Smugglers' Notch Vermont and Yellow Jewelweed

After our stop in Sharon, we headed to Smugglers' Notch. This is a spot my kids insist on stopping at every time we are in Vermont. The road winds up through the mountains to an area where the rocks tumble pell mell, creating fantastic climbing and many caves to explore. The name comes from a time in history when goods from Canada were hidden in the caves.

 

While the kids were looking up to climb to the top of the rocks, I was investigating the native flora.

In my area, we have Jewelweed (as kids we called it Snapdragon and some people use the name Touch-Me-Not) but ours is orange. I had never before seen yellow Jewelweed. Isn't it pretty? It grew all along the paths at the base of Smugglers' Notch.

 And to go along with the yellow theme....the first autumn leaves...

A sign that summer days will soon be a thing of the past and Autumn is just around the corner.

Next stop....Mallett's Bay on the shore of Lake Champlain in Colchester, Vermont. Stay tuned!