Almost full circle

One Sunday last April Kate and I went for a walk in the woods. I took some pictures of some of the flowers and such that we encountered, and decided to write about it (Things We Saw in the Woods Today). I didn't know it at the time, but it was the start of a project to catalog all of the native flowering plants (including shrubs and small trees) that I could find in our woods in one year. I call it my "Year in the Woods" series, and you can see all 21 posts (including this one) by clicking the label on left side of the page.

Winding Down

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

It's been three weeks since my last post, a sure sign that wildflower season is truly winding down.

This first photo is White Turtlehead, Chelone glabra, yet another new find. This makes about 40 flowers I've found for the first time this year (not because they weren't there, but because I hadn't noticed them before).

One Hundred Plants: Isn't that a lot?

No. No it's not.

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

With this post, I have reached the one-hundred plant mark. That's one hundred different species of native plants on our small woodlot in Piedmont North Carolina. It sounds like a lot, but I suspect I've only scratched the surface. As I've noted before, I haven't even started identifying grasses, and I imagine there are dozens. There must be ten or twenty tree species and several ferns. And if you start considering insects, arachnids, reptiles, amphibians, birds and mammals, the diversity of life on this small parcel is mind-boggling. And it begs the question, what diversity can you find in your own neighborhood? Likely more than you could imagine, and much of it depends on native plants like these. For information about adding native plants to your own garden, visit http://ncsu.edu/goingnative/.

Sorting Solidagos

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

Nothing puts me in the mood for fall quite like the sight of glorious Goldenrod (Solidago sp.) bending in the breeze next to the driveway. I've enjoyed them for years, and make a point to avoid them with mower and sprayer so they will proliferate. But a year or two ago I began to realize we had more than one type, some taller, some shorter, some blooming earlier or later. Sorting them all out has been on my "I've been meaning to..." list for a while, and today I crossed it off.

Just When I Thought Things Were Slowing Down...

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

Just when it seemed wildflower season was winding down, I had two brand new finds.

First though, here's Joe Pye Weed, a plant I had seen in our woods a few years back. I was fairly certain it was still around, and sure enough I tracked it down. The "official" name is Eupatorium fitulosum. It's a fantastic choice for attracting butterflies to your garden.

Repeat Performances

[At the bottom of this page there is a picture of a rat snake in a position which, I have to admit, even I find a bit creepy, and I am a huge fan of snakes!]

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

We have some repeat appearances in this week's post. For starters, we have our second showing of Goldenrod, although this is a different species from what we saw last time (I still need to get them sorted out, but the genus is Solidago). 

More Tiny Flower Pictures

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

Have to say, I worked pretty hard on the IDs this week, a couple of new finds and a real puzzler.

 

Here's the first new find, Hypericum boreale, Northern St. Johnswort. This marks the fourth Hypericum species I've found, a fact which I'm sure is of great interest to no one but me.

 

So Much Left to Discover

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

Kate and I moved onto this woodlot on a sunny April day almost fifteen years ago. On at least 80 percent of the days since, we have walked some portion of the property on an ever growing trail network. Drop either of us on any trail on any moonless night, and a bet against us making it home in 30 minutes would be a bet lost. In the winter, when the ticks and chiggers and poison ivy are sleeping, we venture far off trail in search of adventure and treasures. We have found both, and here are a few examples of the latter.

A shed antler, old bottles, a
hawk skull and an arrowhead.

It would be safe to say we know the property well.

The more I learn, the less I know

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

 

Since I first began this little project back in April, I have learned quite a bit about native plants and how to identify them. But more than anything, I've learned how little I know. Fortunately, plant ID books can compensate to some extent, and I've added a new one to my collection (A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina by Richard Dwight Porcher and Douglas Alan Rayner). Yes, the internet is wonderful, but there is something satisfying and relaxing about slowly browsing through a field guide.

Mid-Summer Update

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

 

It seems to be legume season. We'll start with Spurred Butterfly Pea, Centrosema virginianum.

