Category: Plants

I saw a new flower this week. This is broadleaf pink purslane (Portulaca amilis). The flower petals only open on sunny days. I’ve walked by this spot probably twenty times recently, but it’s always been just as the sun is rising. I changed the routine by going a little later in the day, and was… Continue reading A Change in the Routine Brings a Surprise

Flowering dogwood trees are a common sight in April. The large white flowers really stand out along woodland edges. But did you know that those white petals are not flowers? The white part of the dogwood blossom is a flower bract. They are special leaves that protect the flower. Take a closer look at the… Continue reading A Closer Look at Flowering Dogwood

Take a closer look at Queen Anne’s Lace. Have you ever noticed that the flowers on the outside edges are larger than the others? What about all the ants and other insects that explore the flowers? Have you ever looked closely at the seed head?

The southern magnolias are blooming now. Have you ever taken a careful look at the center of this flower? The stamens are the flat white sticks at the bottom. The curly pieces are the stigmas. This flower is older. The petals are turning brown. The stamens have mostly fallen off, and the red piece remaining… Continue reading A Closer Look at Southern Magnolia

We took a walk at Umstead State Park recently, and came across this interesting sight. It looked like a curtain of beautiful autumn leaves. A large tree branch had fallen, and bent another tree’s branch toward the ground, giving us a different perspective. Take time to enjoy the little things.

Have you seen any large, yellow, daisy-like flowers along the trails this month? If you look carefully, you might notice that there are several different plants in bloom right now. It’s hard to keep track of all of them, so I’ve put together this list of their key characteristics. I hope you find it helpful!… Continue reading A Guide to Yellow Summer Flowers

We took a walk through the woods along the Loblolly Trail at Umstead State Park. The deep woods, rocks and creeks provide a different habitat than the typical neighborhood trails along the woodland edges. We were excited to see so many new (to us) plants. Here are just a few examples: Take a walk in… Continue reading A Late Spring Walk in the Woods

Some spring flowers have a second bloom in autumn. This week, I found Carolina jessamine and green and gold blooming at Church Street Park. What a nice surprise!