Today (3/07/15) was one of the rare days so far this year – mostly clear skies and warmer weather – into the 60’s. That made for a great day to get down to The Pocket for a status update. There’s not a lot of change concerning which species are blooming (with an exception) – but those that have been blooming are picking up the pace a lot. The one new species I found blooming – Carolina Spring Beauty; a single plant along the trail to the falls.
Carolina Spring Beauty – Claytonia caroliniana
Dimpled Trout Lily, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (03/05/2015.) Scientific name is Erythronium umbilicatum. Photo below was taken at the Wolf Creek Trout Lily Preserve in Grady County, GA on Feb 20, 2014. Go to the Dimpled Trout Lily detail page for more photos and information.
Even though it’s been 2 ½ weeks since the last report, there is little change to report from then. Probably shouldn’t be a surprise considering the last couple of weeks have included long stretches where it didn’t get above freezing, multiple nights with lows in the single digits, and a snow of over 7”. Still, I was hoping for a little more action.
Carolina Phlox, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (02/25/2015.) Scientific name is Phlox carolina. Photo below was taken along the Blue Ridge Parkway in Buncombe County, NC on Aug 29, 2014. Go to the Carolina Phlox detail page for more photos and information.
Native Plant of the Day 02/23/2015
Photo from 4/30/2004. Location: Polk County, TN.
Ashleaf Goldenbanner – for more photos / info go to the Thermopsis fraxinifolia detail page.
Ashleaf Goldenbanner – Thermopsis fraxinifolia
Native Plant of the Day 02/22/2015
Photo from March 3, 2012. Location: Walker County, GA.
Littleleaf Buttercup – for more photos / info go to the Ranunculus abortivus detail page.
Littleleaf Buttercup, Littleleaf Crowfoot – Ranunculus abortivus
Today (2/11) was sunny and unseasonally warm (62 degrees by late afternoon) for February, but much colder weather is forecast – tomorrow topping out in the 30s. Since we’ve been out of town for several days, I figured I should take this opportunity to check to see if the wildflowers are starting to show up at The Pocket. I was expecting to see Harbinger-of-Spring and that other harbinger of spring, Hepatica blooming, and kind of expected to see some Toothwort blooming. Well, 2 out of 3 ain’t bad.
Harbinger-of-Spring – Erigenia bulbosa
For the rest of the story…
Some dear friends of my wife and I invited us to join them in early February at Vogel State Park near Blairsville, Georgia, where they had a cabin rented on February 6 and 7. We love that area, and I wanted another excuse to get out in our new T@b camper trailer, so we headed up there and stayed in the campground Thursday through Sunday nights, Feb 5 thru Feb 8. This allowed us plenty of time to visit the area and well as visit with our friends. Read on for my report on the Vogel State Park campground experience.
Vogel State Park Campground
Native Plant of the Day 02/08/2015
Photo from 5/25/2012. Location: Kleinschmidt Grade, Adams County, ID
Western Poison Ivy – for more photos / information go to the Toxicodendron rydbergii detail page.
Western Poison Ivy – Toxicodendron rydbergii
Native Plant of the Day 02/07/2015
Photo from 4/24/2012. Location: Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA
Eastern Poison Ivy – for more photos / information go to the Toxicodendron radicans detail page.
Eastern Poison Ivy – Toxicodendron radicans