Wildflowers of Lancaster County: Shenk’s Ferry and Lock 12

Join HPS/MAG for a Wildflower Tour of Lancaster County at Shenk's Ferry and Lock 12 with HPS/MAG member and Delaware Valley Rock Garden Society member, Janet Novak. Members only.

Shenk’s Ferry is one of the premier wildflower sites in the Mid-Atlantic region. It is best known for trilliums: in late April, the slopes are awash with the white flowers of the “Susquehanna trillium,” a plant whose classification has still not been settled. (Trillium flexipes? Trillium erectum var album? Trillium flexipes x Trillium erectum? Trillium cernuum x Trillium erectum? It’s a mystery!) Also showy are bluebells (Mertensia virginica), wild red columbine (Aquilegia canadensis), dutchman’s breeches (Dicentra cucullaria), squirrel corn (Dicentra canadensis), early saxifrage (Saxifraga virginiensis), rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides), and a host of other wildflowers. Plant nerds may be amused by green violet (Hybanthus concolor). We can see all of these in an easy stroll up an old road. Our second stop will be Lock 12. We’ll pass the historical remains of the locks and head down to a striking scene: huge boulders on the banks of the wide Susquehanna River. This unusual habitat, shaped by the scour of ice in winter, hosts many fascinating plants. Growing directly on the boulders are sweet azalea (Rhododendron arborescens), bluets (Houstonia caerulea), and riverbank goldenrod (Solidago simplex ssp. randii var. racemosa), which, unlike its rampant cousins, barely reaches 6” tall. Other highlights include fringetree (Chionanthus virginicus), pinxterbloom (Rhododendron periclymenoides), and starry chickweed (Stellaria pubera). 

Practicalities: Bring a lunch; picnic tables will be available at Lock 12. The restroom facilities are, shall we say, rustic, i.e. an outhouse, but we’ll be sure that it is supplied with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. As with any outing in the woods, ticks are a possibility, so bring bug spray or spray your clothing ahead of time with permethrin. The walking at Shenk’s will be easy, but part of the Lock 12 trip will be off trail on rocky, uneven ground, so wear sturdy shoes and consider bringing a walking stick.

Members only. Cost is $5 per member for max 20 people. Event is full. Registration is closed. The meeting place will be supplied upon registration. The drive will be an hour or more for most HPS members, so we strongly encourage carpooling.

Rain date April 25th.

We will follow the COVID protocol of Shenk's Ferry & Lock 12. Please bring a mask.