2011 - Start of a new Wildflower Season

Yessirree, the wildflowers started blooming kinda early this year. A warm late winter got them going in the first week in March, but it is looking like we will have a short cold snap this weekend. I hope the early bloomers are able to survive the surprise. Crocus, Vinca minor, Corn Speedwell, and others are braving the chilly nights to get an early start on the spring exposition. Here are some images from the first week in March from the wildflower garden in Franklin County and on Mill Mountain.

 These are Common Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis) and are located in a private Franklin County Wildflower Garden. They are early in their bloom cycle and have not yet spread their petals.

 These Crocuses, (Crocus vernus), are located in a private Franklin County Wildflower Garden.

 These Crocuses, (Crocus vernus), are located in a private Franklin County Wildflower Garden.

 This is Winter Jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum). These flowers are growing on Mill Mountain, near the Discovery Center.

Blue Ridge Orchid Society Show - March 11-13, 2011

Yessirree. It is starting into wildflower season. I have already shot some images for 2011 at a wildflower garden in Franklin County. The early Crocus and Snowdrops are starting to bloom. The Forsythia in my front yard is taking an early stretch, but the grass is still brown, which keeps me from mowing it for a while longer.

I wanted to let viewers of this blog know about the Orchid Show for the Blue Ridge Orchid Society. It is going to be held on Friday, March 11th, Saturday, March 12th, and Sunday, March 13th, 2011 at Greenbrier Nurseries on Starkey Road in SW Roanoke County. I know that Orchids are not wildflowers, but this show should not be missed. The variety and beauty of these flowers is incredible, and to have so many in one place is not to be missed. So check it out. I might see you there. Thanks to Dr. Nancy Cowden of Lynchburg College for tipping me off to this show. I appreciate the "heads up", Nancy.

Images from July 2009

After finishing up my primary images from 2010, I remembered a day the previous year when I photographed some Turk's Cap Lily, but I had not posted those images. I went back into the archives and found the day. Here are some of those images.

 This wildflower is known as Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata). The butterfly is a Tiger Swallowtail.

 This wildflower is a Turk's-cap Lily (Lilium superbum).

  This is a close up view of the flowers of the wildflower, Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus).

This is a larger view of the wildflower, Common Mullein (Verbascum thapsus).

  This wildflower is a Turk's-cap Lily (Lilium superbum).

This is the wildflower, Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa).

This is unknown. Any assistance would be appreciated.

Late Summer and Fall Wildflowers

These are the final images of 2010. As many who know me well can tell you, I spent quite a bit of the Fall riding my new Trek Bicycle along the Roanoke River Greenway. Needless to say, quite a few of these images were taken along the Greenway. Beside the fact that the fall crisp, cool air is great for bike riding, the dark blue skies are terrific for some wider angle wildflower shots. I hope you like the last of the images for 2010.

 This wildflower is unknown. Assistance in identity would be appreciated.

This wildflower is unknown. Assistance in identity would be appreciated.

 This wildflower is Wild Morning Glory or Common Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea).

 This wildflower is Ivy-leaved Morning Glory (Ipomoea hederacea).

 This wildflower is Wild Morning Glory or Common Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea).

This wildflower is Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosis).

 These wildflowers are Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis).

 This group of wildflowers is Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis).

 These wildflowers are Wild Morning Glory or Common Morning Glory (Ipomoea purpurea). This large group was growing along the Roanoke River Greenway in Southeast Roanoke.

The Asters of the Late Summer

These images are from early September 2010 and are of the New England Aster and another wildflower that I am not sure of. It kind of looks like a Wild Geranium, but is missing the traditional radiating rays along the longitude of the petals.

 This wildflower is New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae).

 This wildflower is New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae).

This wildflower is unknown. Assistance in identity would be appreciated.

Late August 2010 - Summer Wildflowers

After a long break during the summer, I jumped back into imaging wildflowers along the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Mill Mountain Wildflower Garden. Here are some of the more interesting images.

   This wildflower is Obedient Plant (Physostegia virginiana).

 I believe this is a type of sunflower. Any help with identification would be appreciated.

  This wildflower is Dolls Eyes, also known as White Baneberry or White Cohosh. (Actaea pachypoda).

 This is a Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly on Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare). It is watching you.

 This is a Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly on Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

 This is a Great Spangled Fritillary Butterfly on Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)

  This wildflower is Spotted Knapweed (Centauria stoebe). It is toxic to other plants.

Late June 2010 - A Couple More Images

Here are a couple more images from late June. The really amazing image is of the white flowers. These flowers are incredibly small, and the entire bunch of flowers in the image is less than 3/8ths of an inch wide. Not each flower..... the entire bunch is that small. Incredible. These images were photographed in Montgomery County.

 

This wildflower is Hedge Parsley, also known as Field Parsley (Torilis arvensis). The width of this bunch of flowers is less than 3/8ths of an inch.

This wildflower is Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosis).