This time of year the hills come alive with wildflowers in bloom and the song of migrating birds. Nowhere in the Potomac and Shennandoah Watersheds are these rituals of spring more active than at the GR Thompson Wildlife Management Area.
I joined an interprative hike in the Thompson with Naturalist John DeMary the first Sunday in May. The Trillium bloom was at its Height and turned the landscape into a forest garden.Showy Orchids, Lady Slippers, Wild Geraniums, Golden Ragwort, yellow and purple Violets and Star Chickweed were among the wild flowers that filled the garden.Overhead the song of the Green Throat and the Black and White Warblers, Rufus sided Towhee's, American Red Starts and Wood Thrush broke the silence.
We hiked and talked for three miles and parted ways with a day to remember.
-Lee Baihly
To GR Thompson WMA:
The lower (eastern) portion of the area is accessible from I-66 at Markham (exit 17) by taking Route 688 (Leeds Manor Road) north, or from U. S. Route 17, south of Paris, on 688 south. The ridge top (western) portion is reached from State Route 55 at Linden (from I-66 take exit 13, Linden, and travel east), north on Route 638 (Freezeland Road). Continue on the unimproved Fire Trail to reach the Davenport Tract.
The next hikes that are available with John Demary are: May 16th and June 12th
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