Category Archives: The Pocket

The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain Status Update 3/27/2014

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Yesterday (3/27) was one of the rare days this spring – mostly clear skies and warmer weather – into the 60’s. As a plus a couple of my grandkids wanted to join me, so a great time at The Pocket was guaranteed.  Several of the “signature species” at The Pocket – Virginia Bluebell, Wood (Celandine) Poppy, Dutchman’s Breeches (or, as my grandson called them, “Upside Down Pants from Holland), Trout Lily are blooming right now.  I’m developing a checklist to use so I won’t have to photograph or remember what all is blooming, and of the 51 species on my current version of the checklist, 25 are blooming right now.

Trailing Trillium (Trillium decumbens)

Trailing Trillium – Trillium decumbens

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The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain Status Update 3/18/2014

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While the weather is keeping things slow, things are picking up at The Pocket.  Several species have started blooming, and even more are “almost there.”  Checking last year’s reports, we’re tracking pretty close to 3/10/2013.  The big excitement for me today was finding that a few Dutchman’s Breeches have started blooming.

Dutchman's Breeches - Dicentra cucullaria

Dutchman’s Breeches – Dicentra cucullaria

Read on for a more complete update…

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The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain Status Update 3/10/2014

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Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised considering the cold weather we had in January and February, but I do continue to be surprised about how late the wildflowers are starting at The Pocket.  Even so, today’s trip was a good one – not only because it was a beautiful day, but also because what is blooming is beautiful.  The biggest “news” is that Bloodroot is now starting to bloom.

- Sanguinaria canadensis

While there were only a few Bloodroot blooming along the boardwalk, there were hundreds up the Pocket Loop Trail.

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The Pocket Status Update 2/24/2014

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Eight warm days after my last trip by The Pocket I expected more.  I thought I’d see Harbinger of Spring, Hepatica, and Toothwort blooming, and possibly a few other early bloomers – maybe some Chickweed and Spring Beauties.  Well, I guess as far as expectations are concerned two out of three ain’t bad, as the saying goes.  Harbinger of Spring and Hepatica were all that was blooming; very similar to Feb 4 last year, so it looks like we’re nearly 3 weeks behind last year’s early bloom.  I did get to spend some quality time with a few Hepatica.  Start planning your trip to The Pocket – remember it is now a fee area.

Anemone acutiloba

Numerous Hepatica – Anemone acutiloba – were blooming.

Check out what else I saw:

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#Waterfalls and #Wildflowers – The Pocket – No Early Spring This Year 02/16/2014

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We’ve had a pretty harsh winter, with two significant snow storms and a stretch of extremely cold weather (for North Georgia, anyway), so I was not expecting much action at The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain in mid-February, but it was a beautiful day and I wanted an excuse to get out, so my wife and I headed down to The Pocket after lunch.  It was pretty much as expected – signs of coming spring, but no floral action, even though this is almost 2 weeks later than the first flowers I found last year.  The falls was pretty, though, and worth the walk:

The Falls in the Pocket at Pigeon Mountain

The Falls in the Pocket at Pigeon Mountain

Following are a few photos of the “signs of spring:”

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#Wildflowers at The Pocket – Update 04/21/2013

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It’s been a very busy two weeks, but we made it down to The Pocket today; unfortunately only the boardwalk.  The spectacular show is definitely winding down, but there is still plenty to see.  Among the flowers now at peak are the Wild Hyacinth – Camassia scilloides.

Wild Hyacinth; Atlantic Camas - Camassia scilloides

Wild Hyacinth; Atlantic Camas – Camassia scilloides

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#Wildflowers at The Pocket – Short Update 04/06/2013

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Sorry, but I don’t have time for a full update.  Quickly, however – the Bent White Trillium have started their bloom, Phacelia and Phlox are full-blown.  There are a few Trillium cuneatum that have opened up along the horse trail.  Dutchman’s Breeches and Bloodroot are gone, and Hepatica are almost completely gone (supplanted by Rue Anemone.)

Bent White Trillium - Trillium flexipes

Bent White Trillium – Trillium flexipes

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Update on #Wildflowers at The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain 03/29/2013

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It’s only been 5 days since my last report, but it’s been a rough week and it looks like I won’t be able to get away over the weekend.  While wildflower photography can be more physically demanding than most people would think, I find it a great way to get away from stress for a while, so I took a few hours for a visit – it was great.  Among the new flowers beginning to bloom in the past 5 days are the prettiest of the Fleabanes we have in this area – Robin’s Plantain.

Robin's Plantain - Erigeron pulchellus

Robin’s Plantain – Erigeron pulchellus

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.

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Yellow and Blue – Update on #Wildflowers at The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, 03/24/2013

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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

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.

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Update on #Wildflowers at The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, 03/16/2013

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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

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.

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