tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70222168290373182912024-03-15T21:09:45.420-04:00The Buckeye BotanistAndrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.comBlogger193125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-76003355136768094332022-03-27T19:10:00.000-04:002022-03-27T19:10:01.098-04:00Top Ten Life Plants of 2019<p>Resurrection! Spring is a time of rebirth and new life so what better time for The Buckeye Botanist to awaken from his blogging coma. I miss posting on here. I sincerely do. But life always seems to find a way to prevent that perfect combination of free time and energy to actually sit down and catch up on the 101 different posts I'd like to do. C'est la vie...</p><p>In the three years since I last published on here not too much has changed. Which the older I get, the more I like being able to say. My wife and I did buy a house in a small village outside the concrete jungle of Columbus in summer 2020. It fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine to have a yard to call my own and paint with native plants. That's a project forever in progress but it's been very fun and rewarding thus far. Maybe one day I'll be able to do a yard tour themed post on here? We now have two adorable feline children: Leela - a black cat with one eye, and Lily - an adorable tripaw (she's missing her front left leg). I guess we just like cats that aren't physically 100% complete haha. We unexpectedly lost our beloved tuxedo kitty Arya in August 2019 and the loss still pains us to this day but we're so enamored with and thankful to have Leela and Lily in our home. I'm still a field botanist and ecologist with the Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves and am very much looking forward to another field season spent in the depths of Ohio's wilderness. Busy is the theme here: always busy. And as already mentioned this blog was the first thing to be lost in the shuffle. Especially since I do regularly post my adventures and botanical highlights on Instagram or Facebook.</p><p>That all being said let's start catching up by doing the countdown of my top ten life plants from 2019. It's only going on three years later but better late than never, eh? Plus it's a fun way to reminisce on pre-pandemic life and the "before times". This annual post was always the one I managed to get out each year and I have three years to make up for.<br /></p><p>2019 was a botanically exciting year for me. Field work all over the Buckeye state produced some memorable discoveries and lifers. Likewise, family vacations to northern Michigan in July and coastal North Carolina in August produced plenty of action. Finally experiencing the famed Green Swamp and its plethora of orchids, sedges, and carnivorous plants was a treat! As always, I'd love to highlight those trips in blog form someday. Alas...no promises there. I still have trips to Wyoming (2015), Colorado (2016), Lake Superior (2018), Florida (2018/2021), and Michigan's UP (2017/2021) to name a handful that I need to document. Sigh. So without any further delay lets dive into the top ten life plants I encountered during the 2019 growing season. </p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">#10 Pennsylvania Catchfly (<i>Silene caroliniana </i>ssp.<i> pensylvanica</i>)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWf8amn5tgw7nKxmlw53ROEhZUSTQGXaG_KpO6qZ_BE6u8xzCFVOHYS_zgY4RlKeLve5owpn0fCbBsV1wXn8v6q6lyAERPPhm4qMoPPSMNR3zxjhETDFWxn7bGVVK7cx3QXBPo0Pw3k4RW3JHH_2x6y0JW3VlQ-xE-b6cbxsUaLmT7BBQWTitIPJx/s4032/A1.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3013" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLWf8amn5tgw7nKxmlw53ROEhZUSTQGXaG_KpO6qZ_BE6u8xzCFVOHYS_zgY4RlKeLve5owpn0fCbBsV1wXn8v6q6lyAERPPhm4qMoPPSMNR3zxjhETDFWxn7bGVVK7cx3QXBPo0Pw3k4RW3JHH_2x6y0JW3VlQ-xE-b6cbxsUaLmT7BBQWTitIPJx/w478-h640/A1.JPEG" width="478" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Silene caroliniana </i>ssp. <i>pensylvanica </i>bearing more pink-colored flowers</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><br />Life plant #10 takes us the shale region of eastern Ohio in late May. I was in the area doing rare plant monitoring with the Pennsylvania catchfly (<i>Silene caroliniana </i>ssp. <i>pensylvanica</i>) being one of my main targets. It's a very attractive wildflower with its pale pink to white colored flowers and sticky stems and calyces. Also known as Pennsylvania wild pink, it's a state threatened species here in Ohio with most extant populations clustered in Columbiana and Jefferson counties.<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrRKOXkziE9F8zowyNF87ejPb2sCyL7VSRjPUZwjf3llN7GAPieNXim0w7Tue0-RwiStJUKwXN75r06nHVgi2sHOwf3xcDr2N359I-nnwoPgv3ZAXpyzV7yMeM57LOIrYoWvJUQRk_bBawutD_RdCu0jp976ibK7Uy2bJGWy-GTGHNNmabTU92Ms3/s4032/A2.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrRKOXkziE9F8zowyNF87ejPb2sCyL7VSRjPUZwjf3llN7GAPieNXim0w7Tue0-RwiStJUKwXN75r06nHVgi2sHOwf3xcDr2N359I-nnwoPgv3ZAXpyzV7yMeM57LOIrYoWvJUQRk_bBawutD_RdCu0jp976ibK7Uy2bJGWy-GTGHNNmabTU92Ms3/w480-h640/A2.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Silene caroliniana</i> ssp. <i>pensylvanica</i> on a roadside shale bank</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="text-align: left;">I managed to relocate a number of populations that day and took great pleasure in finally seeing this plant that I'd long wanted to. We also have its equally rare kin, Wherry's catchfly (<i>S. caroliniana </i>ssp. <i>wherryi</i>) in Ohio but it has much darker pink flowers, non-glandular hairs on its calyces, and is restricted to south-central Ohio. I've shared that species on here before so feel free to use the "search this blog" tool on the right to check it out.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">#9 Coville's Scorpion-weed (<i>Phacelia covillei</i>)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22M6eHfxqoiyyjw3VXPA6b4H-JoRxirAQdUO40Pwohmx6QXsCZ3A5JhsXuR2--Vto1yLDFqx3a6qMnTZtyKT1NyG8YW5SGkyMW_7pD0AskZ-lr1QM3foYlgcElgp6z3-yWwm2j3ec2QNqc2FZCC0w1RHH14tGvq1IVTvFqEgW1RrEWeHSz72FPWtJ/s2048/B1.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh22M6eHfxqoiyyjw3VXPA6b4H-JoRxirAQdUO40Pwohmx6QXsCZ3A5JhsXuR2--Vto1yLDFqx3a6qMnTZtyKT1NyG8YW5SGkyMW_7pD0AskZ-lr1QM3foYlgcElgp6z3-yWwm2j3ec2QNqc2FZCC0w1RHH14tGvq1IVTvFqEgW1RrEWeHSz72FPWtJ/w480-h640/B1.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Phacelia covillei </i>in flower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />I love the rare, unusual, and inconspicuous in the plant world. 2019 life plant #9 is most certainly all three. In fact, it's so rare, unusual, and inconspicuous, I'll bet few people reading this post have ever even heard of Coville's scorpion-weed (<i>Phacelia covillei</i>) before. It's a globally rare [G3] annual species of the borage family that flowers early in spring before senescing and disappearing by early summer. In fact, my visit to this site in early May had almost all the plants already in fruit and some even beginning to yellow and wither away.<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqm9yqZxeUfaBYsIOhmDLqjHc4oGO0Dc9_yCh0n1nIjjTqoX2oWDhDstG7IWLammKYCgyJ59c7R8YrlY4TytkN66eqHieZl720e_LC-15bWex20l_OjXejgluxn9hoJgBqsnxD0quUOhN2xkydOsGE8vOCetmg_71Pb7jsQdgpnpuKF6PHwHzwd5Qr/s2048/B2.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqm9yqZxeUfaBYsIOhmDLqjHc4oGO0Dc9_yCh0n1nIjjTqoX2oWDhDstG7IWLammKYCgyJ59c7R8YrlY4TytkN66eqHieZl720e_LC-15bWex20l_OjXejgluxn9hoJgBqsnxD0quUOhN2xkydOsGE8vOCetmg_71Pb7jsQdgpnpuKF6PHwHzwd5Qr/w480-h640/B2.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Phacelia covillei</i> in fruit</td></tr></tbody></table><br />In Ohio, Coville's scorpion-weed is only known from a few sites in Lawrence Co. where it grows in mesic valley woodlands, low slopes, and stream terraces. Globally it's only known from about 20 counties in 8 Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states. It's possible this species is overlooked but it's rather unique and unlikely to be overlooked by botanists. Curiously, while rare overall it can be extremely common at a given site. One of the Ohio's populations occupies over a mile of stream valley with millions of plants! At least during a boom year for the site. Coville's scorpion-weed was once synonymous with <i>Phacelia ranunculacea</i>, but research has shown the latter to be a Midwest endemic with genetic/morphological/geographical differences. That's all probably more than you needed or wanted to know about such an unshowy plant but I live for stuff like this. Very cool to finally see this oddity and rarity!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">#8 Cooper's Milk-vetch (<i>Astragalus neglectus</i>)</span></div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwICjC_oDXBe_h14gmJ2V2rKKtoKnd8PqbwI1AVNG0OLtYKNmWqp4l-hCUQ-ShWqU6IwE1z8-3l7YZ1wCYhtBmNVxFvLfE5d4Ia2RG6F7xlYuRpdLvf9wLFzm4XpAPBvJGtprg4K4MUHJkZmDOt8_Cc7wIm3cI08JuNi64ORHJ1KBJP9T81zJGK6Zn/s4032/C1.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwICjC_oDXBe_h14gmJ2V2rKKtoKnd8PqbwI1AVNG0OLtYKNmWqp4l-hCUQ-ShWqU6IwE1z8-3l7YZ1wCYhtBmNVxFvLfE5d4Ia2RG6F7xlYuRpdLvf9wLFzm4XpAPBvJGtprg4K4MUHJkZmDOt8_Cc7wIm3cI08JuNi64ORHJ1KBJP9T81zJGK6Zn/w480-h640/C1.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Astragalus neglectus</i> in flower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Continuing on with my countdown on 2019's top ten life plants is #8 and Cooper's milk-vetch (<i>Astragalus neglectus</i>). You'll notice a theme so far with lifers from Ohio - they're all state-listed rarities. The more time I've spent working and botanizing in Ohio, the fewer new plants there are to encounter. So naturally the rarer, more difficult ones to see dominate those left. And rare Cooper's milk-vetch is! There's only a single known site in the entirety of Ohio, which thankfully is doing quite well. <br /><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QFdZu7vu8XVxz6EfdfAohDhd9x4TfRASCI4S_wgm40KPS6_zn0E9Pj_dhHevQ9vMLT6mfFJ-_VnLWNiuPSn3lLYj4C7HQWaO9gt3rQe0V4O_aW7orRftUaWjg8ChPtRuk0qm5UFt5S9Ri8pZ19GOK7n2vc9qmGESguIE9Y5hRguSKcT3SyI8sYcn/s3629/C2.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3629" data-original-width="2722" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5QFdZu7vu8XVxz6EfdfAohDhd9x4TfRASCI4S_wgm40KPS6_zn0E9Pj_dhHevQ9vMLT6mfFJ-_VnLWNiuPSn3lLYj4C7HQWaO9gt3rQe0V4O_aW7orRftUaWjg8ChPtRuk0qm5UFt5S9Ri8pZ19GOK7n2vc9qmGESguIE9Y5hRguSKcT3SyI8sYcn/w480-h640/C2.