Robin’s Plantain, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (05/14/2011.) Scientific name is Erigeron pulchellus. Photo below was taken The Pocket on Pigeon Mountain on April 9, 2011. I was excited to identify this plant, identifying all 4 Erigeron species which are found in my area.
Robin’s Plantain – Erigeron pulchellus
Forestry Service Road 283 provides a great drive in the mountains of northeast Georgia during the spring wildflower season. This is the second season we’ve driven this road looking for wildflowers, and were not disappointed. At one of our stops at a campsite along the road my wife spotted this moth (perhaps a Spilosoma species?) on one of dozens of Pink Ladyslippers (Cypripedium acaule) in the area.
Moth on Ladyslipper
Native Plant of the Day 05/10/2011.
Photo from May 2, 2011. Location: Reed Branch Wet Meadow Preserve, Towns County, GA. (Access by permission only.) We got back up to Reed Branch again this year. 2011 had a later spring than 2010, and several of the pitcher plants were blooming.
Green Pitcher Plant – for more photos / info go to the Sarracenia oreophila detail page.
Green Pitcher Plant – Sarracenia oreophila
Native Plant of the Day 05/06/2011.
Photo from May 13, 2008. Location: The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA.
Waterleaf – for more photos / info go to the Hydrophyllum canadense detail page.
Broad-leaf Waterleaf ; Bluntleaf Waterleaf, Maple-leaf Waterleaf - Hydrophyllum canadense
Whorled Horsebalm, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (05/05/2011.) Scientific name is Collinsonia verticillata. Photo below was taken on Lookout Mountain in Hamilton County, Tennessee in the Chattanooga and Chickamauga National Military Park on April 25, 2011.
Whorled Horsebalm, Early Stoneroot – Collinsonia verticillata
My wife and I spent a couple of days at The Ridges Resort in Hiawassee, Georgia this week. Tuesday morning a green heron (Butorides virescens) on the hunt for breakfast joined me as I was having devotions by the lake. I took a break for a couple of photos when the heron showed up on the hunt. Read on to see if he was successful.
Green Heron on the hunt
We’re heading back to Idaho in early June to meet a new grandson, who should arrive a couple of before weeks we get there (if he’s not, Lynn will probably have some harsh words for him.) In anticipation of the upcoming trip, I thought of the many Western Tanagers we saw while out there last year about the same time. Apparently the tanagers hanging around last year was due to the unusually late spring; too cold to move on to their normal summer territory. I don’t expect the same good fortune this year, and am grateful for last year’s opportunity. Here are a few photos.
Western Tanager - Piranga ludoviciana
Western Tanager - Piranga ludoviciana
Western Tanager - Piranga ludoviciana
Lanceleaf Trillium, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (04/23/2011.) Scientific name is Trillium lancifolium. Photo below was taken on Pigeon Mountain in Walker County, Georgia on April 2, 2011.
Lanceleaf Trillium, Lanceleaf Wakerobin – Trillium lancifolium
My wife and I took a ride up Estelle Mine Road on Pigeon Mountain on this past Saturday. We wanted to go back to a spot to see a very vibrant batch of Wild Comfrey (Cynoglossum virginianum) that we had spotted the week before with only a single blossom open. Turned out to be a great drive. Not only was the Wild Comfrey fully blooming, but we saw many other wildflowers, including our first ever encounter with Yellow Honeysuckle (Lonicera flava) and the bicolored form of Bird’s Foot Violet (Viola pedata.)
My wife captured a photo of this butterfly in flight at a Wild Azalea plant. I think it was actually leaving the plant at the time, but I like it because it looks like it’s dive-bombing the azalea.
Butterfly at Wild Azalea
Yellow Honeysuckle, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (04/11/2011.) Scientific name is Lonicera flava. Photo below was taken on Pigeon Mountain in Walker County, Georgia on April 9, 2011.
Yellow Honeysuckle, Pale Yellow Honeysuckle – Lonicera flava