I love visiting natural places full of plant treasures - they're increasingly rare, but the protected ones are totally special.
On the way to a
Natural Landscaping symposium sponsored by the Wild Ones chapter in Chattanooga, Tennessee (
a delightful event), we (that is, my sometime gardening companion and me) were able to visit one of these places for the first time.
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| lower Pocket area along boardwalk |
The Pocket is a rich cove forest site (near LaFayette, GA) with an abundance of spring wildflowers.
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| a rich diversity of wildflowers |
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| Toothwort (Cardamine concatenata) |
We were delighted to see emergent vegetation of Virginia bluebells,
Trillium, and trout lilies, along with toothwort (
Cardamine concatenata),
Claytonia virginica (spring beauty),
Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot), and
Erigenia bulbosa (harbinger of spring).
I'd never seen
Erigenia before. Amazing! Incredibly small flowers lighting up the forest floor.
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| Erigenia bulbosa (Harbinger of spring) |
Harbinger of spring is an extremely small member of the parsley family (Apiaceae). You'd hardly notice it, walking by, but it was great fun and such a treat to finally see.
The symposium was wonderful -- a treat to participate and attend with over 150 native plant enthusiasts. It's so nice to be able to experience the interest and enthusiasm, and share my own passion for native plants, too!
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I would love to attend that native plants symposium--most of my favorite plants are native wild flowers. Trillium are my favorites--anxiously awaiting the blooms of the few in our forest. Lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteIt was such fun!
ReplyDeleteYou'd also enjoy the Cullowhee Landscaping with Native Plants symposium at the end of July at Western North Carolina University. It's been going on for over 25 years, and is always a treat.
I need to google Western North Carolina University.... I would love it too! Hoping there are a lot of native plants available at the plant sale next month.
ReplyDeleteJanet - you'd love the Cullowhee conference, too. It's actually Western Carolina University (WCU), I'm realizing. Here's a link to this summer's conference (http://www.wcu.edu/5033.asp)
ReplyDeletethanks Lisa.
ReplyDelete