Connecticut's
state flower, Mountain Laurel
(Kalmia latifolia - wikipedia
info), blossoms brief but full in
June. In most places the bloom pops
mid/late June and by the second week
of July is gone. Mountain Laurel is
America's Cherry Blossom
Festival...without the crowds and
media attention. If you've never been
up in a trail full of white and pink
blossoms this is your chance. Where
do you go to see these treats?
Anywhere. But hiking up a hill or
mountain that hasn't been wiped out
by suburbia is your best best if
you'd like to see a good show. Listed
below are useful links.
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 WARNING!!: If exploring
with toddlers (who are known to explore by
tasting anything and everything) please note
that Mountain Laurel is VERY dangerous to small children should they decide to taste the beautiful flower. It could
potentially kill a youngster and would make
any adult very sick should you ingest. The green leaves too are particularly potent.
Sometimes nature makes colorful things as a
way to say "I'm beautiful, but I'm dangerous
too...so just check me out and leave me
alone.". It also is a protected species and
illegal to harvest and try to plant at
home.
Wild blueberries: The tiny cousins of the
supermarket stars are much more
potent and virile. There's so many of them in
the hills of CT and MA this time of year, not
even the birds and black bears can put a dent
in the bunches. It's never a good idea to
just pluck berries without knowing what they
are since there are lots of berries out
there that can make you miserably sick (or riding a toilet bowl for days!). But to see blueberries bursting everywhere is a treat and worth a hike or
two. If you know for sure it's a blueberry,
then munch away. They are incredibly tasty and packed with nutrients. Just remember to rinse any
that you pick near the ground.
Mountain Laurel can be seen all over so it's not an exaggeration to suggest, "just go for a hike to see Mountain Laurel". Almost all nature centers, conservation areas, and state parks have it. Going up a few hundred feet in elevation helps to increase your chances of seeing a "wow" display. Away from people and overdevelopment increases your chances of seeing it in bunches. But here are some prime spots that are can't miss opportunities.
Bear Mountain (CT's highest peak)
Tarrywile (Danbury, CT)
Mt. Greylock (MA's highest mountain)
Mount Washington State Forest (CT/MA/NY tri-state border)
Sleeping Giant (near New Haven)
Mt. Tom State Reservation (MA) (Holyoke, MA)
Mt. Tom State Park (CT) (near Litchfield, CT)
White Memorial (near Litchfield, CT)
Central Park (yes, there is Mountain Laurel in Manhattan)
Newburyport (Boston residents might enjoy the escape to nature)
Macedonia State Park (Kent, CT)
Kettletown State Park (Southbury, CT)
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