SUMMERSTOWN, Ontario - The trilliums are in bloom at the Summerstown Trails - and it only lasts for a short period of time.
”If you have never been to the Summerstown Forest when the trilliums are in bloom, it’s worth the visit…there are so many that they literally carpet the forest floor in many areas,” said Vic Leroux, President of the Friends of the Summerstown Trails. “It’s quite spectacular."
The trillium is the official flower of the Province of Ontario. It is a perennial flower that has three petals and three leaves. While it is not illegal to pick the flower, it’s not recommended as they wilt almost immediately, and it will almost certainly damage and kill the plant.
They’re easy to get to…just walk (or bike) down the main trail for a few hundred metres and you’ll start seeing them. It is recommended that you stay on the trails, as the ticks are already out. Even so, before leaving to go home, inspect your clothes, shoes and body. As for the bugs, they are just starting to appear, and are not too bad yet. But better to bring insect repellent, just in case.
And here’s a challenge: Try to spot the rarer pink or red Trillium.
The trailhead and the parking lot are located on Summerstown Road (6150 County Road 27), 1.6 kilometres north of Exit 804 on Highway 401.