As expected with this warm weather, we’ve added a few species to what are blooming at The Pocket. As I was hoping, Carolina Spring Beauty are now pretty widespread. While 9 species are a far cry from the 40 that may be blooming at peak, we’ve got to remember, this is mid-February!
Carolina Spring Beauty – Claytonia caroliniana
Still blooming, as they were on 02/12/2017:
- Hepatica – Still the dominant species. I saw a few of this year’s leaves starting to develop, and a few of the plants had dropped their petals.
- Harbinger-of-spring – Still quite abundant.
- Star Chickweed – Still many around.
- Virginia Bluebell – The same single plant blooming as was on 2/12; many plants have lots of buds, and there is MUCH foliage. Should be a good year for the bluebells.
- Bloodroot – The single Bloodroot bloom was the big surprise last trip; I was hoping for more this trip, and was not disappointed. There were quite a number blooming, both along the boardwalk and up on the horse trail.
Bloodroot – Sanguinaria canadensis (you can never have too many Bloodroot photos)
Added this trip:
- Carolina Spring Beauty – These are really picking up. I was surprised so many were open since it was a cloudy day.
- Long-spurred Violet – Well, not really a “species blooming” – it’s a “single specimen blooming.”
- Northern Spicebush – I usually miss this when it starts blooming along the boardwalk. Fortunately I looked up from my ground search for blooming plants as I was passing by several of these small trees starting to bloom.
- Cutleaf Toothwort – Several plants blooming, with many more to come.
Cutleaf Toothwort – Cardamine concatenata
Noteworthy foliage:
- The Dutchman’s Breeches leaves are showing up.
- If the number of leaves are an indication, this should be a banner year for Geraniums.
- Woodland Stonecrop was very obvious; several patches have buds starting to form (but like the Trailing Trillium, that “bud season” is interminable.)
- Trout Lily leaves are showing up.
- Leaves are showing up at the early Columbine spots.
The water level in the creek is a bit higher than when I visited on 02/12, but still lower than it needs to be in February – the drought is still with us.