The Mountain Laurel Is Ready To Put On A Great Show This Year At The Greater Hazleton Rails To Trails

After visiting State Game Lands 41 in Carbon County on Tuesday I knew it was going to be a good year  for  the mountain laurel.   Mountain laurel  is our state flower and is related to huckleberries, blueberries, azaleas, cranberries and rhododendrons.   Mountain laurel blooms from early to mid June here in Northeastern Pennsylvania depending on the weather.  Some years, like last year only a few flowers bloom. Other years the mountain laurel puts on  a spectacular display. I believe this will be one of those years.

There is a lot of mountain laurel growing along certain  areas of the Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails. I decided to take a look on Friday afternoon. So I drove to the east end parking lot of  the trail  again.  It was cloudy when I arrived around 2 p.m.  but my iPhone app said sunny conditions at 3 p.m. I began my hike under the older woodlands at this end of the trail, The oaks and maple trees here were covered in their lush green new leaves.

It didn’t take long to find some mountain laurel in bloom along the trail.   There is not a lot of  mountain laurel  on this section of the trail,

but it is still beautiful to see our State Flower in bloom under the trees.

I wasn’t expecting to see much bird activity since it was  mid afternoon but I did see a black and white warbler,

and a few ovenbirds along the trail.

I continued my hike on the trail  as  dark clouds formed in the  southern sky.  I looked at the forecast on my iPhone  again and it now said there was chance of light rain in  the next  1/2 hour. Well the light rain came and it wasn’t very light. I walked in a steady rain for about a 1/4 mile to the culvert under the mine haul road. I was already soaked.  It poured for another 15 minutes while I sheltered under the culvert. I was glad to have had a plastic bag with me to cover my camera.

The rain finally ended and I continued my hike through the anthracite coal mine reclamation area. (You can learn more about the abandoned coal mining in the area by searching my earlier blogs  using the search tool)

I walked under the cloudy skies observing the  oxeye daisies and

meadow hawkweed flowers along the trail. These are both invasive species.

I also saw a couple birds drying off their wet feathers after the rain, this prairie warbler,

and this brown thrasher.

I love the song and calls of the brown thrasher. They have more songs and calls than even a  northern mockingbird.

I walked through the reclamation area.

Along the trail I found this falls aspen tree and saw it was gnawed by beavers. They must be living in Hazle Creek that flows along the railroad right of way.

I  also saw these flowers in bloom along the trail, multiflora roses. They are beautiful but are invasive and not native like the mountain laurel.

I walked  across the the bridge,

over the active railroad right of way,

and into the old abandoned strip mine area.

 Here I encountered this whitetail deer buck who watched me and then ran into the woods.

I walked out to the old road to the former Beryllium plant, where I found some wildflowers blooming  along the trail including  blue eyed grass, and

Philadelphia fleabane both native wildflowers and

these field mustard flowers an invasive species.

A red spotted admiral butterfly was near the flowers.

I also found these native wild strawberries.  They are much smaller than the cultivated strawberries but they are delicious and have a sweet and intense strawberry flavor.

Seeing the flowers on the staghorn sumac trees,

and the common mullein plants along the trail reminded me  Summer was approaching.

The trail next took me to the heath and pine barrens,

where I again began to see the scattered mountain laurel along the trail.

I was now out about 2  1/2 miles and approaching the 3 mile marker. This is where the greatest concentration of mountain laurel can be found on the trail,

and it was near peak and putting on a beautiful display. Some years, like last year, only a few flowers bloom. Not this year,

There were blooming  along the trail and into the woods for about a 1/2 mile.   This is a link to a video of the mountain laurel blooming along the trail I uploaded to my YouTube Channel https://youtube.com/shorts/BHxkQVq0Wk0

The utility pole lines  that crossed  the trial also had mountain laurel blooming on the right of way road.

The mountain laurel flowers range from a pure white,

to a dark pink, almost red color.

I enjoyed  the mountain laurel and also saw and heard a few birds here. including both a male

and female eastern towhee,  who was still wet from the rains,

a common  male yellowthroat,

a  black throated blue warbler,

and a red eyed vireo.

It was now late afternoon when I began my hike back to my Jeep under the still cloudy skies. I was hoping to see the bear that has been  seen out here,

but I only saw this red eft.

a few more ovenbirds,

a black capped chickadee,

and the scarlet tanager that I have seen on my last couple of hikes perched in the same tree.

I also saw this indigo bunting in the mine reclamation area. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web site  with some more photos of the birds I saw on my 6 mile hike.  Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails birds. June 13 2025.

It was after 6 p.m. by the time I got back to the parking area.

I had walked 6 miles and been out a little longer then I planned.  I had no regrets. When  Nature puts on a show, like the emergence of the cicada , the snow geese migration,  a solar eclipse, or even a explosion of mountain laurel flowers in bloom, I always want to experience.  We live on a beautiful planet, and only for a short time. I will rest when I am dead, God willing, not for another decade or two or three. Here is a link to a gallery on my blog web site  with some more photos from  my 6 mile hike.  Greater Hazleton Rails to Trails . June 13 2025.

“White blossoms of the Mountain Laurel Contrasted to the waxy green leaves

Nestled under trees along the creek Showing some of the beauty of spring

Snuggled on a blanket close to the edge

Enjoying the music that nature makes

Chirping of birds, no no not a word said Rustle of leaves, buzz, buzzing of bees

Babbble of creek, splash of the deer’s feet

Joy, oh, joy for the outdoor cheer

Wishing that we could share this time

This time of the year” Sara Kendrick