Laughing Hills – Page 10 – "…and the little hills rejoice on every side."

Apr 04 2016

Trout Lily or Dogtooth Violiet

Filed under Places, Things

This Trout Lily or Dogtooth Violet [Erythronium americanum] was viewed on 4 April 2016 atThe Botanical Gardens at Asheville. It’s a member of the Lily (Liliaceae) family, listed on pages 338-339 of Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide it blooms in moist woods in Early Spring. I didn’t capture a good view of the leaves, which have a brown mottling.

USDA Plants Link: Erythronium americanum

Trout Lily at the Botanical Garden of Asheville – 4 April 2016

Trout Lily (close up) – 4 April 2016

Trout Lily (with leaves) – 4 April 2016

Dogtooth Violet, The Botanical Gardens at Asheville, Trout Lily, wildflowers

Apr 04 2016

Eastern Redbud

Filed under Places, Things

These photos of Eastern Redbud [Cercis canadensis] were taken on 4 April 2016 atThe Botanical Gardens at Asheville. It’s a shrub or small tree that’s a member of the Pea (Fabaceae or Leguminosae) family and listed on pages 104-105 of Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide. The guide also states that the leaves are undeveloped at flowering time when it blooms in Spring.

USDA Plants Link: Cercis canadensis

Eastern Redbud (zoom out) – 4 April 2016

Eastern Redbud blooms at the Botanical Garden of Asheville – 4 April 2016

Eastern Redbud – 4 April 2016

Eastern Redbud, The Botanical Gardens at Asheville, wildflowers

Apr 04 2016

Oconee Bells

Filed under Places, Things

Oconee Bells [Shortia galacifolia] viewed on 4 April 2016 atThe Botanical Gardens at Asheville. It’s a member of the Diapensia (Diapensiaceae) family. Timothy P. Spira’s Wildflowers & Plant Communities of the Southern Appalachian Mountains & Piedmont, page 438, states that it flowers from March to April, and bears fruit July through August. It’s also stated:

About 60 percent of the population of Oconee Bells were lost due to the construction of 2 large reservoirs in South Carolina, the Jocassee and the Keowee, in the 1960s. In spite of its limited natural distribution, some fairly large populations persist in the wild.

The USDA map shows it being native in only five states: Connecticut, Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

USDA Plants Link: Shortia galacifolia

Oconee Bells at UNCA Botanical Gardens – 4 April 2016

Oconee Bells – 4 April 2016

Oconee Bells (multiple) – 4 April 2016

Oconee Bells (closer) – 4 April 2016

Oconee Bells, The Botanical Gardens at Asheville, wildflowers

Mar 26 2016

Dutchman’s Breeches

Filed under Places, Things

Dutchman’s Breeches [Dicentra cucullaria] found in Gerton, North Carolina on 26 March 2016 and 15 April 2017. It’s a member of the Fumitory (Fumariaceae) family. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, pages 34-35, states that “the quaint flowers appear like pairs of pantaloons hung up to dry” and they bloom in Spring.

USDA Plants Listing: Dicentra cucullaria

Dutchman’s Breeches (three) – 26 March 2016

Dutchman’s Breeches (with hand) – 26 March 2016

Dutchman’s Breeches (side) – 26 March 2016

Dutchman’s Breeches (better side) – 26 March 2016

From An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Volume II, Page 142

Dutchman’s Breeches – 15 April 2017

Dutchman's Breeches, Gerton, wildflowers

Mar 13 2016

Trees at Calvary Episcopal Church – 13 March 2016

Filed under Places, Things

The beautiful sky and trees in early Spring 2016 near Calvary Episcopal Church…

Tree at Calvary – 13 March 2016

Another Tree at Calvary – 13 March 2016

Calvary Episcopal, trees

Mar 06 2016

Along the MST – 6 March 2016

Filed under Places

On the Mountains-to-Sea trail in South Asheville, North Carolina on 6 March 2016.

Mountains-to-Sea Trail

Feb 29 2016

Moss Phlox

Filed under Things

Moss Phlox [Phlox subulata] found in front of Forest Dermatology, in Asheville, North Carolinaon 29 February 2016. It’s a member of the Phlox (Polemoniaceae) family and Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, pages 246-247 states that it blooms in spring in dry, sandy, or rocky places, having escaped from cultivation.
USDA Plants Listing: Phlox subulata