Wildflower Identification: Persian Speedwell

Low-growing plant with single tiny blue flowers in my backyard, amidst all the other weeds that crowd out any real grass.  One person’s weed is another person’s wildflower.  My personal definition of “wildflower” is “A flowering plant that grows without cultivation.”  This weed is flowering, and we certainly aren’t cultivating it, although it’s growing more profusely than anything we are cultivating.  The flower, when you look closely, is really quite pretty, and so warrants a photo and identification. Read the rest of this entry »

03/26/2009 The Pocket Wildflowers

Five days ago I said “a couple more weeks” for the columbine.  Down by the creek they are just getting close; one plant is real close to opening up its bloom.  But up above the falls on a rock that gets sun most of the day, there was a single columbine blossom adorning that rock.  There were a few other surprises along the way. Read the rest of this entry »

03/22/2009 The Glen on Lookout Mountain

Joseph in the Passage

The Glen on Lookout Mountain, with the trailhead along Och’s Highway which goes from Chattanooga to Lookout Mountain, Georgia – home of Rock City – is a great place to take the grandkids.  A nice trail with no really challenging sections, relatively short walk to the creek down which the water cascades (at least until the dry summer,) and that great area with high rock bluffs makes for a fun adventure without taking the entire day.  Read the rest of this entry »

03/21/2009 The Pocket

Bent White Trillium

Changes are occurring every day at The Pocket.  Probably the biggest news is that there are a couple of white trillium that are near opening, with one open enough to see the interior of the blossom (T. flexipes, probably.) Read the rest of this entry »

03/18/2009 The Pocket

Long-Spurred Violet

I only have time for a quick post, so I’ll list what I found… Read the rest of this entry »

Bellwort Identification Change

Large-Flowered Bellwort

I’m no wildflower expert, but all the information on the Internet, plus several identification guides, allow me to make educated guesses as to the specific species of many wildflowers I photograph.  Sometimes I’m more sure than at other times, but it’s not particularly unusual for me to change my mind.  I’ve done that now on the flower that I had previously identified as Perfoliate Bellwort. Read the rest of this entry »

03/15/2009 The Pocket

Spring Beauty

Six days since I had been up to The Pocket.   The rain broke during church, so after the church lunch I headed down to check out the wildflowers.  The Spring Beauty is currently the dominant flower in terms of number in bloom; they are everywhere. Read the rest of this entry »

03/10/2009 The Pocket Explosion of Wildflowers Continues

Dutchman's Breeches

Cindy took Joseph down to Shirley Miller Trail at The Pocket again today.  Joseph was wanting to take a camera down there to try his hand at wildflower photography, and I must say, he did well.  I’m glad they went back today, because apparently things are continuing to develop rapidly. Read the rest of this entry »

03/09/2009 The Pocket – Trout Lilies and an Early Wood Poppy

1st Wood Poppy of the Season

Cindy wasn’t able to get down to The Pocket on Saturday, and suggested that we might go down there today.  With the change to daylight savings time, we had an extra hour of daylight, so shortly after 5 pm we headed down.  It was another great day for the wildflowers of The Pocket.

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03/07/2009 Trout Lilies and Spring Beauties at The Pocket

Spring Beauty

Sydney and I went over to the Blue Hole on the east side of Pigeon Mountain today.  I’d been there about 10 or 11 years ago, but hadn’t been back.  I’d seen some references on the Internet that the only known Twinleaf population in Georgia was in the area, and I hoped to stumble onto it.  The wildflowers on that side of the mountain, however, are well behind those on the west side at The Pocket, so after an enjoyable couple of small hikes – where we did see some toothwort blooming – we headed across the mountain to The Pocket.   Jackpot! Read the rest of this entry »

Brown Arrival in Atlanta

Browns arrive at the Atlanta Airport

03/01/2009 The Pocket

It was COLD – 39 degrees – and WINDY.  Sunday afternoon, a bit of snow in the morning. 

Bloodroot

For some reason, my invitees for another trip to The Pocket all declined.  Too bad.  I thought it would be a quick trip down there, but I found myself lingering.  I didn’t find any plants blooming that I hadn’t at least seen buds on previously, but there were still many opportunities for photographs.

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