I went down to The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain today, not only to check on the wildflowers but also for a little stress relief. I’ll get a report on the wildflower status out later this evening or in the morning, but I wanted to report one of my exciting finds. I used to see these fairly often as a child, but only rarely in recent decades. Was very happy to see this Luna Moth hanging onto a tree.
Luna Moth head – Actias luna
Pineapple Weed, a species native to the Pacific Northwest, but naturalized in much of the rest of the United States, has been added to the USWildflowers database (03/27/2013.) Scientific name is Matricaria discoidea. Photo below was taken in the Hell’s Canyon Park in Adams County, ID on May 28, 2013. Go to the Pineapple Weed detail page for more photos and information.
Pineapple Weed, Wild Chamomile, Rayless Chamomile, Disc Mayweed – Matricaria discoidea
It was a cloudy and dreary day today, following a lot of rain yesterday and last night, but Cindy and I made a quick run down to The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain again today to keep from being cooped up in the house another day. We were glad we did – the yellow and blue are out – Bluebells and Wood Poppies are blooming!
Virginia Bluebells – Mertensia virginica
Read on for the rest of the list, and a few more photos. Click on the photos for larger images, and then “back” to return to this page.
Field Pansy, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (03/23/2013.) Scientific name is Viola bicolor. It is also known by the common names Wild Pansy, and Johnny Jump-up, and all of these names are frequently applied to a couple of similar Viola species. Photo below was taken in The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA on Mar 16, 2013. Go to the Field Pansy detail page for more photos and information.
Field Pansy, Wild Pansy, Johnny Jump-up – Viola bicolor
Cow Soapwort, an introduced species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (03/16/2013.) Scientific name is Vaccaria hispanica. It is also known by the common names Cowcockle and Cowherb. Photo below was taken along the Kleinschmidt Grade, Adams County, ID, on June 19, 2011. Go to the Water Cow Soapwort detail page for more information.
Cowcockle, Cow Soapwort, Cowherb – Vaccaria hispanica
Last week we reported that the Dutchman’s Breeches were very close to blooming. My wife and I didn’t want to miss that relatively brief bloom period, so we headed back down there today to check on them. I’ll let the picture below tell the story.
Dutchman’s Breeches – Dicentra cucullaria – about 10 plants are blooming.
Read on for the rest of the list, and a few more photos. Click on the photos for larger images, and then “back” to return to this page.
We usually just call it “Virgin Falls”, both to refer to the 1,551 acre plot of land, as well as the namesake waterfalls occupying the far end of it. The official name for the land, however, is ”Virgin Falls State Natural Area” at least since the state of Tennessee acquired it in 2012. When I visited it previously it was known as “Virgin Falls Pocket Wilderness” and was owned by the Bowater Southern Paper Corporation. Bowater owns and maintains a number of “Pocket Wilderness” areas, and admirable public benefit and, I’m sure, public relations activity. Tennessee acquired the land using a number of funding sources, including a grant from the federal Endangered Species Recovery Land Acquisition Fund. These funds were provided in part due to the presence of Virginia Spirea (Spiraea virginiana), one of the rarest shrubs in North America.
When I heard about Virginia Spirea being in the Virgin Falls area I decided I needed to add that to the USWildflowers Waterfalls and Wildflowers series, and I was fortunate to make an overnight hike into the Virgin Falls State Natural Area on March 8-9 of this year (2013). While many wildflowers were already in full swing down my way in north Georgia, 70 miles north and a bit of elevation gain makes a difference, and this will be more waterfalls and less wildflowers than I expected to report.
Cascade on Big Laurel Creek
The wildflowers at The Pocket are very similar to last time – check out the update from 2/24. However, there were a few additions, including Trout Lily, which is just beginning to bloom.
Trout Lily – Erythronium americanum
Read on for the rest of the list, and a few more photos. Click on the photos for larger images, and then “back” to return to this page.
I’ve been trying to identify this wildflower, photographed on the Kleinschmidt Grade in Adams County, ID, for nearly two years. I photographed it in June, 2011. Anyone able to help me out, here? Update 03/05/2013: @TheLifeBotanic (Twitter) identified it for me as a Vaccaria.
Vaccaria hispanica on the Kleinschmidt Grade in Adams County, ID – June 2011
Water Speedwell, probably an introduced species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (03/03/2013.) Scientific name is Veronica anagallis-aquatica. It is also known by the common names Sessile Water-speedwell, Brook-pimpernell, and Blue Water Speedwell. Photo below was taken along the Kleinschmidt Grade, Adams County, ID, on May 28, 2012. Go to the Water Speedwell detail page for more information.
Water Speedwell, Sessile Water-speedwell, Brook-pimpernell, Blue Water Speedwell – Veronica anagallis-aquatica