While we had a very cold January, February warmed up, and with the next week also expected to be quite warm – temperatures in the 60s, 70s, with even a possibility of reaching 80 degrees – I would expect a lot of action by next weekend. It was reported to me that a few Hepatica (Anemone acutiloba) and Harbinger of Spring (Erigenia bulbosa) were blooming a week ago; those are abundant now, and I found a few other species blooming along the Shirley Miller Wildflower Trail as well.
Hepatica – Anemone acutiloba
Harbinger of Spring – Erigenia bulbosa
In addition to those two species, there were several Star Chickweed (Stellaria pubera) and Carolina Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana) blooming, and a couple of blossoms showing up among the many buds on Cutleaf Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata). There were some buds showing up on the Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica) as well, and the Trailing Trillium (Trillium decumbens) were unfolding their leaves and showing some buds.
We’ve had a good amount of rain recently, erasing the deficit for the year, and the water level over the falls was nice.
Waterfalls at The Pocket
I live across West Chickamauga Creek from the Battlefield, near Alexander Bridge Road. I would love to go with you on a hike to the Pocket sometime, especially since I’m trying to figure out what the plants are on my property … if you’d like to come out and walk around, I’d love to show you. I haven’t seen anything much bloom yet.
I’m burning a bunch of lawn and non-native grasses in my front yard, to plant some wildflower seeds. Any suggestions for best propegation techniques?
Dave
I’m not a gardener, so I can’t help much with plantings. I have purchased some native shrubs from the Chattanooga Nature Center Native Plant Sale which have done well.
I’ll probably be down at The Pocket tomorrow (Tuesday, 2/27) a bit before noon, if you care to join me. I’ll be the guy with the Nikon on a tripod with a black camera backpack. I usually walk the boardwalk then the trail to the falls at the end of the boardwalk, cross the creek below the falls (if the water is low enough) and go up to the “horse trail” and follow it back to the parking lot. Then I cross the creek at the end of the parking lot and explore that area a bit.
Is there a FaceBook page for the Pocket?
I’m unaware of anything like that, Ann. – gcw
I was reading something about a land pass or fees for certain areas in Pigeon Pocket. Is this one of the areas you need a pass or pay a fee to go into? I don’t want to drive there and not be able to get in.
Thanks,
Linda
Yes, Linda, this is a fee area. The Georgia Outdoor Recreation Pass (GORP) is unfortunately a thing of the past. Each person over the age of 15 will need a Georgia hunting or fishing license. (That being said, I’ve never been challenged at The Pocket to produce mine, but I know people who have been challenged – and ticketed – at other parts of the Crockford Pigeon Mountain Wildlife Management Area.)
What if anything is blooming there now?
Janet – I counted 38 species blooming about a week ago. Here is a link to the status reports on The Pocket – http://journal.uswildflowers.com/category/the-pocket/
You can get this list by selecting “The Pocket” from the “CATEGORIES” pull-down on the right side of the page.
– gcw