Winter has about one day left here in Durham North Carolina, we hope anyway. Still some snow on the ground, but Thursday it'll reach 65 degrees and then into the 70s into Monday.....Yahoo! Here are some wildflower picks I found for you enjoy!
Spring Beauty,
Claytonia virginica This spring wonder should already be out in damp areas nearby here. I'm not sure that we get them in my woods. To find a huge patch of these in the spring is what its all about!
Variegated Milkweed, Asclepias variegata some might call it White Milkweed. We have a huge (what I call huge anyway) patch of them along the road by the mailbox. In fact I know of no where else in NC that there are so many of these plants in one place. I've trekked a lot in NC, most of the wild places anyway.
This is not so local though common in places like
Croatan National Forest in coastal NC. It is
Dwarf Azalea,
Rhododendron atlanticum. Grows to about one foot and the aroma when blooming is wonderful. Once I found a small patch with 6-8
Palamedes Swallowtails on them. Can't wait to get out there in the forest and wander about with my camera, there are lots of wild orchids and endless pitcher plants to wade into.
Spring Beauty, Claytonia virginica This spring wonder should already be out in damp areas nearby here. I'm not sure that we get them in my woods. To find a huge patch of these in the spring is what its all about!
Variegated Milkweed, Asclepias variegata some might call it White Milkweed. We have a huge (what I call huge anyway) patch of them along the road by the mailbox. In fact I know of no where else in NC that there are so many of these plants in one place. I've trekked a lot in NC, most of the wild places anyway.
This is not so local though common in places like Croatan National Forest in coastal NC. It is Dwarf Azalea, Rhododendron atlanticum. Grows to about one foot and the aroma when blooming is wonderful. Once I found a small patch with 6-8 Palamedes Swallowtails on them. Can't wait to get out there in the forest and wander about with my camera, there are lots of wild orchids and endless pitcher plants to wade into.
Isn't it fun to see what's native in the different parts of the States? We get Spring Beauties, but I've never seen them with so Many pronounced pink stripes. Some of ours are entirely white as well. Our milkweed blooms much later - in August and September - and is light purple. We also have Butterfly Milkweed which blooms about the same time and is orange. :-)
ReplyDeleteShady,
ReplyDeleteJust another species of milkweed, this one blooms the earliest around mid may here. We get the Common Milkweed and Butterflyweed too. I've seen maybe 7-8 species of milkweeds here in NC.
I really want some spring beauties in my woodland garden. Don't have them yet but will rectify that this year. I like your milkweed. I found swamp milkweed growing wild where I walk. Just loved it! They are all pretty special.
ReplyDeleteRandy, these are so beautiful! I can't wait to see what beauty summer will bring to your surroundings.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to see some of those around here. That milkweed especially.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty wildflowers and your photos of the swallowtails are beautiful! I've been itching to get out and take a hike to enjoy the flowers but it has been so wet. I shouldn't complain, we need the rain.
ReplyDeleteI love the wildflowers you get. Spring Beauty really is a beauty. We get little wild Irises everywhere here but that's all I've ever seen - at our place that is.
ReplyDeleteI am new here! What a great blog :)
ReplyDeleteRandy- congrats on spring finally making her appearance in your neck of the woods. The flowers are beautiful, color is so nice to see.
ReplyDelete-Heather
wild flowers can be so beautiful. Your pictures prove that.
ReplyDeleteYour spring flowers are beautiful! I found you over at Hoe & Shovel. Your little piece of the world looks like paradise.
ReplyDeleteHi, Randy--Love your Garden Paradise--it's always great to find "neighbors" (well, nearly). Have you seen my friend Phillip's blog, How It Grows? I'm sneaking time at work and can't remember how to put in the link, but he's on my blogroll (and on blogspot) and he's ALL about the natives. thanks for visiting!
ReplyDeleteI love Claytonia, and that is a beautiful shot. I'm drooling over the White Milkweed.
ReplyDeleteLovely shot of the Coast Azalea. I have a half a dozen of those and love them. Their fragrance is heavenly.
I like your picks!
I'm going to look forward to visiting your blog. Welcome to blotanical too!
ReplyDeleteLovely wildflower blooms...will that milkweed attact the butterflies like the common milkweed will? The first flower reminds me of a perennial geranium, one I want to find to put in my yard! My mom lives in Fuquay Varina, I don't know if that's close to you guys or not? Your weather has moved a bit of our spring at this point, by now. I love NC springs!
ReplyDeleteJan,
ReplyDeleteYes White Milkweed attracts butterflies. Around here when it blooms you know that the great Spangled Fritillary will make its first appearance and likely on this milkweed. We also find little gems like Eastern Pine Elfin and Juniper Hairstreaks on it as well.