Acres and acres of Lesser Celandine (Ranunculus ficaria) carpet the forest floor near the Squaw Run in Fox Chapel. These and many other local flowers may be found at our sister site Flora Pittsburghensis.
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A Celandine Wood in Fox Chapel
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Waterfall Near the Trillium Trail, Fox Chapel
This waterfall is usually a gentle and friendly thing, as we see it here, but it can be a roaring cascade after a bad storm. There used to be two footbridges over the stream below, but both are mangled wrecks since a storm a few years back.
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Trillium in the Rain
A Great White Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum) blooming along the Trillium Trail in Fox Chapel.
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Fiddlehead
As nature awakens from her winter slumber, the ferns uncurl their elegant fiddleheads in Schenley Park.
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Little Waterfalls in Scott Township
Father Pitt admits to being a sucker for waterfalls, big or small. These are small, but very relaxing to look at and listen to. They’re part of a stream along the Tom the Tinker Trail in the Kane Nature Reserve. You can hear the spring chorus of birds in the background.
The name of the trail, incidentally, is an allusion to the Whiskey Rebellion. Notes signed “Tom the Tinker” appeared everywhere threatening anyone who complied with the whiskey tax.
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Waterfall on the Squaw Run
A little waterfall on the Squaw Run in Fox Chapel.
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Crocuses
The calendar says a week and a half of winter yet, but the crocuses say spring is here.
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Water over the Dam in North Park
Water tumbles down a dam in North Park. Damp weather left the lake full, and the return of snow and cold has not stopped the rushing waters. Below is a still picture of the same scene, for those who prefer their still pictures to be absolutely still.
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Bald Eagles at the National Aviary
These two female eagles were injured in the wild and can no longer fly. They must think they died and went to eagle heaven, where food comes to them rather than having to be hunted down with infinite labor. This is a quick cell-phone snapshot, and old Pa Pitt apologizes for the quality.
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Burrowing Owl at the National Aviary
She may be only about the size of a common pigeon, but she thinks you’d better not mess with her. This is a cell-phone snapshot, which accounts for the poor quality of the image. But it’s an impressive little bird.
