The reading today was from John
Burroughs, "Nature Near Home.” The walk was through the International
Garden to the Purple Trail. Then on to
the Orange Trail to the river bluff with Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia). After
that we walked the Orange Trail to the upper parking lot to finish.
In the International Garden in the
Endangered Plant area, we discussed the blooming Plum Leaf Azalea (Rhododendron prunifolia). It is early for it to be blooming. It's bloom time is June to September. Actually, one of the original reasons for
establishing Callaway Gardens was to preserve the habitat for this plant found
in that area. We have seen it at the bottom of the canyons at Providence Canyon
State Park, which is south of Columbus, GA.
Just before the Purple Trail in the
Indian Plant section, we found Mayapple (Podophyllum
peltatum).
We must have missed the blooms of
horse-sugar (Symplocos tinctoria)
which grows on the Purple Trail because the flowers are supposed to come before
the new leaves. Those new leaves were
just coming out today.
Out the deer fence, we found the leaves
for violet wood sorrel (Oxalis violacea),
as well as green and gold (Chrysogonum
virginianum). At the Oconee River
turning on the Orange Trail, lyre-leaved sage (Salvia lyrata) was blooming.
Climbing up the bluff along the river we talked about the flowering
mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia). The anthers are tucked into the petals at the
red mark. The pollen is dispersed when
the stamen springs out. It can do it on
its own, or if an insect knocks it. In
the latter case the pollen is dispersed on the bee or other pollinator. Surprisingly, the rattlesnake weed (Hieracium venosum) was also in
bloom. I think of this as a summer
plant, but its bloom time range is April to August!
The Orange Trail from the Oconee River to
the upper parking lot yielded many gems:
Rue anemone (Thalictrum thalictroides) was still blooming after three months.
Sensitive fern (Onoclea sensibilis) which is distinguished by its fertile frond so
different from that of netted chain fern, which we did not see.
Hooked buttercup (Ranunculus recurvatus)
Kidney-leaf (Ranunculus abortivus)
Violet wood sorrel (Oxalis violacea) was blooming in several places.
Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
Cut-leaf coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata) was only leafing out.
Yellow three parted violet (Viola tripartite)
Wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
Rattlesnake fern (Botrychium virginianum)
Broad beech fern (Thelypteris hexagonoptera)
Piedmont Azalea (Rhododendron canescens)
Sweet Shrub (Calycanthus floridus)
Lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina)
Common wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta)
Blue star (Amsonia tabernaemontana)
Atamasco lily (Zephyranthes atamasca)
We retired to Donderos for Coffee and
Conversation.
Hugh
