We have a colony of Iris in a drainage ditch in our yard. We’ve been here over 30 years; the iris were there when we arrived. I finally cleared the privet out of the ditch and surrounding area a few years back, and the irises have flourished, providing us with a lot of enjoyment each spring. They started blooming a few days ago; this photo is from this morning just as the light reached them.
Iris in the Morning Light
I was photographing this Butterweed (Packera glabella) for detail of the individual blossom (swatting at mosquitos that DID want my blood) when I noticed this mosquito enjoying the nectar of a nearby blossom. I was intrigued; I didn’t know mosquitos sipped nectar. Read the rest of the entry for a video.
Butterweed, Yellowtop – Packera glabella – with Asian Tiger Mosquito – Aedes albopicts
On our trip down to The Pocket last weekend, the Columbine plants I saw were only a few inches high with some of their early leaves – no flower buds yet forming. The plant we got at last year’s Native Plant Sale at the Chattanooga Arboretum and Nature Center ( @NatureCenter on Twitter), however, is starting to bloom. This picture is from today.
Cultivated Eastern Red Columbine – Aquilegia canadensis
This is Leap Day. For this once-every-four-years day, I thought that rather than the normal Native Plant of the Day (#NPOD on Twitter) I’d post a few native plants from and a report on the early spring status of the wildflowers at one of Georgia’s premier wildflower locations, The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain. As things worked out, Feb 27 was the day available to make the short trek down to that part of Walker County.
It was a beautiful day. When my wife and I headed down to The Pocket on Monday, Feb 27, 2012, we considered both the beautiful day and the time we were able to spend together a blessing from God. We also expected to find wildflowers, since we’ve had very little real winter and quite a warm February. However, we had no idea!
Bloodroot – Sanguinaria canadensis at The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain
Cindy and I headed back for North Georgia before sunrise on Friday, Dec 23, so we could be back for Christmas Eve with our daughter’s family. One of the targets for the departure time was a hope that we’d make it to the rest area on the Sunshine Skyway for sunrise. It was worth the early hour. As the sun rose it gleamed off of the tall buildings of Tampa across the bay.
Tampa Bay Sunrise
On Wednesday, Dec 21, Cindy and I laid low in the morning, and then shortly before noon headed over to an “accidental find” – the De Soto National Monument. The picture below is appropriate, I think – an Indian Blanket. The National Monument marks the location where Hernando De Soto came ashore in May of 1539, starting his four year expedition of devastation through what is much of the southeastern United States.
Gaillardia pulchella – Indian blanket
I saw some news footage of snowstorm-closed roads in Kansas last night. We are *definitely* not in Kansas. Temperature was about 80 degrees, birds singing, and flowers blooming.
Florida Tasselflower - Emilia fosbergii
If the “Playful Porpoises” is what brought you here, read on.
Cindy and I decided to head up to Ft. Desoto County Park for the afternoon of our anniversary. The drive up was part of the fun.
We drove across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Well, we’ve never been to Kansas, but we’re not in north Georgia, where we live, either. That’s pretty clear from this photo from yesterday morning.
Willet eating a coquina
I was somewhat surprised to find Cardinal Flower – Lobelia cardinalis – still blooming today in Walker County, GA. (Actually my wife spotted it, so I guess *I* didn’t find it!)
Cardinal Flower, Scarlet Lobelia - Lobelia cardinalis