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Delicate Yellow In May
Hiking along the trails up here in the mountains during May you might find this splendid herbaceous perennial. With rich yellow blooms, this is Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea). The native range of Golden Alexanders is the eastern and central US where it can grow to 2.5 feet tall. The host plant of the Black Swallowtail…
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Starry Campions Along The Trail
Starry Campion (Silene stellata), at the top of my normal hike, when I’m out wandering. My hikes are the same all the time. I’ve gotten to know my mountains well. What plants are where, whether it is a “bush” of American Chestnut, or a little puff of Pincushion Moss, I know where they are. This…
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Purple Pink Blue
Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica), herbaceous perennials, native to eastern North America. Painting its landscape with rich yummy purple, fading to pink and eventually turning to a lovely soft blue as its flowers mature. A beautiful palette for spring, April and May. By midsummer the blooms are gone, the plants disappear into the leaf litter of…
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Another Early Spring Surprise
This wasn’t found until I was back to my cabin, checking on the photographs. Buds on the Virginia Bluebells (Mertensia virginica). Virginia Bluebells, a herbaceous perennial plant, generally blooms at the beginning of April. A variety of bees, butterflies, skippers and hummingbird moths help to pollinate the flowers. A spring ephemeral. By mid-summer the above…
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Appalachian Bellflower
Appalachian Bellflower (Campanula divaricate). An herbaceous perennial that can grow to 28 inches tall. This Bellflower is found mainly in the Appalachian Mountains, and is native to the eastern US. Bloomtime is July, August and September. Those flowers, of just 1/3 inch, can be found in shades of white, pink and blue. Totally enchanting. _______________________________________________________________________…
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White Wood Asters
Like many things early in April, White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata) is emerging from the soil to greet spring. I’m thrilled to see it in many places in the woods up here. An herbaceous perennial found in the eastern US and southeastern Canada but most often found in the Appalachian Mountains. One of the first…
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American Germander
Native to all 48 of our contiguous states and a good bit of Canada too. An herbaceous perennial in the mint family American Germander (Teucrium canadense). Opposite leaves, squarish stem. Typical of the mint family. You’ll find Bees of the long-tongued sort, Hummingbird Moths, and Hummingbirds them selves, as pollinators. And if you’re looking for…