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Astragalus neglectus</i> in fruit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Cooper's milk-vetch is actually pretty rare-uncommon throughout its northern range. Its tall nature with pinnately compound leaves and clusters of pea-like cream flowers make it pretty unique among our native flora. The mature inflated fruit pods make it really stand out, too. A fun fact about Ohio's sole site for Cooper's milk-vetch is the state endangered American vetch (<i>Vicia americana</i>) grows side-by-side with it to make the spot extra special.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">#7 Drummond's Rock Cress (<i>Boechera stricta</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAk8N5InvF9Gbya6wz6dsPu8zI13eLGPGkZwCD3yBKgW5s_94MUmwo5owuHD-m2hfSw4AToYDVBa2Kx2qNiqEYpjuOGIH8Jpop6bOZ6nCZELXoGzGnnKRq8ghZVS8Y-hqdbFklXMdF3lnkROC1O5Qeue10Az73bi_tc_IeQdRevFBa4HozzILGSXF/s3870/D1.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3870" data-original-width="2902" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnAk8N5InvF9Gbya6wz6dsPu8zI13eLGPGkZwCD3yBKgW5s_94MUmwo5owuHD-m2hfSw4AToYDVBa2Kx2qNiqEYpjuOGIH8Jpop6bOZ6nCZELXoGzGnnKRq8ghZVS8Y-hqdbFklXMdF3lnkROC1O5Qeue10Az73bi_tc_IeQdRevFBa4HozzILGSXF/w480-h640/D1.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Boechera stricta</i> in fruit along Lake Erie</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">These twig-like plants overlooking Lake Erie may not seem like much but they happen to be one of Ohio's rarest plants and #7 on this countdown. I spent a lovely summer solstice day up on Middle Bass Island surveying the last known site for the critically endangered Drummond's rock cress (<i>Boechera stricta</i>) with little hope of finding it. The mustard had not been seen in Ohio in nearly 20 years with previous surveys ending in failure. Due to this absence the species was set to lapse into "presumed extirpated" status. However! I managed to find a couple dozen plants clinging to existence in a hidden shoreline sanctuary. Botanical bliss! The harsh rocky limestone shorelines of the Erie islands could harbor more of this rare mustard but it's not exactly easy surveying this habitat. Not to mention invasive species and woody vegetation encroachment are serious threats. In the end, I was ecstatic to rediscover this species for Ohio's flora and confirm it still occurs. Finally getting to mark it off my life list was just the cherry on top.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">#6 Clinton's Wood Fern (<i>Dryopteris clintoniana</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvlJk8W7t_RbssWIjjKO2rxLebLo2WBFMM3UF2f5pEwmPOOL6TdR80-Gyuz2N4beuoMGzp4gbQP29d8kRtJUI4MMmFtVXzSX8CILTD9_HIuZeSxkgzX0Ktzav4R1-Fq9tS8rJJUfceimLsPYJ9CykINKYZ_POmB9Zyx1eaxJdSd1EBLPm2HrRTvhl/s4032/E1.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYvlJk8W7t_RbssWIjjKO2rxLebLo2WBFMM3UF2f5pEwmPOOL6TdR80-Gyuz2N4beuoMGzp4gbQP29d8kRtJUI4MMmFtVXzSX8CILTD9_HIuZeSxkgzX0Ktzav4R1-Fq9tS8rJJUfceimLsPYJ9CykINKYZ_POmB9Zyx1eaxJdSd1EBLPm2HrRTvhl/w480-h640/E1.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dryopteris clintoniana</i> growing in a white cedar swamp</td></tr></tbody></table><br />We're hitting the midpoint on this countdown of my top ten life plants of 2019 with #6. We finally move out of Ohio for one of the most surprising and serendipitous finds of the year. I'd been on the hunt for Clinton's wood fern (<i>Dryopteris clintoniana</i>) for the better part of a decade with nothing to show for it. It's an endangered species in Ohio but considerably more common up in Michigan, where I encountered some in a mosquito-filled cedar swamp. It's a fern of hybrid origin between crested wood fern (<i>D. cristata</i>) and Goldie's wood fern (<i>D. goldiana</i>) and definitely looks like an intermediate between the two.<br /><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4j0rcCYi6zY1Ng9F50IWd72WyeaDzkNA7Rz5jtpskfnY6HjSnbcljwrICBa-ijiS-UmVLMe98h0hLM4bAxoIaHapigeouWQLDXu4YIG82tIYIz0VVEPnYqRSD7SFPkh11bQqMPOyGbzw2QM_4pb-EDGvYHJw65YtJqzFn8bO8hoMziT7ECgbVXuuL/s4032/E2.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4j0rcCYi6zY1Ng9F50IWd72WyeaDzkNA7Rz5jtpskfnY6HjSnbcljwrICBa-ijiS-UmVLMe98h0hLM4bAxoIaHapigeouWQLDXu4YIG82tIYIz0VVEPnYqRSD7SFPkh11bQqMPOyGbzw2QM_4pb-EDGvYHJw65YtJqzFn8bO8hoMziT7ECgbVXuuL/w480-h640/E2.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dryopteris clintoniana</i> frond underside and its spore-containing sori</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I was over the moon to stumble into such a significant life fern and finally mark it off my life list. Even the annoyance and blood loss from the mosquitos did little to dampen the excitement of a such a special find. I did finally see Clinton's wood fern in Ohio this past summer while doing surveys in northeastern Ohio, too!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">#5 Southern White Fringed Orchid (<i>Platanthera conspicua</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFS6cpjRMHN-TeXwA_xhWnIoFwZ7-W-LkTDYmTpMR_CjNYpz6ub9BjI6sS_0UUmrljc6EI9KlFr5vI2sqi5Ugy_dryaFnM55cCPira1nVPG36DYc1eiPhfqZeiAp_1Oe92IwTMc801r4msfrhnObDAzXudFXa5x_gC97N7gCo88TGx-q5i9h9X544T/s4032/G1.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFS6cpjRMHN-TeXwA_xhWnIoFwZ7-W-LkTDYmTpMR_CjNYpz6ub9BjI6sS_0UUmrljc6EI9KlFr5vI2sqi5Ugy_dryaFnM55cCPira1nVPG36DYc1eiPhfqZeiAp_1Oe92IwTMc801r4msfrhnObDAzXudFXa5x_gC97N7gCo88TGx-q5i9h9X544T/w480-h640/G1.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Platanthera conspicua</i> in a wet longleaf pine savanna</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div style="text-align: left;">As history will show it's not a true Buckeye Botanist top ten life plant countdown without an orchid appearance. Coming in at #5 is the stunning, the gorgeous, the perfection that is the southern white fringed orchid (<i>Platanthera conspicua</i>). I'd wanted to make acquaintances with this wonder for years and spent may a dreary winter daydreaming of finally doing so. The time finally came in late August 2019 while in coastal North Carolina. I visited a couple sites known to harbor this beauty and was not disappointed!</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vaFvLUgGYsFGjyS4CAzpdP4b2M17jN6j8GR3mJTIcQvZwM9cKfxwAvKaEzBDlL6wWb5zq4woLdcS6wAV1SY9JQtqIXJJ5wff7NzdZ2TIOwqMDSwyNCVeUtWWhbIF6gdS7GszZEGC5R47BWy626zPkD3sTNuyUTSDAKHU-46lfguHuMXFJTSPNYwx/s3789/G2.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3789" data-original-width="2842" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7vaFvLUgGYsFGjyS4CAzpdP4b2M17jN6j8GR3mJTIcQvZwM9cKfxwAvKaEzBDlL6wWb5zq4woLdcS6wAV1SY9JQtqIXJJ5wff7NzdZ2TIOwqMDSwyNCVeUtWWhbIF6gdS7GszZEGC5R47BWy626zPkD3sTNuyUTSDAKHU-46lfguHuMXFJTSPNYwx/w480-h640/G2.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Platanthera conspicua</i> in picture perfect flower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Southern white fringed orchid is very similar to its close kin the northern white fringed orchid (<i>P. blephariglottis</i>), and sometimes considered a variety of it. However, after seeing it in person it definitely felt like its own entity. The plants were considerably larger with the flowers bearing long arching nectar spurs. I had the pleasure of seeing this orchid again in the Florida panhandle's Apalachicola National Forest in August 2021 and was wowed all over again. Hope to post on that trip one of these years...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">#4 Spreading Rock Cress (<i>Arabis patens</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHvBXnzV9_SU2aBiiS5ptVw6M41ajO460V-jvs0AM-0nQ2cgRHC5v9wQsXQ5bU_yLeCkhMzSz8MutOkYjltWhctVqxb5spHbWOO5Spp36wuvujJ92reg-eGQKL-lC7Rt1CymVs33PRa38aGhUyNNfrIZKPJYpMsrdgO9BA9X5LrsjbCJlcOfAlX-H/s4032/F1.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyHvBXnzV9_SU2aBiiS5ptVw6M41ajO460V-jvs0AM-0nQ2cgRHC5v9wQsXQ5bU_yLeCkhMzSz8MutOkYjltWhctVqxb5spHbWOO5Spp36wuvujJ92reg-eGQKL-lC7Rt1CymVs33PRa38aGhUyNNfrIZKPJYpMsrdgO9BA9X5LrsjbCJlcOfAlX-H/w480-h640/F1.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Arabis patens</i> in its typical limestone ravine habitat</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Coming in at #4 is the globally rare spreading rock cress (<i>Arabis patens</i>). This ever-disappearing wildflower is an endangered species here in Ohio, where it's only known from a precious few limestone ravines along a small stretch of the Scioto River. Spreading rock cress has special ties to the Buckeye state as it was first discovered and described to science from Ohio plants by William Starling Sullivant back in 1842. This mustard has an affinity for sheer limestone rock faces and walls where human disturbance and invasive species are wrecking havoc and causing its decline.<br /><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjAnHC_esF5Uojbr_rcBul0BisLBShW2-8GZcnbPFFipFfR21Ij3a9_2TkxRYIz7oB1sUyw2qPzJ1QvScj9_hmZLqKXpoDVxHlZOhp9Ay_my9ulvJ_R15-nr1pIBLYosmAsnUDbKgYNIeBnCF8W4hBMr9CcCyPTDkHZq2Xz2yzi0B9JGGLTip8z2p/s4032/F2.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVjAnHC_esF5Uojbr_rcBul0BisLBShW2-8GZcnbPFFipFfR21Ij3a9_2TkxRYIz7oB1sUyw2qPzJ1QvScj9_hmZLqKXpoDVxHlZOhp9Ay_my9ulvJ_R15-nr1pIBLYosmAsnUDbKgYNIeBnCF8W4hBMr9CcCyPTDkHZq2Xz2yzi0B9JGGLTip8z2p/w480-h640/F2.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Arabis patens</i> in flower</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div style="text-align: left;">I spent some time in spring 2019 surveying the last handful of known Ohio sites and had mixed results. Nonetheless, some was relocated and allowed me to finally get the chance to see this charming little rock cress. Even better was discovering a previously unknown population at a site where the local park district had removed bush honeysuckle and garlic mustard in the previous couple years. The management allowed for the spreading rock cress to spring from the seed bank and was luckily in flower and easily noticed. A good reminder the positive results that can come from invasive species removal and proper eco management!