I’ve been out of town a couple of times since my last report – over 2 weeks since then – so I didn’t know what I’d find at The Pocket when I headed down there today. But it was plenty, and well worth the trip. I counted 41 species blooming. While Purple Phacelia may be the most prolific bloomer right now, the highlight for me was the beautiful, near-peak of the Wild Hyacinth. (Click here for all Pocket status reports.)
Wild Hyacinth – Camassia scilloides
Mayapple – Native Plant of the Day 04/15/2017
Photo from 04/17/2009. Location: The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA.
More photos / info at the Podophyllum peltatum detail page.
Mayapple – Podophyllum peltatum
Cindy and I headed down to The Pocket today not only because I needed to get an update published, but because it was an absolutely beautiful day. And the flowers did not disappoint.
Bent White Trillium – Trillium Flexipes are magnificent and aromatic right now. Hurry for the show!
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
Cindy 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.
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.) Continue reading