We went for a hike up Blood Mountain on Thursday.  It was a gorgeous day:  70-something degrees, a bit overcast, nice breeze.  

 

This picture shows the beginning of the trail.  7/10 of a mile later, we connect to the Appalachian Trail.  This section is about 30 miles from the terminus at Springer Mountain, in Georgia.  So, we see lots of through hikers in March, but mostly day hikers this time of year.  It's always interesting to stop and chat a bit.  "Where are you from?" elicits many, many answers.  We've met people from all over the world on this trail!!

 

We've done this hike lots of times, and it's always fun.  We do a 4.4 mile round trip, up and back;  that's about 13,000 steps, if you're interested in that sort of thing. It usually takes us about 2 hours, but this time, it took us over 3 hours!!!  There were so many wildflowers in bloom, I couldn't keep up the pace.  I had to stop and explore each one.  Some, I had to use my Seek app to identify.  Others, I just had to take pictures.  It made this walk one of the most special for both of us.   

 

I'll be sharing wildflower pix the next few days, cause I know you'll love seeing some of the things we saw.

 

HAPPY HIKING!!!

 

 

 

The sunflowers are blooming now in the garden.  Some of them are 10 feet tall!!!!  We have to stake them against the north wind, but they're still beautiful.

 

Here's a good word for you:  phototropism.  Sunflowers are phototropic, meaning they move with the sun.  They face the east in the morning, then move around to the south, then face west by the end of the day.  They are fascinating to see.

 

There is a big patch of sunflowers on Mocassin Creek Road, near the mobile home park.  They are really pretty right now!!!  Hope you get to see them in your travels.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

LOOK!!!  The persimmons are getting bigger.  Right now, they are about the size of cherries and green.  By October or November, they will be about the size of ping pong balls and bright orange.  You'll be able to see them from the road at 25 miles an hour, maybe 45, if you know what you're looking for.  
 

There are several other species of Persimmons, but Diospyros virginiana, the American Persimmon, is native to the eastern United States.  The trees are usually tall: 30-50 feet, but this one is only about 15 feet tall, making the persimmons a good height off the ground, so the deer can't get them ALL.  There are several trees down by the creek, near the Chestnut trees.  Be careful, though, there's lots of poison ivy down there.  
 

The fruits are edible, and delicious. They remind me of apricot jam.  They are ripe in the fall, but they're sweeter after a frost.  We look for ripe ones on the ground, and try them.  If you've never tasted a persimmon, you should give it a try.  If you have tasted an unripe one, I'm sure you remember it.  Momma's description was that it "turns your mouth wrong side out."  Excellent.  And SO true.

 

Next time you walk the loop, look for the persimmon tree.  You'll be glad you found it when the persimmons are ripe.  Be sure to leave me a couple.  
 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!
 

 

 

 

 

Sumac blooming on Stonebriar just above the Elders'.  It's right on the corner, looking beautiful.  There are lots of them all over the neighborhood and in the surrounding area.  You can see them along the roadways, and peeking out from the woods.  
 

Sumac is in the Cashew family, in the genus Rhus.  There are lots of species in the genus Rhus, including poison ivy, poison oak, and different sumacs.  The Sumacs are small trees or shrubs with feathery compound leaves.  Each leaf has between 7-21 leaflets.  You can see them in the picture.  The flowers are small and green and grow in these pyramidal clusters.  I'm pretty sure these are Winged Sumac, Rhus copallina.  But definitely NOT poison Sumac, which is easily recognized by its straw colored berries in loose clusters on purplish stalks, and its preference for swamps and bogs.  
 

The deer browse on the leaves; and there are honey bees all over it too, meaning there will be berries later on.  Birds depend on the berries in winter when other fruit may be scarce.  We've seen cardinals, bluebirds, and woodpeckers in our Sumacs eating the berries all winter.  
 

Be on the lookout for Winged Sumac in your travels, they are all around.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!
 

 

 

Have you seen the new pavilion at Meeks Park?  It was built last year, and I understand it is available for reservations.  When we were there last Tuesday, we noticed this new artwork.  We were walking on the trail, and saw it attached to the building.  So we walked up to get a better look.  

 

It is a group of painted metal sculptures, created and signed by the artist, Al Garnto, and dated 7-27-20.  Each sunflower is about 6 feet tall, and 2 feet wide.    

 

It is SO cheerful!!!!  Go see it, for a smile.  
 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

While I was taking the picture of the Hydrangeas at the church, I saw these shrubs in bloom.  Beautyberry, or Callicarpa.

 

Beautyberry is easy to spot in late summer, when it has clusters of magenta berries all along the stems.  But when I saw it, I noticed that it is just blooming, with some green berries.  Thought you might like to see this stage of its development.  I'll post its picture when the berries turn.  It is really pretty then too.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

Here's how they look from the parking lot.  A single bush is pretty, but mass plantings really say something!! 
 

This picture shows three bushes, each about 10 feet tall.  There are probably 10 bushes in this planting, and there are several others this big in the same area of the parking lot.  They are breathtaking from the road.  And, there's another hedge of these on the four lane in Blairsville, near the McDonald's.  Go see them.
 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

We see these beautiful Hydrangeas at the Methodist church in Blairsville, across from Meeks Park.  They are magnificent!!!  They were probably planted in 2006 when the MAC was built, making them 14 years old.  They are planted in a huge bank, creating a hedge between parking areas.  It's worth the drive to go see them.  

 

I tried to find the species name for you, but what I learned is that there are 70-75 species of Hydrangeas.  And none of the pix looked exactly like these.  
 

Just go see them in Blairsville;  they are wonderful.

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Aralia spinosa, commonly known as devil's walking stick, is a woody species of plant native to eastern North America. The various names refer to the viciously sharp, spiny stems, petioles, and even leaf midribs. It has also been known as Angelica-tree.

 

These are blooming now, and are very conspicuous all along the highways, and in our neighborhood.  They grow 8 to 20 feet tall, along the edges of the woods.  They are easy to spot even at 45 mph, because of the huge pale yellow flower heads.  When you see them, remember where they are located, and go back in the fall to see the fabulous purple berries.  They are so dramatic.  I don't want them in my yard to mow around, but I love seeing them in our travels.  
 

I read that Native people would plant young saplings around their gardens, to grow up to be a thorny hedge.  That would keep out the deer.  ;]~  Maybe...

 

HAPPY GARDENING!!!
 

 

 

 

 

 

I saw this picture last week on Karen's Facebook page.  She told me I could share.

 

WOW!!!  Three babies in their backyard.  Goodness knows, we have too many deer in the neighborhood; but they are so fun to watch.  Especially the babies with springs on their feet.  
 

Remember to drive slowly around the curves;  they don't know about cars yet.

 

HAPPY CRITTER SIGHTING!!!