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">#3 Northern Monkshood (<i>Aconitum noveboracense</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7K1VZfgCLjCoIIM7NIf42y-2G-PdxPjqwDQXF8CLFkVoi-E3uGh137wJmbP_GOhG166p7j9jJSWMk1PM5LKg_sdtTI3-ZBwPDjGMK9K8CCT7IU0gfF1wDDJmjW517kfp-ODyIOgvihJzAMEd9_x9EJP4k_BPZN7IXaKt7WEb-mtmCv1ElGs0FxwD/s4032/H2.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis7K1VZfgCLjCoIIM7NIf42y-2G-PdxPjqwDQXF8CLFkVoi-E3uGh137wJmbP_GOhG166p7j9jJSWMk1PM5LKg_sdtTI3-ZBwPDjGMK9K8CCT7IU0gfF1wDDJmjW517kfp-ODyIOgvihJzAMEd9_x9EJP4k_BPZN7IXaKt7WEb-mtmCv1ElGs0FxwD/w480-h640/H2.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Aconitum noveboracense</i> in its seepy sandstone ledge habitat</td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Ohio is home to five species of plants that are federally listed as threatened. These aren't just rare and in trouble here in Ohio, but everywhere they occur. The fifth and final Ohio species I needed to see comes in at #3 on our 2019 countdown. The northern monkshood (<i>Aconitum noveboracense</i>) is a remarkable plant and to put it simply a real looker. It's unique habitat niche of seeps, talus slopes, and rock shelters in cool, deep sandstone gorges makes it all the more interesting a plant. This member of Ranunculaceae is only known from a literal few sites in Ohio and New York, as well as the driftless region of Iowa and Wisconsin where it occupies an equally rare and fascinating habitat of algific talus slopes (look them up - so cool!).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPzEHuF3bYFld92-F6Qy3fQyZmBJeh1wo_zaSbc8ysFPL2ZCJE-3sq7Al2St947zZd28nO9hEWkZNIt46mMAoShTQxboViv9HqUaI1BGkV6lidjt7HzgkssM4oeNc6_EaXunXMQg7noMb93vGlBGMBZapjzIhKS2_KR-Zx4SEzKNynmVAQa13D1UZ/s4032/H1.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdPzEHuF3bYFld92-F6Qy3fQyZmBJeh1wo_zaSbc8ysFPL2ZCJE-3sq7Al2St947zZd28nO9hEWkZNIt46mMAoShTQxboViv9HqUaI1BGkV6lidjt7HzgkssM4oeNc6_EaXunXMQg7noMb93vGlBGMBZapjzIhKS2_KR-Zx4SEzKNynmVAQa13D1UZ/w480-h640/H1.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Aconitum noveboracense</i> in peak flower in early August</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">There's long been taxonomic debate about whether this <i>Aconitum</i> is truly its own entity or rather a disjunct subspecies of the Mountain West's <i>A. columbianum</i>. Its habitat choice tends to support the idea our eastern occurrences may be small pockets of glacial refugia of the western taxon. Regardless, it's a plant that's as beautiful as it is rare and a very special part of Ohio's flora. I was honored to finally have encountered the northern monkshood at one of its last Ohio sites during an annual monitoring survey back in August 2019.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">#2 Yellow Fringeless Orchid (<i>Platanthera integra</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1M0qMFhlC-0XHJW9NOJ3jEWUdwOuopF62Ue7o3LEjtIy3fQdgDMSIDztmakYEhxIve_Tru_cqlOEejgJ7LwPZCR5IOGpoWy3YFsXqsOIPBpnroNOq_es55QxftwfqJ6w8hZZ13YwabHVS5p_w2D18THKzbNIppN6wjsYmMKEhq7JtiWgC7F6F6EF/s4032/I2.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-1M0qMFhlC-0XHJW9NOJ3jEWUdwOuopF62Ue7o3LEjtIy3fQdgDMSIDztmakYEhxIve_Tru_cqlOEejgJ7LwPZCR5IOGpoWy3YFsXqsOIPBpnroNOq_es55QxftwfqJ6w8hZZ13YwabHVS5p_w2D18THKzbNIppN6wjsYmMKEhq7JtiWgC7F6F6EF/w480-h640/I2.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Platanthera integra</i> flowering in a pristine longleaf pine savanna</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">We're down to the penultimate life plant of 2019 and this is a wildflower that no photo could ever do proper justice of. Its diminutive size and brilliant orange-yellow coloration just cannot be replicated in two dimensions on your computer or phone screen. Yellow fringeless orchid (<i>Platanthera integra</i>) is a globally rare species essentially endemic to the Southeast's coastal plain where it predominately occurs in open pine savanna habitat. The longleaf pine savanna I was in back in late August 2019 had literal hundreds of this orchid in bloom where they glowed like beacons above the endless display of wiregrass (<i>Aristida stricta</i>).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSywE0O3s39sLHFAIbu_VLo8ADKzSUAUW1nkIgYv70J3xCnJwV2HUKuX75yyWTnhCFB2B5OSHlCo9kxAE3Op0UiGWrKppdOVGkAzf6JESvzs2_y5mzt6x4XGdxEKhEsqQLBm_b0kNdjq425X_IEf9CMKMl0z2yx43N-txeBkHOTAruI13XdM-barJm/s4032/I1.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSywE0O3s39sLHFAIbu_VLo8ADKzSUAUW1nkIgYv70J3xCnJwV2HUKuX75yyWTnhCFB2B5OSHlCo9kxAE3Op0UiGWrKppdOVGkAzf6JESvzs2_y5mzt6x4XGdxEKhEsqQLBm_b0kNdjq425X_IEf9CMKMl0z2yx43N-txeBkHOTAruI13XdM-barJm/w480-h640/I1.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A trio of <i>Platanthera integra</i> under the longleaf pines</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I couldn't believe their unique shade of yellow-orange and how tiny these orchids were. Simply magnificent and well worth the long wait (and drive) to finally come face to face with such a marvelous wildflower. I chanced upon the yellow fringeless orchid at a number of sites in Apalachicola National Forest in 2021, too, and was just as mesmerized the second time around. Just an ineffably wonderful orchid!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">#1 Black-stemmed Spleenwort (<i>Asplenium resiliens</i>)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBmZ5NmpFA4xNDk8xzSE0DUOEEDD2KPelPxUaaAs0YxtElu8anOG3X8LHaCvOqGCAtHSAiaT-u5_G30VTPQX4y1jztNbpQzw9v9lgxcEKV6k9i3rZUI2D_TsmQWJ1HN4DpgZqmCb4FKkzJWjLda_2DCYHtMuIL8wZ83DsmIslTIu9WW-KqfJr5bud/s4032/J1.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBmZ5NmpFA4xNDk8xzSE0DUOEEDD2KPelPxUaaAs0YxtElu8anOG3X8LHaCvOqGCAtHSAiaT-u5_G30VTPQX4y1jztNbpQzw9v9lgxcEKV6k9i3rZUI2D_TsmQWJ1HN4DpgZqmCb4FKkzJWjLda_2DCYHtMuIL8wZ83DsmIslTIu9WW-KqfJr5bud/w480-h640/J1.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Asplenium resiliens</i> growing out of some exposed limestone bedrock</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;">When putting together my annual list of the top ten life plants I encountered that year it can be quite the challenge to figure out the order. Except when it comes to number one. There's usually that one plant that blows everything else out of the water. And 2019's life plant numero uno is undoubtedly seeing black-stemmed spleenwort (<i>Asplenium resiliens</i>)! It wasn't just seeing this species for the first time BUT seeing it in Ohio that made it so memorable. This fern was collected/seen once(!) in Ohio back in 1900 and never seen again and not for a lack of looking...<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_DsJx3i5sNq2RhqKcT3Foosj9u1GUyK1mn56N9awBOuR-24R-iUHuBHdmMA6tirpU7gH9TzVNh4gAKtAtPZFvwOEyQEl0gQocEsBSN0AMA-1ra_UA45x417Co19w4_TZrXEg0sII2v04CYKTbPcPOfNBk63qj2p5nqtOtZn8bMoVVm0KiqiUwzqY/s4032/J2.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix_DsJx3i5sNq2RhqKcT3Foosj9u1GUyK1mn56N9awBOuR-24R-iUHuBHdmMA6tirpU7gH9TzVNh4gAKtAtPZFvwOEyQEl0gQocEsBSN0AMA-1ra_UA45x417Co19w4_TZrXEg0sII2v04CYKTbPcPOfNBk63qj2p5nqtOtZn8bMoVVm0KiqiUwzqY/w480-h640/J2.JPEG" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fresh and new fronds of <i>Asplenium resiliens</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Then in early spring 2019 a few friends of mine said they were going to go looking for the black-stemmed spleenwort. I told them the general area of Adams Co. where it had been collected and suggested a couple spots to look and said "good luck". So off Hannah, Shaun, and Josh went along some limestone cliffs and bluffs overlooking the Ohio River valley...and they found some. I was shocked and beyond excited! We went out to the site later in spring so i could see this mega lifer for myself and sure enough - there it was. What an incredible find for Ohio's flora to have a native fern brought back from the "dead" after 119 years. I suspect it may be hiding somewhere else in the vicinity but recent additional surveys have turned up nothing. Yet. So for now we'll cherish the handful of plants that are clinging to some limestone rock in southernmost Ohio...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Well, there we have it. My top ten life plants from the 2019 growing season. A bit overdue even if I do say so myself! I hope everyone has enjoyed the countdown and I'd love to hear from any readers...are there any left? Have y'all abandoned hope I'd ever be back haha?...on what your favorite(s) were. I really hope to be back soon with 2020 and 2021's edition and other content. It honestly felt good to hear the keyboard keys clack once more and remember how to format and do one of these blog posts. I have so much respect and admiration for my friends who still churn out consistent content on their Blogspots. Wish I had the same effort and determination as you.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Hope everyone has a wonderful spring and is staying healthy and happy out there. Happy botanizing!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">~ALG~</div>Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-65905288020148443082019-02-22T17:06:00.001-05:002019-02-22T17:27:02.997-05:00Top Ten Life Plants of 2018Hello? Tap, tap, tap...this thing on? Whew, it's been a minute since I've been on here. Just over a year, actually. Definitely the longest hiatus since this blog's inception back in the fall of 2010. Speaking of which, I can't believe its been eight years since I sat down and wrote my first post. It seems so much shorter and longer ago at the same time. Weird how time works isn't it?<br />
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A quick update on things before we dive into the subject matter at hand. First off, I got married to my long time partner, Kara early last year! Definitely the highlight of 2018 for me! We also moved to Columbus this past summer after nearly a decade of living down in the rolling hills of southeast Ohio. I miss the Athens area and all my favorite haunts but it's nice to be centralized and enjoying my own office in the ODNR headquarters in town. Happy to report I'm still working as a field botanist and ecologist for the Ohio Division of Natural Areas & Preserves and loving most every minute of it. That pretty much catches you, my ever-patient and faithful readers (I mean, how many of you are actually left these days anyways haha?) up on the major happenings in the Buckeye Botanist's life.<br />
