Trout Lilies and Virginia Blue Bells along 16th Mile Creek (Oakville, Ontario)
What to expect:
Expect hills covered with Trout Lilies, a gently flowing stream, and a colony of Virginia Cowslips – an ugly name for a very pretty flower.
The trail is easy to walk, but you’ll need to walk down (and back up) a steep path to get to the river if you follow our directions below. This path is part of the much larger park system in Oakville with many other access points.This is a gorgeous walk. Please don't pick the flowers!
Wildflowers
The Virginia Cowslip, also known by its Latin name Mertensia (Mertensia virginica), is a relatively difficult flower to find in the region. It will flower mid-spring. Even if you are too early or too late to see this spectacular wildflower, you won’t regret this expedition. The hills are literally covered with hundreds of white and yellow Trout Lilies (Erythronium americanum). This plant is also known by the common name Adder’s Tongue. It tends to grow in huge colonies.
Photo 1: Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum)
The spotted leaves look a bit like the back of a trout which explains the common name of this plant.
Photo 2: Virginia Cowslip (Mertensia virginica)
The ROM Guide (see resources) tells us the genus name commemorates Franz Karl Mertens (1764-1831), a German botanist. (p. 205)
Photo 3: Broad-leaved Toothwort (Cardamine diphylla)
Some slightly older field guides classify this plant as belonging to the genus Dentaria. This just comes to show that the scientific community keeps on learning...
When to go:
Best bet: mid-may. Go before the leaves are on the trees.
How to get there:
In Oakville, take Upper Middle Road to Trails Blvd (opposite of Dorval Dr.). Take the third sideroad right. You are now on Skyvalley Cresent. Park and walk to an access point to the trails.
More…
In case some family members don’t share a passion for flower hunting, this trail is very close to Glen Abbey Golf Course and the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame operated by the Royal Canadian Golf Association www.rcga.org
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