Wildflowers
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Bloodroot – an early sign of spring throughout eastern woodlands
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Yellow Violet – the name may be oxymoronic, but violets range in color from deep purple and blue to yellow and white.
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Toothwort, a member of the Mustard Family
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Violet (there are over 300 species of violet worldwide)
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a deep red Trillium (member of the Lily Family) – some red trillia are also known as “Stinking Benjamin” for their foul odor (we didn’t sniff this one!)
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Trout Lily (also known as Dogtooth Violet)
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Wild Geranium (there are about 10 species in the Eastern U.S.)
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Carolina Spring Beauty
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Cut-leaf Toothwort
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The two-eyed berry looks similar to wintergreen, but has two spots instead of one on the blossom end (the fruit actually develops from two adjacent flowers). This is also known as “squaw berry”; it has medicinal properties and reportedly was used by native American women to aid in childbirth.
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Wild Geranium
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Crested Dwarf Iris – This is my favorite on the trail so far. This little iris grows only about 4 to 8 inches tall.
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Crested Dwarf Iris
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Sessile Bellwort (a member of the lily family)
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Rue Anemone? Wood Anemone?
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Yellow trillium – we saw many of these in Georgia
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A white violet – we’ve seen violets in all shades from deep purple to white (and even yellow!)
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White trillium
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Common Cinquefoil
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Fleabane – there are several species (the name originated from the belief that the dried flowers of these plants could rid a dwelling of fleas)
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Wild strawberry
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Sneezeweed? (I’m a bit unsure of the identification, as I took this picture in late April; perhaps too early for Sneezeweed to be in bloom.)
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Wintercress – a member of the mustard family
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Common Vetch
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Flame Pink – (no not its description, that’s its name!)
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Crested Dwarf Iris – Native Americans used the root of this iris in ointments for cancerous ulcers, and in tea for hepatitis.
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Dutchman’s-breeches
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Fringed Polygala (aka “Gaywings”)
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Star Chickweed
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Jack-in-the-Pulpit
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Wood Anemone
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Mayapple – the flowers are normally hidden under an umbrella of broad leaves.
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Wild Columbine
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Spring Larkspur (Delphinium sp.)
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Fringed Polygala – when I first saw this, I thought I might be on a different planet.
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A wild mustard (the yellow one) – perhaps Yellow Rocket?
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Flame Azalea
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Wild Columbine (a bit past its prime)
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Dame’s Rocket – an old-fashioned European garden plant, now naturalized over much of North America
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White Trillium
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Spiderwort – these range from pink to blue; the flowers open only in the morning, then (according to the Audubon Society Field Guide to Wildflowers) the petals wilt and turn into a jelly-like fluid. (Lucky for me, I snapped this picture at 11:57 AM!)
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Mayapple
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Wild Pink
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Apple blossoms – leaves are on the trees now; the seasons march on. It’s Spring now, but Summer will be nearly over when we finish the hike!
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Mountain Laurel (early – later, the flowers will open to beautiful white with pink)
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Not sure if this is a form of honeysuckle, but it’s very fragrant!
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Lilies of the Valley – beautifully fragrant! A refreshing change from thru-hikers!
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Rhododendron – fully bloomed
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Rhododendron – about to open (as you can see, the color is more vivid before they fully open)
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I didn’t have to pay this little bee to pose.
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Cinquefoil
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Pink Azalea, aka “Pinxter Flower” (No, I didn’t make that up!)
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White Mountain Laurel (a flowering shrub) – the backs of these flowers look like fancy cake frosting.
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Rhododendrons in the “Long Green Tunnel” – In sections of the trail like this one, we expected to find wee fairies flitting about!
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Purple and pink spiderworts (In one shot, I found both the purple and the pink types)
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Devil’s Bit, aka Fairy Wand (Thanks for the ID, Val!) – It’s like a fuzzy pipe cleaner or stretched-out caterpillar!
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Wild Pink
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Mountain Laurel
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Crown Vetch – another European introduction, now naturalized in many areas (a member of the pea family)
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Red Clover
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Ox-eye Daisy – When we began seeing these, we knew that Spring was at an end and Summer was underway (with lots of hiking left to go!). We were in Pennsylvania when I took this picture.
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Pink Mountain Laurel
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Pink Mountain Laurel
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Pink Mountain Laurel
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Pink Mountain Laurel and busy bee
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Pink Mountain Laurel
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Blue or Purple Vetch – this is one of 17 eastern vetches, all native to Eurasia
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This thistle is yet another European introduction!
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??? with thistle in background
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Dame’s Rocket (aka Purple Rocket or Dame’s Gillyflower) – the flowers range from nearly white to deep magenta and purple
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Purple-flowering Raspberry, Rubus odoratus
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Evening Primrose – the flowers open in the evening and close by noon or earlier. Thanks to meta-data captured with digital photos, I know I shot this one at 9:49 AM.
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Black-eyed Susan
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The Yarrow was once used medicinally to break a fever by increasing perspiration; also to treat hemorrhaging and as a poultice for rashes.
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Bird’s-foot Trefoil
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Daylily – a beauty in early summer!
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Deptford Pink – note the notched petals, similar to the red-colored Flame Pink
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Yellow Daylily
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Yellow Daylily (close-up)
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Tall Corydalis
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Not sure of this identification (the moneywort may be yellow only, not orange-ish like these)
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White Campion
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Chicory
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Milkweed
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Wild Bergamot – a mint relative, the leaves may be crushed and used for tea
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Wild Bergamot
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Purple-flowering Raspberry
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Yes, it’s a dandelion relative, but with over 50 species of Hawkweed, I can’t precisely name this one (too much grass mixed in with the leaves for a good look!)
Mike — You have really captured some very nice pictures with that small camera. It was good to see a lot of old “friends” like the trillium, Dutchman’s breeches, and trout lily, and also many others that looked familiar, but that I either don’t remember or know by name. Look forward to seeing any more that find their way to your lens.
I asked. You already had them, Melissa. These are the early wildflowers and what a gift to be able to be there to see them. My favorite so far that deep red trillium.
I really enjoyed seeing the large variety of wildflowers you are finding. They’re beautiful. The dwarf lily is especially interesting. I’ve never seen one before.
What a blessing – to see so many beautiful flowers along the way!
This reply is to all 3 postings. Great photos at the wedding, in the stream & the wild flowers! What an adventure you are having. I’m sure there will be a book forthcoming.
Gil
Thanks Gil! It’ll take me a while to sort through all my photos, but some kind of book is in order!
Hi Mig,
I just love your wildflower pictures. You’ve found so many! I’m sure the wedding was a nice break though. I’m happy you’re having such a wonderful adventure. Be safe.
Love, Your Sis