Allegheny Stonecrop – Native Plant of the Day 09/09/2024
Photo from 09/04/2014. Location: Skyline Drive, Shenandoah National Park, Rockingham County, VA.
More photos / info at the Hylotelephium telephioides detail page.
Allegheny Stonecrop – Hylotelephium telephioides
Widow’s Cross – Native Plant of the Day 05/14/2024
Photo from 05/11/2013. Location: Cedar Glade, Pigeon Mountain East, Walker County, GA.
More photos / info at the Sedum pulchellum detail page.
Widow’s Cross – Sedum pulchellum
Wormleaf Stonecrop – Native Plant of the Day 02/18/2024
Photo from June 18,2011. Location: Kleinschmidt Grade, Adams County, ID.
More photos / info at the Sedum stenopetalum detail page.
Wormleaf Stonecrop – Sedum stenopetalum
Woodland Stonecrop – Native Plant of the Day 02/17/2024
Photo from April 4 2009. Location: The Pocket, Walker County, GA.
More photos / info at the Sedum ternatum detail page.
Woodland stonecrop – Sedum ternatum
Leiberg Stonecrop – Native Plant of the Day 02/16/2024
Photo from 6/19/2011. Location: Kleinschmidt Grade, Adams County, ID.
More photos / info at the Sedum leibergii detail page.
Leiberg Stonecrop – Sedum leibergii
Finally a day with no rain, so Cindy and I took another drive to The Pocket, where (other than passing on the boardwalk) we could continue to “social distance.” On the boardwalk we, along with most of the others who were there, would pass back-to-back.
While a few species from last week were missing – Trout Lily, Dutchman’s Breeches, and Hepatica were gone – there were a number added this week – White Baneberry (Doll’s Eyes), Woodland Stonecrop, and (most exciting one for me) Lanceleaf Trillium were the standouts of the new species, even thought the Bent White Trillium probably dominated the bloom.
Bent White Trillium – Trillium flexipes
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 – Lithospermum tuberosum
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 – One of the new species blooming since Sunday
It’s been nearly 2 weeks since I made it down to The Pocket – my apologies for the paucity of status updates this year. Even more species (38) are blooming now than two weeks ago (28), even though we’ve lost, or nearly lost, a few. I only saw a single Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) bloom, Harbinger-of-Spring is gone, Spicebush (Lindera benzoin) has completed its bloom, there are only a few Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) still blooming, Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) are essentially gone, and I couldn’t find the single Pennywort (Obolaria virginica) I saw two weeks ago.
The only remaining Dutchman’s Breeches flowers I could find.
While some of the early bloomers are gone – no more Dutchman’s Breeches, for example – this is STILL a great time for a visit to The Pocket. My growing wildflower checklist for The Pocket is up to 59 species now, and 41 of them are blooming now, even though a few of those are almost gone. If you want to see Bluebells, better hurry; they are declining fast. The Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) are gone, and I only saw one small patch of Carolina Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana). All three Trillium species are still in full glory, but probably the dominant species blooming right now are Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata), and Purple Phacelia (Phacelia bipinnatifida), which you’ll see all along the Pocket Road on your way in to the parking area.
Eastern Columbine and Purple Phacelia
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