Field Pansy, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (03/23/2013.) Scientific name is Viola bicolor. It is also known by the common names Wild Pansy, and Johnny Jump-up, and all of these names are frequently applied to a couple of similar Viola species. Photo below was taken in The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain, Walker County, GA on Mar 16, 2013. Go to the Field Pansy detail page for more photos and information.
Field Pansy, Wild Pansy, Johnny Jump-up – Viola bicolor
Raccoon Mountain is near Chattanooga Tennessee, and in the 1970’s TVA built a power storage system on the mountain – they pump water out of the Tennessee River during periods of low electricity usage, storing it in a reservoir at the top of the mountain, then use that water to turn turbines to generate electricity during period of high demand. But TVA has developed it, as with many of their properties, for some recreational uses, including hiking and mountain biking. But it’s also a really nice drive, with great view of the area. Much to my embarrasment, I’ve only been up on the top once or twice. Today was beautiful, and my wife and I spent a GREAT day driving, walking, and photographing the fall colors around Raccoon Mountain today. Here are a dozen photos.
First, a view from the reservoir dam looking across the gorge that many refer to as “The Grand Canyon of the Tennessee River.” As usual, click on the photo to go to Flickr where you can view a larger version.
Fall colors in the Grand Canyon of the Tennessee River
Upland Yellow Violet, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (05/23/2012.) Scientific name is Viola praemorsa. Photo below was taken in the Boise Foothills of Ada County, ID on June 10, 2011. It is also known by the common names Canary Violet, Astoria Violet, Prairie Violet, Yellow Montane Violet, and Wavyleaf Violet. Go to the Upland Yellow Violet detail page for more information.
NOTE: Nov 22, 2013 – R. John Little, Ph.D., noted expert on Violaceae, has identified this as Viola purpurea subsp. venosa rather than Viola praemorsa. — gcw
Upland Yellow Violet, Canary Violet, Astoria Violet, Prairie Violet, Yellow montane violet, Wavyleaf Violet – Viola praemorsa
Three-Parted Violet, a native species, has been added to the USWildflowers database (04/01/2012.) Scientific name is Viola tripartita. Photo below was taken on Pigeon Mountain in Walker County, GA, on April 1, 2012. Go to the Three-Parted Violet detail page for more information.
Three-parted Yellow Violet, Threepart Violet, Wedge-leaf Yellow Violet – Viola tripartita
Purple Phacelia, Fernleaf Phacelia – Phacelia bipinnatifida
I wasn’t planning on going down to The Pocket this weekend, but my wife had other plans for Sunday, so she suggested that I do something to take advantage of the beautiful day, so I headed down there shortly after getting home from church. In addition to walking the boardwalk and the trail up to the falls, I did a little back country walking above the bluff north of the horse trail. Wildflowers are abundant; here is my report, and a couple of photos taken off the beaten path in The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain.
The Phacelia are blooming. There is a Phacelia in the field to the right as you walk down to the boardwalk; they are blooming along the boardwalk and all the way up to the falls. The photo above was taken up on the top of the north bluff.
This is Leap Day. For this once-every-four-years day, I thought that rather than the normal Native Plant of the Day (#NPOD on Twitter) I’d post a few native plants from and a report on the early spring status of the wildflowers at one of Georgia’s premier wildflower locations, The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain. As things worked out, Feb 27 was the day available to make the short trek down to that part of Walker County.
It was a beautiful day. When my wife and I headed down to The Pocket on Monday, Feb 27, 2012, we considered both the beautiful day and the time we were able to spend together a blessing from God. We also expected to find wildflowers, since we’ve had very little real winter and quite a warm February. However, we had no idea!
Bloodroot – Sanguinaria canadensis at The Pocket at Pigeon Mountain
Followers of this journal know that I love the Boise Foothills. I headed up there as the sun was rising on our first full day in Boise for this visit. Here are a few reasons I love the Boise Foothills.
Boise Foothills in the Morning Light