There are lots of colonies of Mayapples at Meeks Park.  And they are just now emerging from their winter sleep.

 

Mayapples are in the family Berberidacae, along with Barberry and Nandina shrubs, and Blue Cohosh herbaceous plants.  I think it's interesting how plants that seem so dissimilar can be related.  But it's all about Taxonomy, a complex science that focuses on similar characteristics of plants and animals.  

 

Back to the Mayapples:

 

Mayapples are native to the eastern and central United States, and are found in low woods, and moist meadows. Podophyllum peltatum Linnaeus, Mayapples are also called Mandrakes.The blooms emerge early in May, underneath the leaves; one flower per a set of two leaves.  Single leaves bear no flower.  

 

The flowers develop into an edible yellow fruit that looks and smells like a lemon.  Be careful, though, because the leaves, roots, and unripe fruits are TOXIC.  We just enjoy seeing them in the woods and breathing the lemon-scented air.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

I hope you are still checking in on the Yorktown bluebirds.  The babies are getting big, and you can see the momma feeding them.  They look almost ready to fledge though, so you better do it soon.

 

 

HAPPY BIRDING!!!

 

Patty was here for a few days, and got her garden tilled and ready to plant.  When she showed it to me, all I could think of was POTENTIAL!!

 

Just think of all the vegetables she can grow in that space.  And not just vegetables, marigolds will go around the outside.  

 

I'll show you again later in the season;  she always has a great garden.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Calycanthus floridus, or Eastern Sweetshrub is blooming now at the park.  These native shrubs are deciduous, and bloom from April into October.  They are called Sweet shrub because they are aromatic, the leaves and the flowers.  They are in the same family as Magnolia.  You can kinda see that in the flowers.  And the aroma is similar.  You know I had to smell it.

 

Look for sweetshrubs in your woodland walks.  They are so distinctive with their maroon-colored blossoms.

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!

 

REALLY!!!  Jon took this picture early in the morning.  See the sun just coming up?  

 

OK, for perspective:  that Dead End sign is 6 feet tall.  Gizmo is up the tree another 3-4 feet.  He's  hysterical.  He really keeps us laughing.  The deer love teasing him too.  They get up close and stomp and snort at him.  He just plays along, then runs home.  

 

Thought you might enjoy a laugh to get your day off to a fun start.  

 

HAPPY SATURDAY!!!

 

 

Look who else we saw in the park!!!  I knew it was a Showy Orchis, and my Seek app confirmed it.  Galearis spectabilis, or showy Orchis is a threatened native orchid.  It is native to eastern Canada and much of the eastern half of the United States.    

 

This is the only one we saw in the park, but then again, we stay on the trail.  There may have been more up on the hill.  We've seen a showy Orchis down on the Creekside Trail, near the little bridge.  But I haven't seen it there yet this year.  I'll keep looking.

 

Be on the lookout for interesting wildflowers on your walks.  It's that time of year when all kinds of flowers pop up.

 

HAPPY HUNTING!!!

 

 

 

Another gorgeous tree!!!  This Kwansan Cherry, Prunus serrulata Kwansan is one of many in Meeks Park, near the entrance.  This cherry tree blooms AFTER the leaves emerge, and the leaves are a little on the olive side of green.  Still, gorgeous!!!

 

As with the Dogwood, if you want to plant one in your yard, do it soon.  Summer is too late to plant trees.  You can't keep enough water on them to get them going.  Or do like we do:  just go to the park and admire them there.  They should be blooming at least for the next week.  Look around, you may see others.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

 

I showed you the Cinnamon Fern last week.  This is how much it has grown in just one week.  You really need to go down there and see it.  It's fabulous!!!

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

This is in Henry and Tere's garden:  Aji's pink Dogwood.  Tere planted it for her mother, Aji, who loved being in our mountains.  She would sit in a rocker on the porch from morning until night, enjoying her surroundings.  Tere had to beg her to come inside to go to bed.  

 

You can see a white and a pink Dogwood in Judy and David's yard as you come up the hill.  So pretty!!!!

 

If you decide to plant a Dogwood in your yard, do it soon.  Spring and Fall are the best times to plant trees.  Jon and I just planted 3 white Dogwoods and 2 Redbuds in the orchard.  We got them at Nelson's Ace Hardware in Blairsville.  They have beautiful trees, and competitive prices.  

 

When we moved here, Momma would ask me what I wanted for my birthday, and every year I said,  "Trees for the orchard."  We have planted lots of fruit trees, and now these beautiful flowering trees, feeding our bodies and our souls.  

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

I LOVE seeing the Trilliums.  There are so many different ones, but they all share these characteristics:  Three leaves, three sepals, three petals.  

 

This is Trillium cuneatum, commonly called Toadshade, Whip-poor-will flower, and Little Sweet Betsy.  Funny how the flower opens to this, looking NOT open.  

 

It is native to the southeastern United States, but it is especially common in our region.  This one is at Meeks Park near the river and colonies of Bloodroot.  

 

I just read that trilliums generally have an unpleasant odor, like rotting fish.  YAK!!!  Glad I never noticed that.  The book said it is noticeable when you boil the roots.  Yeah, NO, not going to be doing that.   We just want to see them in the woods.  Look for them.  They are just getting started.  

 

HAPPY SPRING!!!