day was and a friend said, “It’s always beautiful on your birthday.” And folks, 95% of the time it really is; ever so often there are more clouds than sunshine, but I really cannot remember it ever raining.

This year, we visited one of my favorite trails, Upper Buttermilk Falls in Ithaca, NY. Although, a few of flowers had already bloomed, we caught just about all my favorites.

Check out all the lovelies along the trail.

Wild Geranium

Bloodroot sans flowers

Dutchman’s-Breeches

Forget-me-not

Sharp-lobed Hepatica

Jack-in-the-pulpit

Trillium

Wild Ginger with flower

Bird’s eye view of Wild Ginger

Large-flowered Bellwort

What do you like to do on your birthday?