Feb 20 2024

Sweet Breath of Spring or Winter Honeysuckle

Sweet Breath of Spring or Winter Honeysuckle [Lonicera fragrantissima] found on the Mountains-to-Sea trail, near the Folk Art Center in Asheville, North Carolina on 20 February 2024.  It’s a member of the Honeysuckle (Caprifoliaceae) family. The book Trees, Shrubs, and Vines, by Arthur T. Viertel, description no. 465, states it flowers March-May.  It was introduced from China, according to the USDA web site.

USDA Plants Listing: Lonicera fragrantissima

Winter Honeysuckle - 20 Feb 2024

Winter Honeysuckle – 20 Feb 2024

Winter Honeysuckle (white petals) - 20 Feb 2024

Winter Honeysuckle (white petals) – 20 Feb 2024

Winter Honeysuckle leaves - 20 Feb 2024

Winter Honeysuckle leaves – 20 Feb 2024

Feb 01 2024

Adventures in Screenprinting

Apr 13 2023

Spotted-Mandarin

Spotted-Mandarin [Prosartes maculata] found in Pisgah National Forest, Candler, North Carolina on 13 April 2023. It’s a member of the Lily (Liliaceae) family.  National Wildlife Federation’s Wildflowers of North America, page 305, says it’s out in woods in spring and also called Nodding-Mandarin.

USDA Plants Listing: Prosartes maculata

Spotted-Mandarin – 13 April 2023 – Pisgah National Forest

Spotted-Mandarin – 13 April 2023 – Leaf Detail

Apr 13 2023

Sharp-lobed Hepatica

Sharp-lobed Hepatica [Hepatica nobilis] found in Pisgah National Forest, Candler, North Carolina on 13 April 2023. It’s a member of the Buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, pages 338-9, says it’s out in woods in Early spring.

USDA Plants Listing: Hepatica nobilis

Sharp-lobed Hepatica, 13 April 2023, Pisgah National Forest, Candler, NC

Sharp-lobed Hepatica, 13 April 2023

Sharp-lobed Hepatica leaves, 13 April 2023

Apr 10 2023

Green False Hellebore

Green False Hellebore [Veratrum viride] photographed in Fairview, North Carolina on 10 April 2023. It’s a member of the Lily (Liliaceae) family.  National Wildlife Federation’s Wildflowers of North America, page 301, says it’s found in moist or wet ground, and also called Indian-Hellebore.

USDA Plants Listing: Veratrum viride

Green False Hellebore - 10 April 2023

Green False Hellebore – 10 April 2023

Apr 08 2022

Wood Anemone

Wood Anemone [Anemone quinquefolia] found on Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina on 8 April 2022. It’s a member of the Buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family. National Wildlife Federation’s Wildflowers of North America, page 459, says it’s out spring to early summer in woods, thickets, and stream banks.

USDA Plants Listing: Anemone quinquefolia

Wood Anemone – Biltmore – 8 April 2022

Wood Anemone – 8 April 2022 – side

Wood Anemone – 8 April 2022 – leaves

Apr 05 2022

Ground Ivy

Ground Ivy or Gill-over-the-ground [Glechoma hederacea] photographed in Fletcher, North Carolina on 5 April 2022. It’s a member of the Mint (Lamiaceae or Labiatae) family. National Wildlife Federation’s Wildflowers of North America, page 586, states this widespread species was introduced from Eurasia, blooms from Spring to midsummer, and is found in disturbed places.

USDA Plants Listing: Glechoma hederacea

Ground Ivy – 5 Apr 2022 – flowers

Ground Ivy – 5 Apr 2022 – kidney-shaped leaves

Mar 29 2022

Kidney-leaf or Littleleaf Buttercup

Kidney-leaf or Littleleaf Buttercup [Ranunculus abortivus] found by the roadside in Fletcher, North Carolina on 29 March 2022. It’s a member of the Buttercup (Ranunculaceae) family. One common name is derived from its kidney-shaped basal leaf. Peterson’s Field Guide to Wildflowers, page 132, says it can be found in “woods and damp thickets,” with tiny petals that make it “inconspicuous.” National Wildlife Federation’s Wildflowers of North America, page 465, states it blooms in early spring-summer in “woods, meadows, and disturbed places.”

USDA Plants Listing: Ranunculus abortivus

Kidney-leaf Buttercup – 29 Mar 2022 – flower

Kidney-leaf Buttercup – 29 Mar 2022 – upper

Kidney-leaf Buttercup – 29 Mar 2022 – basal leaves

Mar 21 2022

Bloodroot

Bloodroot [Sanguinaria canadensis] found on Bearwallow Mountain on 3 April 2015 and in Gerton on 26 March 2016, 15 April 2017, and 21 March 2022. It’s a member of the Poppy (Papaveraceae) family. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, pages 364-365, states that its juice is orange-red and it blooms in early Spring in rich woods.

USDA Plants Listing: Sanguinaria canadensis

Bloodroot on Bearwallow Mountain - 3 April 2015

Bloodroot on Bearwallow Mountain – 3 April 2015

Bloodroot (three) - 3 April 2015

Bloodroot (three) – 3 April 2015

Bloodroot in Gerton - 26 March 2016

Bloodroot in Gerton – 26 March 2016

Bloodroot (three) in Gerton - 26 March 2016

Bloodroot (three) in Gerton – 26 March 2016

Bloodroot in Gerton – 15 April 2017

Bloodroot – 21 Mar 2022 – Gerton, NC

Bloodroot Illustration from How to Know the Wildflowers, page 3

Bloodroot Illustration from How to Know the Wildflowers, page 3

Jul 02 2021

Trumpet Creeper or Trumpet Vine

Trumpet Creeper or Trumpet Vine [Campsis radicans] found outside the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea on 17 June 2013 and in Asheville, North Carolina on 26 June 2016 and 2 July 2021. It’s a member of the Trumpet-creeper or Bignonia (Bignoniaceae) family. Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide, pages 328-329, says that it grows in moist woods and thickets. I spotted this same plant earlier this month hanging off a Blue Ridge Parkway overpass.

USDA Plants Listing: Campsis radicans

Trumpet Creeper - 26 June 2016

Trumpet Creeper – 26 June 2016

Trumpet Flower at Kentucky Artisan Center - 17 June 2013

Trumpet Flower at Kentucky Artisan Center – 17 June 2013

Trumpet Flower (with buds)- 17 June 2013

Trumpet Flower (with buds)- 17 June 2013

Trumpet Vine – 2 July 2021

Trumpet Vine – 2 July 2021