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I'd also like to take this time to dedicate this post to Keith Board, a good friend of mine and spirited fan of my writing and photography. Keith passed away last month after an extended illness. He was only 58. Keith was a sensational and accomplished botanist and naturalist in the northern Indiana and Chicago region and he will be greatly missed by countless individuals who's lives he touched. He was the most positive and encouraging person you could hope to know. Rest in peace, Keith.<br />
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Back to business. It's that time again to sit down and write up what's come to be a yearly favorite of mine and a post I'll always make time for: this past year's top ten life plants! It's a wonderful way to reminisce on a growing season's worth of discovery and adventure and 2018 had plenty.<br />
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2018 was an eventful year with exciting happenings both in my home state of Ohio and outside her borders. My aforementioned work kept me busier than ever with some noteworthy discoveries that I certainly hope to share on here one day. I also made treks down to the Florida panhandle back in early May, as well as a once-in-a-lifetime loop trip around the entirety of Lake Superior in July! I'd love to document both excursions, especially the Superior trip in blog form one day, too. Both adventures provided countless unforgettable botanical moments and finds. Honestly, all ten species you'll see below come from those two forays. I made acquaintances with my fair share of new Ohio flora this year but none managed to make the list this time around. All this made for the most difficult top ten list I've had to put together in the 4-5 years I've been doing this post.<br />
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All that being said let's begin the countdown of my favorite life plants from a memorable spring, summer, and fall of botanizing throughout eastern North America...<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>#10 <u>"Red" Yellow Pitcher Plant (<i>Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora</i>)</u></b></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Longleaf Pine savanna community near Sumatra, Florida</td></tr>
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2018 life plant #10 takes us down to Apalachicola National Forest on the Florida panhandle. My wife and I took a belated honeymoon down to the beach in early May for a week of lazy cocktail drinking and seafood eating. However, she knows who she married and I had to get out into the wild from time to time; she was even a good enough sport to come with one day! In one particular longleaf pine savanna community was an extra diverse display of flora and home to plant #10...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Sarracenia flava </i>var. <i>rubricorpora</i></td></tr>
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I love any and all of North America's native pitcher plants but there's something about this very rare and beautiful red form of the yellow pitcher plant (<i>Sarracenia flava </i>var. <i>rubricorpora</i>) that really speaks to me. Legend has it this unique color morph only occurs in the wild on the Florida panhandle. It's a highly sought-after variety in the carnivorous plant trade, which makes seeing it actually out in the wild an extra special thing. I'd had the luck of seeing typical yellow pitcher plants on several occasions, including countless times on this trip but these blood red beauties stole the show!<br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>#9 <u>Cahaba Paintbrush (<i>Castilleja kraliana</i>) &</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Alabama Pinkroot (<i>Spigelia alabamensis</i>)</u></b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ketona Dolostone glades of the Bibb County Glades in central Alabama</td></tr>
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2018 life plant(s) #9 take us to a quick stop in central Alabama to see a site I've drooled over for many years. The famed Bibb County Glades deserve and will get their own dedicated post one day but for now this very brief introduction and appetizer will have to do. This fascinating habitat sits on a unique form of dolostone that is extra pure and allowed for some remarkable plant evolution to take place. In fact, eight species of plants to be found in these glade complexes occur nowhere else in the world! Two of which are featured below. And, no, I couldn't decide on just one.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cahaba Paintbrush (<i>Castilleja kraliana</i>) G2</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJbItv18a5U5m1WFrYI7NIVD3GlXwHDvmYsVH4VVLLxg8XbatR9uoiC46am7DCexTOmAWL8FIZGuN393qFtZ_BselKPg8xJbokCdO_lq9GZTc9m6bp2Qt6gt3guJ9ixvqJn908auVHTg/s1600/IMG_7401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJbItv18a5U5m1WFrYI7NIVD3GlXwHDvmYsVH4VVLLxg8XbatR9uoiC46am7DCexTOmAWL8FIZGuN393qFtZ_BselKPg8xJbokCdO_lq9GZTc9m6bp2Qt6gt3guJ9ixvqJn908auVHTg/s640/IMG_7401.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alabama Pinkroot (<i>Spigelia alabamensis</i>) G1</td></tr>
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Kara and I stopped at the Bibb County Glades on our way down to Florida to check things out, even if for only a precious and hurried few hours. We managed to catch a number of things either still hanging on or just starting to bloom as the season transitioned from spring to summer. That included the two endemics featured here. On the left is Cahaba paintbrush (<i>Castilleja kraliana</i>). It's closely related to the widespread scarlet paintbrush (<i>C. coccinea</i>) but diverged from it in this unique scenario and developed different pollinator/pollen vectors due to its changes in bract coloration. On the right is Alabama pinkroot (<i>Spigelia alabamensis</i>), and perhaps the glade's most famous denizen. Like the paintbrush, it evolved in this specialized habitat and only occurs in these glades and nowhere else on Earth. It was just starting to bloom and open its corollas during our visit. If it looks vaguely familiar to you it may be because you saw it on the side of a U-Haul truck! Can't say any other plant I'll feature on this blog has that same distinction. I saw so, so much more in these glades and will share it all in their own post one day. Hopefully...<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">#8 <u>Coastal Plain Spreading Pogonia (<i style="text-decoration-line: underline;">Cleistesiopsis oricamporum</i>)</u></span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coastal Plain Spreading Pogonia (<i>Cleistesiopsis oricamporum</i>)</td></tr>
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It wouldn't be a proper "top ten life plants" countdown without an orchid's first appearance. And if you know me even a little bit you'll also know this is hardly the last orchid that will appear on this list. Coming in at #8 is the coastal plain spreading pogonia (<i>Cleistesiopsis oricamporum</i>). It's another Florida panhandle discovery but the last time we'll be in this amazing botanical paradise on this countdown.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHawPzJomc_HsDTPpelCGXlRo9pq7f_1LNzwVNddMwxRClK7SkkwV-P6BCHnThB125wRyxa7P3Z5LtyPyBQJx55_SZLggqYlmjVq5HfXUSvE_LtWcnD-_7KfBgqdf1uYDrxI-cYx1z07s/s1600/IMG_7494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHawPzJomc_HsDTPpelCGXlRo9pq7f_1LNzwVNddMwxRClK7SkkwV-P6BCHnThB125wRyxa7P3Z5LtyPyBQJx55_SZLggqYlmjVq5HfXUSvE_LtWcnD-_7KfBgqdf1uYDrxI-cYx1z07s/s640/IMG_7494.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coastal Plain Spreading Pogonia (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cleistesiopsis oricamporum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAr6P4cSCXxxo5zuzDAcuWir0e6_3YInK4baSV-4iZUjNa7lYcdB2xIp__hW-irrjnx9johaQ52oIGJE_InNCmfRa81BFrFjH4JxzU4o2C-MeXhIIZoMpmdH2nWJGyXNhH-zRtq9X99HU/s1600/IMG_7836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAr6P4cSCXxxo5zuzDAcuWir0e6_3YInK4baSV-4iZUjNa7lYcdB2xIp__hW-irrjnx9johaQ52oIGJE_InNCmfRa81BFrFjH4JxzU4o2C-MeXhIIZoMpmdH2nWJGyXNhH-zRtq9X99HU/s640/IMG_7836.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coastal Plain Spreading Pogonia (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cleistesiopsis oricamporum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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If I had a dollar for every one of these orchids I saw in the open longleaf pine savanna communities I was botanizing in, I'd be retiring much earlier than planned. They were quite common and an especially nice find when growing in large colonies of pitcher plants, as seen in the above left photo. An additional wow factor from this orchid was its deliciously sweet fragrance that was reminiscent of vanilla to my nose.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">#7 <u>Intermediate Sedge (<i>Carex media</i>)</u></span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Intermediate Sedge (<i>Carex media</i>) on the rocky north shore of Lake Superior</td></tr>
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If orchids are my favorite plants then it would only be right to have #7 represent my other favorite plant family: the sedges! On my incredible Lake Superior loop trip we came across well over 100 species of sedge, quite a few of which were lifers that I'd never seen before. The best and most anticipated of all was this little fella. The intermediate sedge (<i>Carex media</i>) is a circumboreal species found throughout the northern hemisphere but quite the rarity as far south as the northern shorelines of Lake Superior. Yes, you heard that right. This plant considers that to be the "south".</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closeup view of the fruiting spike of intermediate sedge (<i>Carex media</i>)</td></tr>
