Tag Archives: Dwarf Iris

The Pocket Wildflower Status Update 03/30/2019 – 41 Species Identified

Partly sunny and warm (70+ degrees) – a great time to check on the bloom status at The Pocket. I was expecting the Bent White Trillium and the Crested Dwarf Iris to be blooming, and they did not disappoint. I was also expecting the Little Sweet Betsy to be blooming, and as I walked north of the parking lot and around the boardwalk, I thought I would be shut out on that account, but along the Pocket Creek Trail heading toward the camping area they were in full swing, so no surprises on the Trillium front. However, there was a surprise – alongside one of those blooming Little Sweet Betsy there was a Southern Stoneseed. I had not seen that plant on this side of the mountain. Overall I identified 41 species this visit, not counting some of the invasives around the parking lot such as Purple Deadnettle and Common Chickweed.

Southern Stoneseed, Tuberous Stoneseed, Tuberous Gromwell - Lithospermum tuberosum

Southern Stoneseed – Lithospermum tuberosum

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The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain Status Update 03/30/2017 – 39 Species Blooming

I had not planned on getting back down to The Pocket so soon after Sunday’s trip, but I got an email from Clayton Webster of the Over The Hill Hiking Group on Tuesday inviting me to join them on their visit to The Pocket today. I was really glad I joined them, not only because they are such a fine, fun group of folks, but without them I would have missed a Bloodroot still blooming! With that Bloodroot and all the other early spring flowers except Harbinger-of-Spring making a presence (yes, Dutchman’s Breeches STILL blooming) and so many other species at peak bloom, today might have been the perfect day for a visit to The Pocket. Thanks, Clayton!

Crested Dwarf Iris - Iris cristata

Crested Dwarf Iris – One of the new species blooming since Sunday

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The Pocket on Pigeon Mountain Status Update 04/07/2016 – 40 Species Blooming

Another hiatus from The Pocket of almost 2 weeks. Repeating from the last report – “Even more species are blooming now than two weeks ago.” This time I counted 40 species blooming, including one I don’t recall ever seeing down there before – Crossvine (Bignonia capreolata.) But the show is the massive display of Bent White Trillium (Trillium flexipes) – nearly every plant I saw had an open blossom, and the hillside was covered with them in many places.

Bent White Trillium - Trillium flexipes

Bent White Trillium – Trillium flexipes

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04/14/2010 Wildflower Status Update on The Pocket

Work and grandkid schedule have left time only for a quick trip down to The Pocket on Wednesday evening.  My primary purpose was to determine if the Bellwort down there is Large-flowered or Perfoliate (mission accomplished.)  We also took a spin around the boardwalk and made a trip north of the parking area, but did not get up the horse trail toward the falls, so I’m unable to update the status of flowers found along that trail.

Wild Geranium - Geranium maculatum

Wild Geranium – Geranium maculatum

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04/25/2009 The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain

Sweet CicelyFor those who were hoping for, as Ed Sullivan would have put it, “A Really Big Shew,” the time has passed in 2009.  However, that is relative to The Pocket, and the abundance of wildflowers still exceed what you’ll find in many areas.  While the dominant flower along the Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail seems to be Sweet Cicely right now, a species that isn’t exactly ‘showy,’ several of the “signature species” could still be found on Saturday, 4/25.

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04/17/2009: The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain

Wild Geranium Seed FormationCindy and I headed down to The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain around 4:30 Friday afternoon.  I knew the light would be failing on the Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail soon after we arrived, but I was committed for Saturday, and wanted to make sure I was able to make a weekly report on the wildflower status during the spring season.  If you’re into watching the seed-formation process, this is a good time for you.  There is still an abundance of wildflowers in The Pocket, making a trip absolutely worthwhile, but of the “signature flowers,” Virginia bluebell and wood poppy are past blooming or almost so, and the bent trillium is abundant but in decline.  The dominant species in the boardwalk area is probably the wild hyacinth, with the wild geranium still providing a pink splash around much of the trail. 

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