The warm weather has continued, along with a fair bit of rain. It’s been 10 days since my last trip to The Pocket (3/2), and I was expecting some significant changes in what was blooming. Some news – the Harbinger-of-Spring is almost gone. However, that’s not the only news… Wait for it…
Wood Poppy – Stylophorum diphyllum
Not just the Wood Poppy…
Who would expect Hepatica to be blooming in January? Today my wife and I wanted to enjoy a beautiful day with some time outside, so we decided to go down to The Pocket for a walk on the boardwalk. The earliest I’ve seen Harbinger of Spring blooming down there previously was Feb 9 (back in 2009), but as warm as it’s been I wasn’t going to be surprised if we found that early bloomer with flowers. But I wasn’t expecting this:
Sharplobe Hepatica – Anemone acutiloba
Native Plant of the Day 05/18/2015
Photo from June 6, 2009. Location: The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA.
Wild Bergamot – for more photos / info go to the Monarda fistulosa detail page.
Wild Bergamot – Monarda fistulosa
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
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
Native Plant of the Day 11/05/2014
False Pennyroyal – for more photos / info go to the Isanthus brachiatus detail page.
Photo from 9/24/2011. Location: Pigeon Mountain (East), Walker County, GA.
False Pennyroyal, Fluxweed – Isanthus brachiatus
Native Plant of the Day 04/10/2014
Photo from April 4, 2009. Location: Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA.
Pennywort – for more photos / info go to the Obolaria virginica detail page.
Pennywort, Virginia Pennywort – Obolaria virginica
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.
Numerous Hepatica – Anemone acutiloba – were blooming.
Check out what else I saw:
Native Plant of the Day 10/29/2013
Photo from Nov 2010. Location: The Pocket, Walker County, GA
Zigzag Goldenrod – for more photos / information go to the Solidago flexicaulis detail page.
Zigzag Goldenrod, Broadleaf Goldenrod – Solidago flexicaulis by USWildflowers, on Flickr
Native Plant of the Day 10/07/2013
Photo from 4/17/2009. Location: The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, Ga
Northern Dewberry – for more photos and information go to the Rubus flagellaris detail page.
Northern Dewberry, Common Dewberry – Rubus flagellaris