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Intermediate sedge was the number one Cyperaceae life species I wanted to come across. Our group managed to cross it off the list on the precarious rocky shorelines of Superior in the Grand Marais, Minnesota region. It's a dainty thing but has a lot of charm and character in its light green coloration contrasted by dark pistillate scales. It reminds me of a micro version of Buxbaum's sedge (<i>C. buxbaumii</i>), which happens to be one of my most beloved sedges. This one may not make many other folk's top life plant list but it was a no-brainer for me!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>#6 <u>Common Moonwort (<i>Botrychium lunaria</i>)</u></b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Moonwort (<i>Botrychium lunaria</i>)</td></tr>
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Much like orchids and sedges, this countdown wouldn't be complete without a fern making an appearance. No fern made a bigger splash with me in 2018 than #6 and the common moonwort (<i>Botrychium lunaria</i>). When it comes to moonworts you're dealing with tiny plants and endless frustration. They are a painfully difficult group to get a handle on due to so many looking so similar to one another. However, the common moonwort stands out with its unique crescent moon-like leaves on the tropophore (sterile blade).</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJyL0pXFt2wtrUzljBOQvs6BuKMmTtH_ZNHhDs55lXVg54HNxPQ02L5FDNR8maB3UajCAUfFS4AeKy07yuNinTtbMPEL8HhK5ZIsq4FPxb3ZiJRo6TVwOcc7UyMdvh5Y0fL1lhM0rfxY/s1600/IMG_0492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1199" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIJyL0pXFt2wtrUzljBOQvs6BuKMmTtH_ZNHhDs55lXVg54HNxPQ02L5FDNR8maB3UajCAUfFS4AeKy07yuNinTtbMPEL8HhK5ZIsq4FPxb3ZiJRo6TVwOcc7UyMdvh5Y0fL1lhM0rfxY/s640/IMG_0492.JPG" width="479" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Moonwort (<i>Botrychium lunaria</i>)</td></tr>
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Speaking of small, I think the photo above with one of these moonworts framed against my hand shows just how tiny we're talking here. The common moonwort is found throughout the world but is most frequent in the northern latitudes. Our Lake Superior crew came across this moonwort and 2-4 other species in a sterile, sandy habitat along an old railroad up on the north shore. The exact number and identity of all the moonworts we found at this spot remains unknown and very aggravating!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>#5 <u>Oval-leaved Milkweed (<i>Asclepias ovalifolia</i>)</u></b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oval-leaved Milkweed (<i>Asclepias ovalifolia</i>)</td></tr>
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We've reached the halfway point on my countdown of 2018's top ten life plants. I hope you've enjoyed the list thus far. It's only going to get more interesting and aesthetic from here, at least in my opinion. Dropping in at #5 on the list is the oval-leaved or dwarf milkweed (<i>Asclepias ovalifolia</i>). Not to sound like a broken record or someone who loves everything but the milkweeds are another group that hold a special place in my heart. This species was the prime target during a stop at a sand barrens community in northern Wisconsin, where this milkweed is getting to be exceedingly rare.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closer look at the flowers of the Oval-leaved Milkweed (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Asclepias ovalifolia</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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The sand barrens we visited and thankfully found our target in has an interesting recent story. It resides on state land and was planted to red pine several decades ago for future timber. As the pines came in they shaded out the barrens flora and pushed them into the seed bank. Flash forward to a handful of years ago and the state logged this pine plantation and opened the habitat back up. With the sudden lack of suppression from the pines the barrens flora, including this milkweed sprang forth and had their day in the sun once more. Unfortunately, the site has been replanted to pine and the milkweeds and other sun-loving plants are once again getting pushed back.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>#4 <u>Encrusted Saxifrage (<i>Saxifraga paniculata</i>)</u></b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Encrusted saxifrage (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Saxifraga paniculata</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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When I first laid eyes upon #4 I knew I was witnessing a remarkable plant. I'd never even heard of encrusted saxifrage (<i>Saxifraga paniculata</i>) before but was instantly taken by its beauty and tenacious nature. This stunning wildflower is an alpine and subarctic specialist that barely makes it far south enough to occur along the rugged, unforgiving north shore of Lake Superior. It's much more common in NE Canada, as well as in Greenland, Iceland, and Norway. That's one tough plant!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Succulent-like basal leaves of encrusted saxifrage (<i>Saxifraga paniculata</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGqUmMaNkxb3B2_06VSXYyQIOYw6W6Rff3sZrsnxdgiM-NGGhmjkvBKSjTzl2K1nenNduDKkimHBIuAfgV-WGVGqkEyXvVpxeYM1F_MwDGy0xPX22E-MYQ2kICqaQdoeMlflyTZWyvCs/s1600/IMG_0316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSGqUmMaNkxb3B2_06VSXYyQIOYw6W6Rff3sZrsnxdgiM-NGGhmjkvBKSjTzl2K1nenNduDKkimHBIuAfgV-WGVGqkEyXvVpxeYM1F_MwDGy0xPX22E-MYQ2kICqaQdoeMlflyTZWyvCs/s640/IMG_0316.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Encrusted saxifrage (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Saxifraga paniculata</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">) on its rocky shoreline home </span></td></tr>
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The fleshy, off-white colored petals of their flowers are delicately polka-dotted with black flecks and the first thing that drew my attention. However, it was their succulent-like basal rosettes growing right off the rocks that won me over. The tips are tinged white from their pores secreting lime taken in from their calcareous substrate, hence the name 'encrusted'. I'm amazed they survive the brutally cold and ice-covered winters on their shoreline habitat but life always finds a way!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>#3 <u>Cahaba Lily (<i>Hymenocallis coronaria</i>)</u></b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cahaba Lily or Shoals Spider-lily (<i>Hymenocallis coronaria</i>)</td></tr>
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We're down to the final three most meaningful finds and they all bring back very fond memories. At #3 is the globally rare Cahaba lily or shoals spider-lily (<i>Hymenocallis coronaria</i>). This was another stop of Kara and I's on our way down to the Florida panhandle and fortuitously very close to the Bibb County Glades. These wonders occur in the shallow flats of the Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge and were just starting to bloom during our visit. A month or so later and countless thousands bloom en mass at this location.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cahaba Lily or Shoals Spider-lily (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hymenocallis coronaria</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cahaba Lily or Shoals Spider-lily (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hymenocallis coronaria</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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Getting out to the lilies was a bit treacherous and involved careful wading. The rocks were slick as snot and the deeper channels acted as a maze I had to solve. Kara was fine with admiring them from the shorelines and was waiting for me to slip and fall in the river haha. The Cahaba lily is only known from few watersheds in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina where it has severely declined due to dam construction flooding out its required specific habitat. I certainly hope to get back down to see this wildflower at its peak one day but I'll settle for the blooms I did see without complaint for now!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">#1B <u>Small Round-leaved Orchid (<i>Amerorchis rotundifolia</i>)</u></span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small Round-leaved Orchid (<i>Amerorchis rotundifolia</i>)</td></tr>
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I'll right off the bat say that the final two plants on this list are interchangeable. There's no real way I could decide between the two and finally seeing both with my own two eyes meant everything to me plant-wise in 2018. That being said at #1B is the mythical, the magical, the marvelous small round-leaved orchid (<i>Amerorchis rotundifolia</i>). I've been chasing wild orchids for almost a decade now and seen 90+ of North America's native species but this one...this was one of my holy grails. One I'd spent hours daydreaming about seeing. So when this Lake Superior trip was put together this was near or at the top of everyone's list. I'll be sharing and detailing a lot more about this species when I do my Superior series as there's a lot more than meets the eye about this spot and orchid...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small Round-leaved Orchid (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Amerorchis rotundifolia</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small Round-leaved Orchid (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Amerorchis rotundifolia</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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I finally made acquaintances with this long desired orchid within the depths of a secluded rich cedar swamp in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, Ontario. There, our group came across hundreds in perfect flower and it was like being in a lucid dream. We'd found them the day before at a site further north and inland but the recent heat wave had cooked them and they were well past prime shape. Fortunately, Lake Superior acts as a refrigerator around the Sibley Peninsula and kept the orchids at this site in perfect shape for our visit! They were simply unbelievable and the long, slow-moving bushwhack to see them along with the liter of blood I lost to the black flies, deer flies, and mosquitoes was completely worth it. Words fail me how excited I was to witness this rarity of the northern woods.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">#1A <u>Sparrow's Egg Lady's Slipper (<i>Cypripedium passerinum</i>)</u></span></b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sparrow's Egg Lady's Slipper (<i>Cypripedium passerinum</i>)</td></tr>
