Monthly Archives: November 2012

Yellow Flag – Iris pseudacorus – Added to USWildflowers’ Database

Yellow Flag, an introduced and possibly invasive species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (11/27/2012.) Scientific name is Iris pseudacorus.  It  is also known by the common names Paleyellow Iris, Yellow Iris, and Water Flag.  Photo below was taken along an irrigation canal in Boise, Ada County, ID, on June 8, 2010.   Go to the Yellow Flag detail page for more photos and information.

Yellow Flag Iris, Paleyellow Iris, Yellow Iris, Water Flag - Iris pseudacorus

Yellow Flag Iris, Paleyellow Iris, Yellow Iris, Water Flag – Iris pseudacorus

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Lula Lake Area and Lula Falls – 11/24/2012

On Friday, 11/23, I was planning for a potential visit to Virgin Falls in February and I ran across information that Virginia Spiraea – Spiraea virginiana – one of the rarest shrubs in North America, is found there.  A bit more time on Google quickly revealed that Virginia Spiraea is also found along Rock Creek at Lula Lake, and I got pretty excited.  Lula Lake is on Lookout Mountain just above the valley where I live south of Chattanooga.  Found the Lula Lake Land Trust on Facebook, and lo and behold, there was a picture of a gentleman looking at their Virginia Spiraea posted only a couple of days earlier, and a notice that the property would be open today, Saturday.  OK, there are now some tentative plans for Saturday.

Lula Lake and Upper Falls by USWildflowers, on Flickr

Lula Lake and Upper Falls

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Cankerweed – Prenanthes serpentaria – Added to USWildflowers’ Database

Cankerweed, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (11/20/2012.) Scientific name is Prenanthes serpentaria.  It  is also known by the common names Lion’s Foot, Snakeweed, Earthgall, and Butterweed.  Photo below was taken along the Blue Ridge Parkway, Haywood County, NC, on Aug 1, 2011.   Go to the Cankerweed detail page for more photos and information.

Cankerweed, Lion's Foot, Snakeweed, Earthgall, Butterweed - Prenanthes serpentaria

Cankerweed, Lion’s Foot, Snakeweed, Earthgall, Butterweed – Prenanthes serpentaria

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Cedar Waxwing #birds in Bradford Pear Tree

Around 20 years ago when I planted a row of Bradford pear trees in front of my house, I thought I liked them.  Now I’m thinking of replacing them, even though I still like them – occasionally.  Those occasions are the 2 days in the spring while they bloom (OK, maybe it’s 3 days,) the week or so in the fall while they turn a beautiful red/purple/orange before dropping their leaves, and finally whenever the Cedar Waxwings show up to eat the berries.  I still want to replace the trees, but it will have to be with something (native) that will continue to feed the Cedar Waxwings (wonder about Serviceberry.)   This fall the arrival of these lovely birds coincided with the fall color of the leaves – reducing my time of appreciation for my Bradford pear trees. (Click on the photos for a larger view.)

Cedar Waxwing takes a Bradford pear berry

Cedar Waxwing takes a Bradford pear berry

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Mexican Hat – Ratibida columnifera – Added to USWildflowers’ Database

Mexican Hat, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (11/17/2012.) Scientific name is Ratibida columnifera. Photo below was taken in the Hiwassee Wildlife Refuge, Meigs County, TN, on Nov 11, 2012. Go to the Mexican Hat detail page for more photos and information.

Mexican Hat, Long-Headed Coneflower, Red Coneflower, Upright Prairie Coneflower, Thimbleflower - Ratibida columnifera

Mexican Hat, Long-Headed Coneflower, Red Coneflower, Upright Prairie Coneflower, Thimbleflower – Ratibida columnifera

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Pale Evening Primrose – Oenothera pallida – Added to USWildflowers’ Database

Pale Evening Primrose, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (11/15/2012.) Scientific name is Oenothera pallida. Photo below was taken in the Boise Foothills, Ada County, ID on June 19, 2010. Go to the Pale Evening Primrose detail page for more photos and information.

Pale Evening Primrose, White Evening Primrose, Pale-Stemmed Evening Primrose - Oenothera pallida

Pale Evening Primrose, White Evening Primrose, Pale-Stemmed Evening Primrose – Oenothera pallida

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#NPOD: Southern Ground Cedar #Nativeplants

Native Plant of the Day 11/12/2012

Photo from 9/1/2003.  Location:  Dawson County, GA

Southern Ground Cedar – for more photos / information go to the Lycopodium digitatum detail page.

It’s a bit of a stretch to call this a wildflower – it is actually classified as a Fern-ally – nearly a fern, but not.

Southern Ground Cedar - Diphasiastrum digitatum

Southern Ground Cedar, Fan Clubmoss – Diphasiastrum digitatum

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Red-osier Dogwood (Western Dogwood) Fruit #Nativeplants

In early September I did a Boundary Waters canoe trip with a couple of friends – great time with them, and great to get back after several years of absence.  One of the plants I photographed was a large shrub with white berries.  I hadn’t been able to identify it until recently, when I was browsing my copy of Idaho Mountain Wildflowers – A. Scott Earle and saw those white berries in a photo.  Slapped my forehead – Dogwood!  Red-osier Dogwood has WHITE berries!  A bit more research on what Cornus species were found in Minnesota ensured that this was Cornus sericea.  I like reducing that list of “Unidentified” in my photo catalog.

Red-osier Dogwood, Western Dogwood, American Dogwood - Cornus sericea Berries

Red-osier Dogwood (Western Dogwood, American Dogwood) Berries

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Hooker’s Thistle – Cirsium hookerianum – Added to USWildflowers’ Database

Hooker’s Thistle, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (11/09/2012.) Scientific name is Cirsium hookerianum.  It  is also known by the common name White Thistle.  Photo below was taken in the Boise Foothills, Ada County, ID on June 21, 2011.   Go to the Hooker’s Thistle detail page for more photos and information.

Hooker’s Thistle, White Thistle - Cirsium hookerianum

Hooker’s Thistle, White Thistle – Cirsium hookerianum

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