May 12, 2026
Mapleleaf Viburnum (Viburnum acerifolium), growing here on the mountain in the woods, and here on the mountain in my backyard. A species of Viburnum.
A shrub that favors woods, given its desire for shady locations. Native to eastern North America. Grows to 3.5 – 6.5 feet tall. It’s a larval host to the Spring Azure butterfly (Viburnum acerifolium).
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April 27, 2026
Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum), in bloom right now. Part of the common name, waterleaf, refers to the lighter green spots on some of its leaves which resemble spots of water.
Native to Eastern North America. Here in Virginia, it’s often found in the Piedmont, and mountain regions, where it can form large colonies. The flowers are white, pink or lavender. The ones I see are always snow white.
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April 19, 2026
Virginia Springbeauty (Claytonia virginica) blooming right now. Open on bright sunny days, not open at night and not open on cloudy days. Native to eastern North America, and generally not found in Florida.
A small ephemeral perennial, growing to just 3 to 12 inches tall. The buds emerge from a stem between the plant’s two grass-like leaves. The blooms measure 1/2 to 3/4 inch across.
I’m always pleased to find these beauties every spring.
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April 17, 2026
Roundleaf Ragwort (Packera obovata), buds of deep rich purple that turn to lovely yellow as spring gets warmer. Growing along the trails and the roadside up here.
Native to eastern North America.
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April 11, 2026
Blooming all over the mountains up here, trying to get as much attention as the Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) and Redbud (Cercis canadensis) trees. Nearly as common as those two trees, the Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium).
This small tree is native to eastern North America, Connecticut west to eastern Kansas, and south to Alabama and Texas. Its berries (called drupes) turn to blue-black and are consumed by many species of birds from late summer through winter.
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August 25, 2025
Silky Dogwood (Cornus amomum), native to eastern North America. A bush that grows to 10 – 12 feet tall and 6 – 10 feet wide. Its opposite leaves turn brown to red/purple in autumn.
Stems are red/brown in summer while in autumn, winter, and early spring those stems are red to purple/brown. Cream white flowers appear during May and June. Little flowers 3/8 wide that grow in clusters which turn to fruit, drupes, that are steel blue.
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Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), is in bloom right now. Providing nectar and pollen to fruit flies, blow flies, wasps, bees, and beetles this late in the year when there is very little otherwise available to them.
The flowers make me think of yellow shredded coconut. Each blossom is made up of 4 petals and 4 sepals. Both petals and sepals are yellow.
A bush or small tree. Witch Hazel is native to eastern North America.
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Narrowleaf Sundrops (Oenothera fruticosa), Native to eastern North America where it can be found in open woodlands, forest edges, and rock outcrops.
Lasting only one day, each bloom is replaced by another for a series of days. The picture above is of buds waiting their turn to open and show off their brilliant yellow. Each plant will reach one to two feet tall, and sometimes even three feet. Leaves turn red in autumn.
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