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And then there was one. We've come at last to my number one life plant of 2018 and, of course it's another orchid. In fact, every year but last year (2017) the top spot has gone to one of my beloved orchids. My Lake Superior loop trip gave me more botanical bliss than any trip I've been on before and its greatest gift of all was the sparrow's egg lady's slipper (<i>Cypripedium passerinum</i>). It's a tiny little plant with the delicate slipper about the size of its namesake sparrow egg. It also goes by the common names of Franklin's or spotted lady's slipper.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sparrow's Egg Lady's Slipper (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cypripedium passerinum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sparrow's Egg Lady's Slipper (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cypripedium passerinum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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Within Pukaskwa National Park on Ontario's north shore they grew in scattered clumps on the mossy, juniper-covered stabilized dunes under pine/spruce a ways back from the active shoreline. The cool, refrigerator-like air coming off Superior helps provide a microclimate for this northern disjunct arctic orchid and how they've managed to persist so far south. This is more or less the only spot in the entire Great Lakes region this orchid still occurs. You have to travel hundreds of miles north and/or west to find them again. Interestingly, the sparrow's egg lady's slipper is self-pollinating (see: autogamous), which is unusual for a Cypripedium. You can see the ovaries already swelling/maturing with the flowers in peak shape in the accompanying photos. The photo above right shows just how miniscule the slippers and plants are! It's such an incredible orchid and one that brought long-awaited tears of joy to my eyes. I can still months later hardly believe I got the opportunity to witness their perfection in such a special place.</div>
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I hope you've enjoyed this look back on my favorite finds and life plants of 2018. I'll be curious to hear from you all on which ones were your favorites; species you have on your life lists; or experiences with them yourselves. I hope I've warmed your spirit and computer screens even a little bit as Ohio's winter trudges on. Spring is nigh, though! I heard my first red-winged blackbird singing yesterday and already seen skunk cabbage in bloom. Thanks for tuning in and reading and I hope to be back with more content in 2019!</div>
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~ ALG ~</div>
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Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-26107097855793619412018-02-18T15:04:00.001-05:002018-02-20T17:07:28.533-05:00The Asplenium Ferns of OhioThe world of ferns is diverse and ancient. Many of these spore-producing wonders are living fossils and have remained relatively unchanged over millions of years. They've found their place and function in nature and are content to sit back and admire their successes at this point. Or, at least that's how I like to romanticize it. Ferns also happen to be some of my favorite plants but for whatever reason have seen little time dedicated to them on here. I believe that's due for a change.<br />
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It's been a while since I last focused on a specific genera of Ohio native plants, too. So why not mix things up and spend some time in the pteridophyte zone and break down the seven extant species of spleenworts (<i>Asplenium</i>) indigenous to my home state. The Aspleniums are arguably my most beloved of all fern genera and can superficially look similar from a distance and even up close. They aren't a hard group to get wrap your mind around with a little help and practice. Which is why I'm here!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The seven extant species of spleenwort (<i>Asplenium spp.</i>) ferns to be found in Ohio</td></tr>
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Worldwide there are hundreds of species of Asplenium, with a large majority of them restricted to the tropical regions of the globe. Here in North America we have 28-30 different species and only seven within Ohio's borders. All our spleenworts are small, delicate ferns with slender and somewhat lacy appearances. They also happen to be a promiscuous bunch with many naturally-occurring hybrids. In fact, many of the 'species' we have today are hybrid in origin. Through the millennia the sterile diploid hybrids experienced a doubling of their chromosomes to create fertile allotetraploids. An example is lobed spleenwort (<i>A. pinnatifidum</i>), an allotertraploid derived from the mixing of mountain spleenwort (<i>A. montanum</i>) and walking fern (<i>A. rhizophyllum</i>). I could spend an entire post on this fascinating, and admittedly complex process but let's keep things simple.</div>
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All Ohio Asplenium are more or less evergreen. They hang around through the winter months but don't look near as aesthetic or ideal in the harsher conditions. Don't be fooled though: these ferns are tough as nails! They have a tenacity and fight in them that's to be admired, for they choose some harrowing places to live.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical habitat for many species of Ohio spleenwort</td></tr>
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When it comes to hunting spleenworts around here your best bet is to find some nice rock exposures in the S/SE/E sections of the state. The greatest spleenwort diversity and densities in Ohio are definitely in the unglaciated SE quarter. Almost all our species are rock specialists and will only be found growing in pretty predictable and specific situations. Some of these ferns prefer non-calcareous substrates like acidic sandstone, granite, or shale. Others stick to calcareous rocks and are restricted to the state's limestone regions. They occur in full sun to partly shaded conditions, with some preferring more mossy, mesic spots to others growing literally out of tight crevices and cracks in pure rock. I'll discuss each spleenwort's specific preferences in their profiles below.</div>
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For as tough as they all, they're still non-mobile organisms that can't get up and move if a spot becomes unsuitable. So when you're looking for these wonderful ferns try to find a more secluded and/or undisturbed rock habitat to visually scour. Rock climbing, popular hiking destinations with rude plucking fingers, and overly exposed areas typically have fewer ferns to admire. You'll know you're somewhere special when a rock face is just dripping with a diversity of ferns!</div>
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With all that being said, I'd like to jump into the species profiles. Each of the seven native taxa, and one naturally-occurring hybrid are featured below with photos, descriptions, range maps, habitat descriptions and some general pointers on where to find them. I've decided to list them in alphabetical order for sake of ease and organization. As usual, I don't write any keys as the experts have graciously done that already and how could I expect to do any better. For a great book on Ohio's (and the surrounding region) ferns, I could not recommend one more than <u>Midwest Ferns: A Field Guide to the Ferns and Fern Relatives of the North Central United States</u> by Steve W. Chadde. It's not expensive and readily available on Amazon. It's definitely become my go to for all my spore-producing needs.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><i>Asplenium bradleyi </i>- Bradley's Spleenwort</u></span></b></div>
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First up is Ohio's rarest of the ferns featured here, Bradley's spleenwort (<i>A. bradleyi</i>). It's an endangered [S1] species in the state and found in precious few places. It's an allotetraploid that arose as a hybrid between mountain spleenwort (<i>A. montanum</i>) and ebony spleenwort (<i>A. platyneuron</i>).</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bradley's Spleenwort (<i>A. bradleyi</i>) in situ</td></tr>
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Bradley's spleenwort is a small, clumped evergreen fern that is restricted to sandstone and other non-calcareous rock. It does an incredible job of fitting into small fissures, cracks, and crevices where a spore was fortunate enough to land. It prefers dry, sunny sites with few other plants growing on the sheer rock faces.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7A7Fn1rTHevz-jsr8us4bzk3FloPlk60Iv_mUWkr8Wq4c2WM-smfs3yYzcFzpwirAh3b0BNCyTXwbcLzYdM-9QQKfDFKgfIxiMu0c_EO58jqtU9OnuyexBblBVhIquVEFlk6ST8DRY0/s1600/C2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM7A7Fn1rTHevz-jsr8us4bzk3FloPlk60Iv_mUWkr8Wq4c2WM-smfs3yYzcFzpwirAh3b0BNCyTXwbcLzYdM-9QQKfDFKgfIxiMu0c_EO58jqtU9OnuyexBblBVhIquVEFlk6ST8DRY0/s640/C2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of the fronds of Bradley's Spleenwort</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHmCdFmSHJvCotFbIn7JJX0SAa_75Z3rrzshY2WxWHxrc65xMrQfFXDXerEjKZ6OF4i7loLFabTQRrjkLI_oyAJaGxp44XdNUkLahQ7ve83hIXqtz5RaXF_MsUcA1mKH8yo76IhnQdLU/s1600/C3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJHmCdFmSHJvCotFbIn7JJX0SAa_75Z3rrzshY2WxWHxrc65xMrQfFXDXerEjKZ6OF4i7loLFabTQRrjkLI_oyAJaGxp44XdNUkLahQ7ve83hIXqtz5RaXF_MsUcA1mKH8yo76IhnQdLU/s640/C3.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the sori of Bradley's Spleenwort</td></tr>
