Venus’ Looking Glass – Triodanis perfoliata – Added to USWildflowers Database

Venus’ Looking Glass, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (05/30/2011.)  Scientific name is Triodanis perfoliata.   It is also known by the common names Clasping Bellwort, Clasping Venus’ Looking Glass, and Roundleaved Triodanis.  Photo below was taken in the Estelle area of Pigeon Mountain in Walker County, GA on May 21, 2011.

Venus' Looking Glass, Clasping Bellwort, Roundleaved Triodanis - Triodanis perfoliata

My wife reminded me that I was photographing these wildflowers while our 15th grandchild, Nehemiah Phoenix Perkins, was being born.  In my defense, Niam, as they call him, was being born half a continent away.  We’ll get to see him soon.

#NPOD: Yarrow #Nativeplants

Native Plant of the Day 05/30/2011. 

Photo from May 29, 2009. Location: Lake Nottely, Union County, GA. 

Yarrow - for more photos / info go to the  Achillea millefolium detail page.

Common Yarrow, Milfoil - Achillea millefolium

Southern Stoneseed – Lithospermum tuberosum – Added to USWildflowers Database

Southern Stoneseed, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (05/29/2011.)  Scientific name is Lithospermum tuberosum.   It is also known by the common names Tuberous Stoneseed and Tuberous Gromwell.  Photo below was taken on Pigeon Mountain in Walker County, GA on April 2, 2011 while  Jay Clark, author of Wildflowers of Pigeon Mountain, was showing me some wildflower locations.

Southern Stoneseed, Tuberous Stoneseed, Tuberous Gromwell - Lithospermum tuberosum

Black Cohosh – Cimicifuga racemosa – Added to USWildflowers Database

Black Cohosh, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (05/28/2011.)  Scientific name is Cimicifuga racemosa.   It is also known by the common names Black Bugbane, Black Baneberry, Black Snakeroot, and Fairy Candle.  Photo below was taken at Reflection Riding in Hamilton County, TN on May 27, 2011. 

Black Cohosh, Black Bugbane - Cimicifuga racemosa

Whorled Leaf Coreopsis – Coreopsis major – Added to USWildflowers Database

Whorled Leaf Coreopsis, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (05/28/2011.)  Scientific name is Coreopsis major.   It is also known by the common names Greater Tickseed and Forest Tickseed.  Photo below was taken at Reflection Riding in Hamilton County, TN on May 27, 2011. 

Greater Tickseed, Whorled Leaf Coreopsis, Forest Tickseed - Coreopsis major

#NPOD: Eastern Daisy Fleabane #Nativeplants

Native Plant of the Day 05/26/2011.

Photo from May 25, 2010. Location: Chattanooga, Hamilton County, TN.

Eastern Daisy Fleabane - for more photos / info go to the  Erigeron annuus detail page.

Eastern daisy fleabane - Erigeron annuus

Butterfly #WingsOnWednesday

I spent about half of last Saturday (05/21/2011) checking out the wildflowers in the Blue Hole area of Pigeon Mountain, and then a quick run down to the creek below the Civil War Wayside in the Estelle area.  This butterfly was enjoying some late morning nectar.  Unfortunately I don’t know either the butterfly species or the wildflower species; most likely one of the Rubus species.  Any help with either would be greatly appreciated.

Stiff Dogwood – Cornus foemina – Added to USWildflowers Database

Stiff Dogwood, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (05/23/2011.)  Scientific name is Cornus foemina.    Photo below was taken in Walker County, GA on April 22, 2011 – in our spare lot.  I discovered it by noticing a white cluster of blooms remaining after clearing a thicket of privet.

Field Madder – Sherardia arvensis – Added to USWildflowers Database

Field Madder, a non-native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (05/19/2011.)  Scientific name is Sherardia arvensis.  I don’t find an  invasive species listing for this plant, but based on my observation I would use extreme caution in propagating the plant or allowing it to grow in your yard or garden.  It’s also known by the common names Blue Fieldmadder and Spurwort.  Photo below was taken in Walker County, GA on April 21, 2011.

Field Madder, Blue Fieldmadder, Spurwort - Sherardia arvensis

They’re Ba-ack #Cicadas #Insects #WingsOnWednesday

In case you haven’t heard, the cicadas are back. If you haven’t heard, either you don’t live in the area of their emergence, or you haven’t stepped outside recently. They are making their presence known with their loud and nearly incessant buzzing.  The buzzing is done by what comes out of this shell – read on for more.

13-year Cicada - Magicicada sp.

Read the rest of this entry »

Robin’s Plantain – Erigeron pulchellus – Added to USWildflowers Database

Robin’s Plantain, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (05/14/2011.)  Scientific name is Erigeron pulchellus.     Photo below was taken The Pocket on Pigeon Mountain on April 9, 2011.  I was excited to identify this plant, identifying all 4 Erigeron species which are found in my area.

Robin's Plantain - Erigeron pulchellus

Moth on Ladyslipper #Wildflowers #WingsOnWednesday #Insects

Forestry Service Road 283 provides a great drive in the mountains of northeast Georgia during the spring wildflower season.   This is the second season we’ve driven this road looking for wildflowers, and were not disappointed.  At one of our stops at a campsite along the road my wife spotted this moth (perhaps a Spilosoma species?) on one of dozens of Pink Ladyslippers (Cypripedium acaule) in the area.

Moth on Ladyslipper

#NPOD Extra: Green Pitcher Plant #Nativeplants

Native Plant of the Day 05/10/2011. 

Photo from May 2, 2011. Location: Reed Branch Wet Meadow Preserve, Towns County, GA.  (Access by permission only.)  We got back up to Reed Branch again this year.  2011 had a later spring than 2010, and several of the pitcher plants were blooming.

Green Pitcher Plant - for more photos / info go to the  Sarracenia oreophila  detail page.

Green Pitcher Plant - Sarracenia oreophila

#NPOD: Fourleaf Milkweed #Nativeplants

Native Plant of the Day 05/09/2011.

Photo from May 13, 2008. Location:  The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA.

Fourleaf Milkweed - for more photos / info go to the  Asclepias quadrifolia  detail page.

Fourleaf Milkweed - Asclepias quadrifolia

#NPOD: Waterleaf #Nativeplants

Native Plant of the Day 05/06/2011. 

Photo from May 13, 2008. Location:  The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA.

Waterleaf - for more photos / info go to the  Hydrophyllum canadense detail page.

Broad-leaf Waterleaf ; Bluntleaf Waterleaf, Maple-leaf Waterleaf - Hydrophyllum canadense