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
Category: Plants
A Late Winter Walk at the North Carolina Botanical Garden
We took a walk through the North Carolina Botanical Garden this weekend. Although it is far from the peak spring bloom, there was plenty to see on this late winter afternoon. Little Sweet Betsy trillium, dimpled trout lily and bloodroot were putting on quite a show. Sharp-lobed and round-lobed hepatica were beginning to bloom. Rue… Continue reading A Late Winter Walk at the North Carolina Botanical Garden
A Little Frustration on the Trails
Earlier this spring, I found a new (to me) plant: woolly mullein (Verbascum thapsus ssp. thapsus). It started as a basal rosette of large, velvety leaves. I’ve been watching it closely as it has grown taller. Two weeks ago, it was starting to grow its flower stalk. I was looking forward to July, when I… Continue reading A Little Frustration on the Trails
A Little Heartache on the Shiloh Greenway
Maybe I’m selfish, but I just hate to see the trails like this. I’m thinking of all the animals that will need to find a new home. I’m thinking of the plants that are being crushed under the logs and trucks. I’m wondering which plants will grow, and which plants will not come back now… Continue reading A Little Heartache on the Shiloh Greenway
A Nature Comeback Story
Do you remember last year when the utility company came through and cut the tall trees along the trails to prevent them from falling on the power lines? It was hard for me to watch. I wrote a blog about it here. Today I saw a glimmer of hope. After the logs were cleared, the… Continue reading A Nature Comeback Story
A New Vocabulary Word
If you start reading about plants you’ll find yourself learning many new vocabulary words. Botanists have so many terms to describe different parts of plants and the environments they grow in. I came across a new word this week that really struck my attention. It perfectly describes most of my experience so far: ruderal. A… Continue reading A New Vocabulary Word
A New Wood Sorrel
Just last week I wrote a blog about stopping on my daily walk to look around and really notice what was there. A few days later, I happened to stop after walking only for a minute beyond my house. I was admiring the wood sorrel along the side of the road. It was early in… Continue reading A New Wood Sorrel
A Second Bloom in Autumn
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!
A Second Ditch-Daisy
Did you know that two different species of ditch-daisies grow in this area? I had no idea. I happened to be looking at iNaturalist one day and saw that some ditch-daisies were labeled as Bidens aristosa (which I expected), and others were labeled as Bidens polylepis. Both are commonly known as ditch-daisies. The flowers look… Continue reading A Second Ditch-Daisy
A Second Species of Ragweed
Did you know that there are TWO different ragweed plants? I found a giant ragweed plant (Ambrosia trifida var. trifida) this year. It happened to be growing right next to common or annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia). Giant ragweed can grow up to 12 feet tall. The oval leaves are 3-12 inches long. And in case… Continue reading A Second Species of Ragweed