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Bradley's spleenwort has a relatively short, dark red-black stipe (stem before the 'leaves') that transitions to a green as you approach the rachis (stem with the 'leaves' or pinnae). Each pinnae is born on a very short stalk with a sharp-toothed to wavy margin. The spore-containing sori are found on the undersides of the pinnae on fertile fronds. They're paired up along the midrib and mature from a gold color to blackish brown. The only Asplenium you're likely to confuse Bradley's with is mountain spleenwort, which makes sense as one of its parent species. However, Bradley's fronds are long and narrow, while mountain's fronds are more deltoid in shape and their pinnae are on longer stalks. Compare with the photos below.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QUs7cUzCN9Fj0b23CyYVWzSrE25_FwFaoPpMcTyH1mOeLkLgfxn5PX-z8wTo8ldv3SkMZGrv1iMhIS9RdGQ5ChSFw_Vb9CdYnSy3OpnXgQKJsDDu6miwdjnVZwbaZP81l8L8tDily2U/s1600/C4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1052" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6QUs7cUzCN9Fj0b23CyYVWzSrE25_FwFaoPpMcTyH1mOeLkLgfxn5PX-z8wTo8ldv3SkMZGrv1iMhIS9RdGQ5ChSFw_Vb9CdYnSy3OpnXgQKJsDDu6miwdjnVZwbaZP81l8L8tDily2U/s640/C4.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North American distribution of Bradley's Spleenwort (courtesy: BONAP)</td></tr>
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Bradley's spleenwort is primarily a species of the Appalachians and curiously the Ozarks region of Missouri and Arkansas. Here in Ohio it's only ever been located in a handful of southeastern counties and currently considered extant in Fairfield and Washington counties. Two of the known sites are thankfully on preserved land but due to their rarity and fragility their locations will not be shared.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><u><i>Asplenium montanum</i> - Mountain Spleenwort</u></b></span></div>
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The next species on this treatment of Ohio's spleenworts is the mountain spleenwort (<i>A. montanum</i>). I'm of the opinion that this fern is the most attractive and intricate of our spleenworts. It can form large aesthetic clumps if happy and really impress anyone who notices as they walk by.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgq3TQxu5ttEkx5uXUNzEJhq_-d0uqIgV1Edk3AO-v8g7PBGMBocBOL_BXGe_FrwNROC3RNstbKbksq0TNzGGdTNxHD2Wo48UIAChLAVC6P51r3SzYyybwv5MCTnE-Pi99InBGdoKaPQ/s1600/B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="1600" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgq3TQxu5ttEkx5uXUNzEJhq_-d0uqIgV1Edk3AO-v8g7PBGMBocBOL_BXGe_FrwNROC3RNstbKbksq0TNzGGdTNxHD2Wo48UIAChLAVC6P51r3SzYyybwv5MCTnE-Pi99InBGdoKaPQ/s640/B.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Spleenwort (<i>A. montanum</i>) in situ</td></tr>
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Much like its aforementioned Bradley's kin, the mountain spleenwort is a non-calcareous rock specialist. It will often be about the only vascular plant seen growing in its rock face habitat. Mountain spleenwort is a locally common species where impressive sandstone rock formations are prevalent and relatively undisturbed. The Hocking Hills region and Lake Katharine state nature preserve in SE Ohio are excellent places to see this fern in situ.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain spleenwort doing what it does best</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnnfo4_fcqaZmXl7zUYGa5XaE2w_O4i8NepZ8Id2NTeBRmuF5vr13brbrv3Jhi6M9nUJluX4MUltBvrka5J-xMu_jRDyQtj0rYSyGjUXOdqDwzC1MFVS-CiCluQH7D2zI0TH8fevoij4/s1600/C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1064" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisnnfo4_fcqaZmXl7zUYGa5XaE2w_O4i8NepZ8Id2NTeBRmuF5vr13brbrv3Jhi6M9nUJluX4MUltBvrka5J-xMu_jRDyQtj0rYSyGjUXOdqDwzC1MFVS-CiCluQH7D2zI0TH8fevoij4/s640/C.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Spleenwort</td></tr>
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Appearance wise mountain spleenwort isn't too hard to discern from Ohio's other Aspleniums. It grows in concentrated clumps with oblong-triangular shaped fronds that appear greenish-blue and leathery. The pinnae sit on noticeable stalks, with each containing some lobing, especially the lowermost pairs. The sori mature brown and are scattered irregularly on the undersides of mature fronds. Mountain spleenwort is additionally one of the more scandalous Aspleniums and regularly hybridizes with other species, especially lobed spleenwort.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUjrm8TN-D-UgfxpObiCcCUFuMbOD3y5qAOjznLUvbAgfppZNBy3iBsp0pRFnFf5rWBxA51EMrtQTdgO9gr0HMpFnK5Pzlrekr_vEU86UvIjkfJGUIS_LY3MQ583AwFRKWLIpOWG5O5M/s1600/Asplenium+montanum.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1052" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqUjrm8TN-D-UgfxpObiCcCUFuMbOD3y5qAOjznLUvbAgfppZNBy3iBsp0pRFnFf5rWBxA51EMrtQTdgO9gr0HMpFnK5Pzlrekr_vEU86UvIjkfJGUIS_LY3MQ583AwFRKWLIpOWG5O5M/s640/Asplenium+montanum.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North American distribution of Mountain Spleenwort (courtesy: BONAP)</td></tr>
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Looking at mountain spleenwort's distribution map it's easy to notice its a fern of the Appalachian mountain range. Here in Ohio it is restricted to the unglaciated Allegheny Plateau where it occurs on a variety of non-calcareous rock, especially sandstone. As mentioned, the Hocking Hills and Lake Katharine areas are excellent places to seek out this fern.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><i>Asplenium pinnatifidum</i> - Lobed Spleenwort</u></span></b></div>
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Continuing on is another species in the Appalachian spleenwort complex, the lobed spleenwort (<i>A. pinnatifidum</i>). It arose as a hybrid between mountain spleenwort and walking fern (<i>A. rhizophyllum</i>). </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBViF-XQtsLJCX5-3EwlPx0D-_n2TrpaAyqz4ABBeDogA4SEEmXCoefykWFiICCvC8A4OlXllWPGkJSpXoq5VktJWEIZMlRMCT9b2ucXkYHKVEo2iOA4n4BBIAnHrjiMdpSo2TGtpF70/s1600/A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1087" data-original-width="1600" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsBViF-XQtsLJCX5-3EwlPx0D-_n2TrpaAyqz4ABBeDogA4SEEmXCoefykWFiICCvC8A4OlXllWPGkJSpXoq5VktJWEIZMlRMCT9b2ucXkYHKVEo2iOA4n4BBIAnHrjiMdpSo2TGtpF70/s640/A.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobed Spleenwort (<i>A. pinnatifidum</i>) in situ</td></tr>
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Keeping with the trend of the ferns shared so far, lobed spleenwort is another one that prefers non-calcareous rock substrates. It is a bit more forgiving in the shade and can occur in both dry and more moist conditions. Here in Ohio it's most commonly seen on sandstone but can grow on gneiss as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqgxVzI2QYbgzEGRwY_wfSIStkhzQ1IrNOL8cBwhueOdjAnEkHZEwordEOBb-0qN5S0uBL1kP5GJ4aTVBdiUtV0-b_9IWdv9190J_-gg3jX-7cnKPCisZnvkWwL4skYWiF4867Jy6ccU/s1600/B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbqgxVzI2QYbgzEGRwY_wfSIStkhzQ1IrNOL8cBwhueOdjAnEkHZEwordEOBb-0qN5S0uBL1kP5GJ4aTVBdiUtV0-b_9IWdv9190J_-gg3jX-7cnKPCisZnvkWwL4skYWiF4867Jy6ccU/s640/B.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobed Spleenwort close up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgli3ztRw6aZzHHE7oh0aw25i8daPCOFwXwVBhWWzjtWP5c0ZEjV-zY5yx7_2mE7u0Qut9M-fgaOqBIW7mPgx0MmbEEIZWKT9dggL0iWJaQsIPB0kOJsFW8gsBsiXvLSjf7wYTjau6wwdU/s1600/C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgli3ztRw6aZzHHE7oh0aw25i8daPCOFwXwVBhWWzjtWP5c0ZEjV-zY5yx7_2mE7u0Qut9M-fgaOqBIW7mPgx0MmbEEIZWKT9dggL0iWJaQsIPB0kOJsFW8gsBsiXvLSjf7wYTjau6wwdU/s640/C.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lobed Spleenwort in situ</td></tr>
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The fronds overall are lance-shaped, like their parent walking fern with a long-tapering tip. The lower sections are usually cut into the pinnae-like lobes. It should pointed out that lobed spleenwort can vary greatly in just how 'lobed' its fronds are. I've observed extremely lobed fronds, I've seen fronds that didn't have nearly any lobes, and everything in-between. Regardless of how many lobes a frond may have it's most important to look at the base of the lobe and confirm there is no stalk and the lobe is firmly attached to the rachis. Observe this feature in the accompanying photos. Lobed spleenwort is usually a more solitary-occurring plant but large colonies can sometimes be found.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCfV7sICj3cKd9sMTlpKvMFvVNZ1rW81Yl8Kls_3oc3D0AKyE4gSd5XGfTHZcMa6o4bcScUEv4c_xDry5VHmLDMYITKXiaLw7Tl0MzJJ2c_CQZDbl2IOVU163jJ3wNPMpkZ58qziukNU/s1600/Asplenium+pinnatifidum.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1052" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTCfV7sICj3cKd9sMTlpKvMFvVNZ1rW81Yl8Kls_3oc3D0AKyE4gSd5XGfTHZcMa6o4bcScUEv4c_xDry5VHmLDMYITKXiaLw7Tl0MzJJ2c_CQZDbl2IOVU163jJ3wNPMpkZ58qziukNU/s640/Asplenium+pinnatifidum.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North American distribution of Lobed Spleenwort (courtesy: BONAP)</td></tr>
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Lobed spleenwort's distribution looks strikingly similar to mountain spleenwort's. It ranges further west and is more prevalent in Ohio, too. Anytime you see some exposed sandstone rock formations is a good place to take a peek. With such overlaying ranges and shared habitat preferences it's no surprise lobed and mountain spleenwort will often grow in association with one another. And when that happens things can get a bit wild so to speak...<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><i>Asplenium </i>x <i>trudellii </i>- Trudell's Spleenwort</u></span></b></div>
