Monthly Archives: March 2014

Oconee Bells – Shortia galacifolia – Added to USWildflowers’ Database

Oconee Bells, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (3/29/2014.)  Scientific name is Shortia galacifolia. Photo below was taken at the Devil’s Fork State Park, Oconee County, SC, on Mar 21, 2014. Go to the Oconee Bells detail page for more photos and information.

Oconee Bells - Shortia galacifolia

Oconee Bells – Shortia galacifolia

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The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain Status Update 3/27/2014

Yesterday (3/27) was one of the rare days this spring – mostly clear skies and warmer weather – into the 60’s. As a plus a couple of my grandkids wanted to join me, so a great time at The Pocket was guaranteed.  Several of the “signature species” at The Pocket – Virginia Bluebell, Wood (Celandine) Poppy, Dutchman’s Breeches (or, as my grandson called them, “Upside Down Pants from Holland), Trout Lily are blooming right now.  I’m developing a checklist to use so I won’t have to photograph or remember what all is blooming, and of the 51 species on my current version of the checklist, 25 are blooming right now.

Trailing Trillium (Trillium decumbens)

Trailing Trillium – Trillium decumbens

For the rest of the story…

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Spotted Wakerobin – Trillium maculatum – Added to USWildflowers’ Database

Spotted Wakerobin, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (3/26/2014.)  Scientific name is Trillium maculatum. Photo below was taken at the Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve in Grady County, GA, on Feb 19, 2014. Go to the Spotted Wakerobin detail page for more photos and information.

Spotted Wakerobin, Spotted Trillium - Trillium maculatum

Spotted Wakerobin, Spotted Trillium – Trillium maculatum

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#Waterfalls and #Wildflowers – Toccoa Falls

My wife and I were passing through Toccoa Falls, Georgia on Saturday, March 22, heading back home from Devil’s Fork State Park in South Carolina, and decided to stop in to see the namesake waterfalls.  My sister had attended Toccoa Falls College in the 1960’s, and a friend of my daughter’s family from Papua New Guinea is attending there now, so we knew the waterfalls was on the campus of the college.  We stopped at the guard’s gate for directions – straight down the road until we come to the gift shop in the Gate Cottage.  Access to the falls is through the gift shop, paying a small fee – $2 for most adults, $1 each for those of us over the age of 60.  A short walk of about 100 yards up a nice trail along Toccoa Creek brings you to a view of the 186′ waterfalls.

Toccoa Falls on the campus of Toccoa Falls College

Toccoa Falls on the campus of Toccoa Falls College in Georgia

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The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain Status Update 3/18/2014

While the weather is keeping things slow, things are picking up at The Pocket.  Several species have started blooming, and even more are “almost there.”  Checking last year’s reports, we’re tracking pretty close to 3/10/2013.  The big excitement for me today was finding that a few Dutchman’s Breeches have started blooming.

Dutchman's Breeches - Dicentra cucullaria

Dutchman’s Breeches – Dicentra cucullaria

Read on for a more complete update…

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Southern Twayblade – Listera australis – Added to USWildflowers’ Database

Southern Twayblade, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (03/18/2014.)  Scientific name is Listera australis.  Photo below was taken at the Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve in Grady County, GA on Feb 20, 2014.  Go to the Southern Twayblade detail page for more photos and information.

Southern Twayblade - Listera australis

Southern Twayblade – Listera australis

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Hairy Skullcap – Scutellaria elliptica – Added to USWildflowers’ Database

Hairy Skullcap, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (03/17/2014.)  Scientific name is Scutellaria elliptica.  Photo below was taken in Walker County, GA on June 15, 2013.  Go to the Hairy Skullcap detail page for more photos and information.

Hairy Skullcap - Scutellaria elliptica

Hairy Skullcap – Scutellaria elliptica

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#Waterfalls and #Wildflowers – North Chickamauga Creek Pocket Wilderness (Hogskin Loop)

Saturday, March 14, 2014 was a beautiful day with perfect morning temperatures for hiking, and fortunately my grandson Philip had asked me to take him for a hike, so around 9 AM we headed out from Camp Vesper Point for a visit to the nearby North Chickamauga Creek Gorge State Natural Area.  This was my grandson’s first visit to the North Chick, and I hadn’t been there in many years, so while I was hoping for wildflowers, I wasn’t sure what to expect.

Sweet Betsy - Trillium cuneatum

Sweet Betsy – Trillium cuneatum – were plentiful, but just beginning to bloom.

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The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain Status Update 3/10/2014

Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised considering the cold weather we had in January and February, but I do continue to be surprised about how late the wildflowers are starting at The Pocket.  Even so, today’s trip was a good one – not only because it was a beautiful day, but also because what is blooming is beautiful.  The biggest “news” is that Bloodroot is now starting to bloom.

 - Sanguinaria canadensis

While there were only a few Bloodroot blooming along the boardwalk, there were hundreds up the Pocket Loop Trail.

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