Daytrip in Wayne County: Spring Wildflower Walk

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

by Jackie Perrin/ Photos by Jackie Perrin and Mark De Cracker

Mark DeCracker has a vision, and it’s a beauty. DeCracker, proprietor of Peppermint Cottage Bed & Breakfast in Lyons, wants to share the wonderful world of wildflowers with tourists from near and far. “Wayne’s Wildflowers”, to be exact. Wildflowers with names like “hepatica”, “Jack-in-the-pulpit” and “trillium”, painting the landscape in brilliant patriotic hues of reds, whites and blues.

A member of the newly formed Wayne County Tourism Implementation Team, DeCracker proposes highlighting a natural attraction to bring visitors to the area. “Nature has provided us with a wonderful treasure and, best of all, it is free. All we need to do is establish the trails and identify the woods where the public is welcome” suggests DeCracker. “These special woods or the Bog would be identified by a Wayne’s Wildflower Destination sign. If you sign it they will come”, he says. 

Always game for a free leisure time activity, I thought the plan was a winner.
The only problem was my lack of knowledge of botany in general and wildflowers in particular. On a recent May morning, I agreed to join DeCracker for a wildflower walk near his establishment in Lyons for a lesson in leafery. Four year-old Molly reluctantly joined us, and turned out to be a quick study.

On the grounds of Peppermint Cottage, DeCracker introduced us to our first wildflower of the day, Bloodroot, whose flowers are one of the first of Spring to bloom. He split the plant’s stem and explained how the “juice” could be used as paint, demonstrating as he spoke by decorating our faces with hearts and flowers.

We had a quick tour of the grounds and cottage, which is best described as a little gem in the woods. Beside a running waterfall and beyond a 78 foot cobblestone wall that wraps around the deck lies a wondrous wildflower vista. Hepatica and gill-over-the-ground share soil with a varied herb garden of peppermint, rosemary, sage and thyme. Beyond the wall and in view of the cottage of nothing else lies an immense hot tub, promising an unobstructed view of the night sky.  Further up the hill is a natural sauna constructed of a cedar barrel, where guests can enjoy a peppermint or eucalyptus treatment.

The interior of the cottage was compact and cozy, and a blazing fire in the beehive fireplace evoked daydreams of contented winter afternoons spent curled up with a good book and baking bread in the hearthstone oven. Above the fireplace stands a framed photograph of the original inhabitant, Judson “the Tinman” Rice. A dining area,

kitchen and living room decorated in Adirondack style complete the scene. Upstairs in the loft, the skylit front bedroom is stocked with reading material, a rocking chair, a bassinette and other creature comforts. In the rear bedroom, jokes DeCracker, are  “Mama Bear, Papa Bear and Baby Bear’s beds”.

With camera and water bottles in hand, we were off to the woods. It was a perfect May Day: sunny, puffy white clouds dotting the sky, and just a bite of chill in the air. The ground was dry in most spots, and our first sight of the woods was amidst the landscape of rolling green drumlins with an imposing red barn in the background. It looked like something straight out of a Norman Rockwell painting.

Unfortunately, Molly was not keen on the idea of a hike, and even less so when she discovered that we expected her to walk most of the way on her own. Maybe this was a bad idea, I thought - how could this be a good family “Daytrip” if the family didn’t want to participate?  Thankfully, as a father of three, DeCracker was well aware of the attention span and limitations of a four year-old, and humored us both. During the two hour hike that followed, we learned how to find a “jack-in-the-pulpit” and discovered where the prized red trillium can be found. In her search for her “special flower”, Molly was miraculously transformed from a reluctant tot to a budding botanist. That’s the beauty of the idea. “It’s a win-win situation”, said DeCracker. “It’s great fun, and the family is together, which is not often the case. The kids are intrigued, and everyone leaves with an education”, he explained.

We left the woods with photos of a few “perfect” specimens, an empty water bottle, a basic knowledge of wildflowers, and a great enthusiasm for nature. We were exhilarated and exhausted, our minds and bodies abuzz with a sense of well-being resulting from a healthy dose of fresh air, exercise and food for the mind.