 

These Are a Few of my Favorite Plants



Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

 

I've been puzzling a bit over what to include in this year-long native plant "bioblitz". For the most part I'm leaving out trees and grasses, at least for the time being, which leaves me with herbaceous flowers, shrubs and vines. But I've also been a bit arbitrary and subjective in leaving out plants that are exceptionally common or uninteresting. Does that seem fair?

 

Oh well; my blog, my rules. Let's get on with it.

I Have No idea What's Blooming in the Woods

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

 

You might be thinking that Timberwalkers is a plant ID ninja, but if so I have fooled you. The fact is, for most of the plants I photograph, I spend a fair amount of time leafing through my plant ID books trying to get it sorted out. Then, when I see it again next year, I'll go through the process all over again.

 

Even then, I'm often stumped. Perhaps even worse is when I confidently post a plant name on these interwebs for both of my readers to see, and later discover I was dead wrong. It's happened more than once. Today there are three that have me completely stumped, and one that I have finally identified at least two years after first finding it.

Weed or Wildflower?

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

In my college weed science classes, I learned that one definition of a weed is "a plant growing where it's not wanted". In my work as a horticulturist in the ensuing years, I've counseled hundreds of clients on how to get rid of those unwanted plants. However, in my recent studies of native plants I have come to the surprising realization that many of the plants we attempt to banish from our lawns, flower beds and bean fields are in fact indigenous species. I had been working under the mistaken assumption that for a plant to have "weedy" tendencies, it most likely was introduced from another country. Of course, this is true for many of the worst offenders, e.g. kudzu and microstegium. But perhaps we shouldn't be so quick to eradicate every wild plant from our yards, maybe pausing long enough to determine if they perhaps have a role to play for some insect or forest creature.

Wintergreen Blooms in the Spring

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

Wintergreen (Chimaphila maculata) is a tiny, unassuming plant that (surpise!) stays green in the winter. You might not notice it, even in bloom. Enchanting, though, isn't it? Especially when you take a close up look at the small blossoms (second picture).

Milkweed Season!

[Note that at the bottom of this post, there is a picture of an absolutely adorable little king snake. Saving the best for last!]

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

Last week I posted the first milkweed of the season, but this week they are really popping. The loss of monarch butterfly overwintering habitat in Mexico has received a lot of press, but we are losing valuable host plants in North America as well. Do your part by planting some in your garden.

Here is Variegated Milkweed, Asclepias variegata.

The Colorful Woods of Late Spring

[Heads up: There's a picture of a sweet little ring-necked snake at the bottom. You've been warned]

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

The woods often seem to be cloaked in rather dull shades of green and brown. However this time of year, if you are willing to look close, you will find lots of bright colors.

Yes, we have a cactus in North Carolina, Prickley Pear (Opuntia humifusa). It is stunning in bloom.

A Busy Week in the Woods

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find.

I'll start out this week with Arrowleaf (Peltandra virginica). This is a new find for me, although it's probably been here all along. That's the blossom in the second picture.

 

I was surprised to find I had no prior record of this lovely little flower. It's called Venus' Looking-Glass (Triodanis perfoliata) and with a name like that I'm pleased to have identified it! Didn't even notice the cute little beetle when I was taking the photo.

The Woods Wear White in May

Not only does the Chionanthus continue to look stunning (see previous post) it's delicate white blossoms have been joined by a host of other white flowers.

First we have one of the Hawthorns, species unknown, but in the genus Crataegus.



The Wildflowers of Early May

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

Many of the wildflowers I see have small and fairly inconspicuous blossoms. I find them fascinating nonetheless.

This is one of my favorites, called Heart Leaf. Not sure of species, but it's in the Hexastylis genus. That's the blossom on the lower left, and it's often covered by the leaf litter. I believe it is pollinated by ground insects such as beetles.

More News from the Woods

Welcome to the latest entry in my "Year in the Woods" series, where I document all the native plants I can find in our woods in one year.

Here is a catalog of what's been blooming since my last update from April 19.

The azalea in your yard likely originated in the orient, but you can find an NC native version in the woods right now (Rhododendron periclymenoides).