Native Plant of the Day 04/21/2015
Yarrow – for more photos / info go to the Achillea millefolium detail page.
Photo from May 29, 2009. Location: Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA.
Common Yarrow, Milfoil – Achillea millefolium
The Georgia Botanical Society made their trip to Cloudland Canyon State Park on Saturday, April 11, and I saw their photo report on Facebook. That, and a report from Richard Ware’s Sunday trip to the same location, inspired me to take advantage of a break in this week’s rain on Tuesday to get back over to Sitton’s Gulch to see the Dwarf Larkspur, Southern Red Trillium, and other wildflowers. It was a great choice, with at least 34 species of wildflower observed.
Dwarf Larkspur – Delphinium tricorne – Unusual blue form along Sitton Gulch Trail side loop
The rest of the story…
Nettleleaf Sage, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (04/12/2015.) Scientific name is Salvia urticifolia. It is also known by the common name Wild Sage. Photo below was taken at the Chickamauga National Military Park in Catoosa County, Ga on Apr 29, 2014. Go to the Nettleleaf Sage detail page for more photos and information.
Nettleleaf Sage – Salvia urticifolia
While some of the early bloomers are gone – no more Dutchman’s Breeches, for example – this is STILL a great time for a visit to The Pocket. My growing wildflower checklist for The Pocket is up to 59 species now, and 41 of them are blooming now, even though a few of those are almost gone. If you want to see Bluebells, better hurry; they are declining fast. The Dutchman’s Breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) are gone, and I only saw one small patch of Carolina Spring Beauty (Claytonia caroliniana). All three Trillium species are still in full glory, but probably the dominant species blooming right now are Wild Blue Phlox (Phlox divaricata), and Purple Phacelia (Phacelia bipinnatifida), which you’ll see all along the Pocket Road on your way in to the parking area.
Eastern Columbine and Purple Phacelia
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This is a great time for a visit to The Pocket; I hadn’t been able to get down there in nearly 3 weeks (apologies to those that were looking for a status report last week) and so many species are blooming now! Bluebells, Wood Poppies (Celandine), Purple Phacelia, and all three Trillium species are at peak, along with a couple of others that aren’t considered “signature species” for The Pocket.
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Native Plant of the Day 04/03/2015
Photo from April 3, 2010. Location: Zahnd’s Natural Area (Upper), Walker County, GA.
Red Maple – for more photos / info go to the Acer rubrum detail page.
Red Maple, Swamp Maple, Soft Maple – Acer rubrum
Native Plant of the Day 03/29/2015
Photo from April 4, 2010. Location: Zahnd’s Natural Area (lower), Walker County, GA.
Slender Toothwort – for more photos / info go to the Cardamine angustata detail page.
Slender Toothwort – Cardamine angustata
Today (3/16) was beautiful – clear skies and about 70 degrees by noon. The weather had been pretty warm for several days, with a lot of rain showers over those several days, so I was hopeful that things would have picked up a bit from my last report on 3/7. And had it! Of the 53 species on my current version of my wildflower checklist for The Pocket, we (my wife, a lovely homeschool group we met up with, and I) found 13 blooming right now.
Bloodroot – Sanguinaria canadensis
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Rainy days… Tired of them. Sunday, 3/15/2015, promised to be beautiful, and it delivered. During the week I got an email from someone mentioning seeing some spring wildflowers at Elsie Holmes Nature Park near Ringgold, Georgia (Thanks, Jane!). I had heard of this park before, and had it on my “someday” list, so my wife and I decided to head over there after lunch with some grandkids at Clyde’s on Main. Great place! (Both Clyde’s and Elsie Holmes Park.)
Hepatica bloom on the descent to South Chickamauga Creek
Native Plant of the Day 03/16/2015
Photo from Mar 16, 2013. Location: The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, Ga.
Walking Fern – for more photos / info go to the Asplenium rhizophyllum detail page.
Walking Fern – Asplenium rhizophyllum