Back at our starting point at Peppermint Cottage, we journeyed next door for a tour of  the Jackson School House, which features an additional room for rent. The circa 1829 cobblestone schoolhouse is also the DeCracker family’s residence, and the presence of baby Hanna, mom Diane and older sisters Jessica, 17 and Colleen, 13, lend authenticity to the bed and breakfast experience.  Diane is a first- grade teacher, having taken a leave of absence to spend time with baby Hanna. Mark is a jack- of- all trades, and his home is his pride and joy.

The daily rate at Peppermint Cottage includes a full candlelight breakfast, as well as use of the outdoor hot tub and sauna.  Other meals can be prepared for an additional fee. The DeCrackers host weddings, cocktail parties and corporate meetings, and offer catering arrangements, as well as tours of the property for guests, tales of local lore and recommendations for area daytrips, including wildflower walks.

In our family travels, we have had varying experiences with bed and breakfasts. Some have a “no children” policy, and understandably so, with delicate antiques and furnishings about. Others “welcome well-behaved children” and of those, some specify children of a certain age such as “well-behaved children 12 and over”. And finally, there is the rare breed of B&B that welcomes children with open arms. Peppermint Cottage is one of these. It is an ideal spot for children of all ages, from curious tots to tenacious “tweens”, along with mom & dad who want to get away from it all. You will not find a Playstation here, and the nearest movie theater and restaurant are miles away, but that is part of the appeal. You WILL find a comfortable country getaway, offering the opportunity to regroup, reconnect and recreate in a natural way.

The best time to view spring wildflowers, advises DeCracker, is April to June 1. “Even though I have a very busy schedule, I take the time to look”, he stated.  Don’t miss out on the chance to see a natural beauty. Take a walk on the wild side in Wayne County.

Guests of Peppermint Cottage and the Jackson Schoolhouse can enjoy a hike such as the one that we made, on grounds of the B&B. Following are some resources and suggestions for formal and informal wildflower walks on public trails in Wayne County. The two best-known are Chimney Bluffs State Park and Zurich Bog. Email me at Mom’s on the Move motm@rochester.rr.com to share your favorite spot in Wayne County for viewing spring wildflowers (public areas only, please), or your wildflower walk experience.

Walks/tours in Wayne County, including Chimney Bluffs: contact the Wayne County Department of Tourism: http://www.tourism.co.wayne.ny.us/outdoors/hbguide/index.asp

For a booklet on “Biking & Hiking in the Central Destinations of the Finger Lakes Region, call the Tourism Office at: 1-800-527-6510

Rochester communications professional Max Lent has assembled information on walking tours, trails and wildflowers, including an itinerary for a walking tour of Chimney Bluffs State Park: http://www.rochester-info.com/chimney.htm

A talk on the Zurich Bog, a “National Natural Landmark” and the site of many Spring wildflowers, will be presented by local naturalist Mona Rynearson at the Newark Public Library, Community Room, Wednesday, May 22 7 pm. Reservations are required: 331-4370. The Presentation will be followed by a guided tour of the Bog Saturday, May 25

Meet at the Bog at 9 am. The tour is approx 2 hours and is an easy walk. Participants may complete all or a portion of the walk. Children are welcome. Adult supervision is required. 

For other upcoming tours of the Zurich Bog, contact the Bergen Swamp Preservation Society: Patti Coan, P.O. Box 460, Bergen, NY 04416; ph (585) 548-7304 or Mona Rynearson, 1746 Welcher Road, Newark, NY 14513 (315) 331-0656. Prior written permission for groups of 6 or more who wish to visit the property are required. http://www.bergenswamp.org/
 

Peppermint Cottage Bed and Breakfast
336 Pleasant Valley Road, Lyons, NY 14489
315-946-4811; 1-888-997-1998;

http://www.peppermintcottage.com/

For inspiration prior to a wildflower walk in Wayne County, DeCracker suggests “Trillium Lane”, with musician Dan Duggan of Red Creek on the hammered dulcimer. Esperance Productions, RD1 Box 208, Red Creek, NY 13143 esperanc@redcreek.net or 315-754-8946; http://wnywebshop.com/esperance/trillium.htm

Recommended supplies for a Wildflower Walk:

Protective footwear suitable for walking/hiking, Sunscreen, All-terrain stroller for small children, Backpack with Water bottle & snacks; lunch if desired, garbage bags for carry-out, Rain gear/jacket, camera and binoculars.