Another Native Orchid

May 8, 2026

I find it remarkable to that here in Virginia we have 64 to 67 Orchids that are native to our state. Remarkable that these plants can survive and produce breathtaking flowers here. Thinking about it, I Googled another state very special to me, New Mexico, which surely would be an even more challenging environment for these delicate seeming plants. There are 17 to 24 native Orchid species there. Amazing.

In this photo, an Orchid that is native to Virginia, Putty Root (Aplectrum hyemale). It’s blooming right now in my woods on a 12 inch tall stalk. As the flowers fade it leaves no sign of the plant, but in late autumn a new single leaf, green with many length-wise faint white stripes emerges. That leaf persists through the winter, sometimes beneath snow, until just before the plant again produces a springtime stalk of flowers.

Nature is indeed amazing.

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Northern Maidenhair Fern

The Northern Maidenhair Fern (Adiantum pedatum) enjoying the little bit of rain that has fallen the past two days. Thank goodness for a little bit, rather than no rain. We need every bit, even a little bit.

This picture captures a quality of Maidenhair Fern, hydrophobicity, or water repellency. This plant’s genus name “Adiantum”, comes from the Greek word adiantos, which means “unwetted”. See those water droplets? That is a result of hydrophobicity. Rather than soaking into the leafy part of the fern, those drops of water will drop off.

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Showy Orchis

May 6, 2026

Showy Orchis (Galearis spectabilis) an orchid native to Virginia, found just a short hike from my cabin. In bloom right now.

In this year, 2026, there are about 30,000 recognized species of orchids worldwide. Along with daisies, they are one of the two largest families of flowering plants in the world.

Here in Virginia there are between 64 and 67 recognized species of orchids. Back in 2022, I wrote about some of those Virginia native Orchids, including photos of 4 of them. If you’d like to look back at the post, it’s at brendaclem.com/orchids-native-to-virginia/

It astounds me that there are so many Orchids native to my state, and so many that are near me here in the Blue Ridge Mountains.

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GOOD Star Chickweed

May 5, 2026

Star Chickweed (Stellaria pubera), a beautiful, a well behaved, native plant that shares the tragic common name of “Chickweed” with Common Chickweed (Stellaria media), a non-native, aggressive invasive.

Star Chickweed has a flower that is twice the size of a Common Chickweed flower. Both the Star Chickweed and the Common Chickweed have 5 petals that look like 10 petals, since each is deeply incised almost dividing each into 2.

Quite glad to have Star Chickweed up here along the trails.

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Canadian White Violet

May 4, 2026

The Canadian White Violet (Viola canadensis), blooming now in the woods up here. It has many other common names. That’s why knowing the scientific name helps out a great deal, no confusion with that name since there is only one.

It’s common throughout Canada and the US, from Alaska to Newfoundland, extending south to Georgia and west to Arizona. Its white blooms have a yellow center, sometimes with purple streaks, as you can see on this one. The backs of its petals are tinged with purple. The heart-shaped leaves have rounded teeth.

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Black And White

May 3, 2026

A Zebra Swallowtail (Protographium marcellus), enjoying the nectar of Wintercress (Barbarea vulgaris), which is an herbaceous biennial plant in the mustard family. It’s native to Europe, Asia, and North Africa.

The Zebra Swallowtail relies on Pawpaw trees (Asimina triloba) exclusively as its host plant. That makes me happy since there are oodles of Pawpaw trees up here and I see Zebra Swallowtails frequently.

The more the merrier!

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Lucky Blue

May 2, 2026

A lucky catch. A glimpse of the dorsal side (top or upper side) of a wing of a male Eastern Tailed Blue (Cupido comyntas). The male has this eye-catching blue on the dorsal side of his wings, while the female’s dorsal side is a lighter blue, brown, or charcoal.

A very small butterfly, with a wingspan of about an inch or a little less.

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Rosa Multiflora An Aggressive Invasive

May 1, 2026

Pink bushes will rarely show up, either pink tinged or a more solid pale pink. And from one year to the next, there is no telling whether that pink bush will again bloom pink. Totally unpredictable.

This plant is native to Japan, Korea, and eastern China, and here in North America it is extremely invasive. It forms a dense impassable tangle that will prevent native plants from growing. Many states have outlawed the sale, propagation and distribution of this plant because of its extreme invasiveness.

I wish I could wave my magic wand and have them all go back to their homeland.

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A Colorful Spring

April 30, 2026

Oh, the colors of spring! Mostly green. Green everywhere with dots of rich pinks and yellows. Quite a difference from just a few months ago when going on a hike meant hiking in a black and white landscape.

Captured colors of spring, pink Wild Geranium (Geranium maculatum) with background hints of bright yellow Green and Gold (Chrysogonum virginianum), both native to Virginia.

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A Tiny Native Iris

April 29, 2026

Dwarf Crested Iris (Iris cristata), native to the eastern, midwestern, and southeastern United States. Their preferred locations seem to be the Appalachian Mountains, and the Ozark Mountains, preferring conditions of rocky soil or stream banks.

I think of Irises as being tall and elegant flowers, this one may certainly be elegant but it is not tall. Leaves grow to 3 – 6 inches tall while the flowers only get to 4 – 6 inches, and with perfect conditions it might grow to 9 inches.

My Mom’s favorite flower was the Iris, but I doubt she ever saw a Dwarf Crested Iris. She would be surprised.

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