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As I pointed out in the opening sections of this post the genus Asplenium is notorious for producing hybrids. There are over 20 accepted spleenwort hybrids in North America, with no fewer than six having been collected in Ohio. The most common of all is Trudell's spleenwort (<i>A. x trudellii</i>), a sterile triploid formed from the crossing of mountain and lobed spleenwort.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trudell's Spleenwort (<i>A. x trudellii</i>) in situ</td></tr>
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Trudell's spleenwort is intermediate in appearance between its two parents but definitely has more of a lobed spleenwort look to it than mountain spleenwort. It will come as no surprise that it occurs in the same habitats as its parents and often nestled right in with 'pure' strains of both. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Comparison: mountain spleenwort on L; Trudell's spleenwort in the middle; lobed spleenwort on the R</td></tr>
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While in the Hocking Hills a ways back, I plucked a couple fronds of Trudell's, mountain and lobed spleenworts for a comparison shot. The key feature to know you have Trudell's is to find the lower pinnae with conspicuous stalks. Recall that lobed spleenwort, no matter how lobed it is will lack stalked pinnae entirely. The middle fronds show that feature perfectly. Also take note that the fronds of Trudell's are larger than either of its parents. Many times hybrid "species" are larger than their parents due to something called 'hybrid vigor' or heterosis. That can be another clue you have Trudell's spleenwort if you see an exceptionally lobed and monster-sized lobed spleenwort.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North American distribution of Trudell's Spleenwort (courtesy: BONAP)</td></tr>
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For reference is a distribution map of known collections of Trudell's spleenwort in North America. Obviously, it's restricted to where both parents occur together and if you'd like to sniff some out, I'd recommend the aforementioned Hocking Hills and Lake Katharine locales. I've personally seen nice examples of this hybrid alongside its parents at both locations.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><i>Asplenium platyneuron</i> - Ebony Spleenwort</u></span></b></div>
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This next species of fern is undoubtedly Ohio's most common Asplenium and found throughout most of the state. Ebony spleenwort (<i>A. platyneuron</i>) is also on average the largest of our spleenworts.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgbYU7s_Tw7a5tNDOpPAa0K9EQEVnbPbpPktt3h8bs_CKUq2zj6uqeabbNf2KYy2ItR-HXCSe_HRSxAwOA6dvN6JzkYgGyZfs7KBshJPjTatKjBNJACdxB8dkfl07BML1fjtT38Za7ds/s1600/A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvgbYU7s_Tw7a5tNDOpPAa0K9EQEVnbPbpPktt3h8bs_CKUq2zj6uqeabbNf2KYy2ItR-HXCSe_HRSxAwOA6dvN6JzkYgGyZfs7KBshJPjTatKjBNJACdxB8dkfl07BML1fjtT38Za7ds/s640/A.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ebony Spleenwort (<i>A. platyneuron</i>) in situ</td></tr>
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Ebony spleenwort distinguishes itself from the rest of its Asplenium kin in several ways. Most noticeable and previously mentioned is its size. This fern can appear in a smaller fashion but larger fronds can grow well over a foot long. Another factor separating it from other spleenworts is it's just as likely to be found growing in soil as it is on rock. Most all other Aspleniums featured here are restricted to rock substrates. With variety of substrates comes a variety of habitat choices, too. You can find it in open woodlands, along streams, in old fields and clearings, and even growing in sidewalk cracks and on building foundations.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ebony Spleenwort (<i>A. platyneuron</i>) in soil</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDw_De6gnNVGno1qYxwYoycTsZajB25AOj4M8m2VQrvNudqVl6tpDNjtg6ZEPlcyQIZ-I0Vzoa_T1oPBOhvJe-Xh-YeEBFImbkRoxg4N-MQ5wp0PHxkxltgZuQFjiIiMsJ1tB4L-9E-w/s1600/C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCDw_De6gnNVGno1qYxwYoycTsZajB25AOj4M8m2VQrvNudqVl6tpDNjtg6ZEPlcyQIZ-I0Vzoa_T1oPBOhvJe-Xh-YeEBFImbkRoxg4N-MQ5wp0PHxkxltgZuQFjiIiMsJ1tB4L-9E-w/s640/C.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ebony Spleenwort <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">on rock with smooth cliffbrake (<i>Pellaea glabella</i>)</span></td></tr>
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Ebony spleenwort is a pretty easy species to identify even at a distance by its typically erect growing fertile fronds. The sterile fronds are usually more prostrate and evergreen, while the vertical fertile fronds wither in the winter months. The stipe is quite short before the pinnae appear. Both the stipe and rachis is smooth, shiny and a reddish or purple brown color. The pinnae are paired up in an alternately arranged fashion up the rachis. The lowermost pairs are quite small and increase in size as you go up the rachis with the frond being largest/widest in the upper third.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaYOssBrfZN0jWisKcs4h3Ejm7NKtYLI9bAAkkY89ifrgZ9rwB12mYHZ7sq4SVvRHE09vCatKGHlKGHl4epBni0QHWY-39oESP5lI6K1g0DiMRkgXkyNXIx2WUuK4dLrLAmul34NBerI/s1600/Asplenium+platyneuron.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1052" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmaYOssBrfZN0jWisKcs4h3Ejm7NKtYLI9bAAkkY89ifrgZ9rwB12mYHZ7sq4SVvRHE09vCatKGHlKGHl4epBni0QHWY-39oESP5lI6K1g0DiMRkgXkyNXIx2WUuK4dLrLAmul34NBerI/s640/Asplenium+platyneuron.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North American distribution of Ebony Spleenwort (courtesy: BONAP)</td></tr>
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Ebony spleenwort ranges widely throughout eastern North America and occurs is just about every county in Ohio. It's mostly absent from the glaciated lake plain of NW Ohio. I encounter is most often in early-mid successional mesic woodlands in my area of the state.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><i>Asplenium rhizophyllum</i> - Walking Fern</u></span></b></div>
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Of all the Asplenium ferns I'll share on here, I don't think you'll find one as unique and charming as the walking fern (<i>A. rhizophyllum</i>). Older literature will place it in the genus <i>Camptosorous</i> but modern treatments have it rightfully in <i>Asplenium</i>. Which makes sense considering it readily hybridizes with other spleenworts.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszrliz8EzGknsQQ_Z62Zg-LuQla_4PRtVh0EMo6sZFSCBTQRjs2BLM2zqaWcbKuTYura389jPGRhiq-k64ajlBvtzrxo9TzKb8cZo-xQDqd4LeL7J0dxKFwb76FnSzavF64UPdh0Jv_0/s1600/A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhszrliz8EzGknsQQ_Z62Zg-LuQla_4PRtVh0EMo6sZFSCBTQRjs2BLM2zqaWcbKuTYura389jPGRhiq-k64ajlBvtzrxo9TzKb8cZo-xQDqd4LeL7J0dxKFwb76FnSzavF64UPdh0Jv_0/s640/A.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking Fern (<i>A. rhizophyllum</i>) in situ</td></tr>
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In a departure from most of the Aspleniums we've covered so far, the walking fern is strictly a limestone lover. If you find yourself in a cool, moist place with exposed limestone bedrock covered in moss, I'll bet you'll find some! The Edge of Appalachia preserve system and Clifton Gorge state nature preserve are places you'd be hard pressed to not see walking fern at.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking Fern on a moss-covered limestone boulder</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EQfPGCM1sb7JBdMMguizQEhnLvtmV8B6l8AeVMNAg0HMJrR7Fz-zjilGM8i1aJMGO5QbrCHR3HrNMFEFoaiblgTNl4PeoLGWgCsgKeED6VSUGxyJSre1B4USYTa5TftO84OF4b3VQgU/s1600/C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3EQfPGCM1sb7JBdMMguizQEhnLvtmV8B6l8AeVMNAg0HMJrR7Fz-zjilGM8i1aJMGO5QbrCHR3HrNMFEFoaiblgTNl4PeoLGWgCsgKeED6VSUGxyJSre1B4USYTa5TftO84OF4b3VQgU/s640/C.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking Fern</td></tr>
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Another departure from the previous spleenworts is walking fern's tendency to form large, sprawling colonies in prime conditions. This is achieved by a frond's ability to form a plantlet at the end of its long-tapered tip. This plantlet will root and subsequently grow into a new plant and clone of the original. This allows the fern to, ahem...'walk' across its substrate. How neat is that!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyFfaknQqZG57WXGkMdnpkf2GZmyBibwW5IVjgTzKjCJQwUOpc853Gz5wVaTcqJGFzqvQ_BnMzVkbEAD3wjSrQFboIpkefW9MXIFAVjgxWXJiPF8KfE-BGfvbmwyY_12a8-on6PkLuJI/s1600/Asplenium+rhizophyllum.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1052" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJyFfaknQqZG57WXGkMdnpkf2GZmyBibwW5IVjgTzKjCJQwUOpc853Gz5wVaTcqJGFzqvQ_BnMzVkbEAD3wjSrQFboIpkefW9MXIFAVjgxWXJiPF8KfE-BGfvbmwyY_12a8-on6PkLuJI/s640/Asplenium+rhizophyllum.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North American distribution of Walking Fern (courtesy: BONAP)</td></tr>
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Walking fern isn't nearly as common as the distribution map above infers. Due to its habitat specificity you're only going to find it in certain situations and they can be rather isolated. However, it's still not by any means a rare find and once you get the eye for its haunts you'll come across it with regularity.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><u><i>Asplenium ruta-muraria</i> - Wall-rue</u></span></b></div>
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We've come to the penultimate Asplenium species on this treatment of Ohio's spleenworts. It also happens to be my personal favorite of them all! The wall-rue (<i>A. ruta-muraria</i>) is a state threatened [S2] species in Ohio and only to be found in a handful of southern counties. It's certainly as rare as it is cute.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyd7xxmG_aKl8Dde4WQnhWwuJ1B_-HxXHfpHSZ6l3sCYh96yuCKhI5LsR2BzJmmXKKx3V7OtBBiiqwfp3M2mdWhqbbQvuHZ7Dapj3Do4fn7arcCVJ7Rc0WJA8WTPB1o_amBs3w4mkGNxQ/s1600/A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyd7xxmG_aKl8Dde4WQnhWwuJ1B_-HxXHfpHSZ6l3sCYh96yuCKhI5LsR2BzJmmXKKx3V7OtBBiiqwfp3M2mdWhqbbQvuHZ7Dapj3Do4fn7arcCVJ7Rc0WJA8WTPB1o_amBs3w4mkGNxQ/s640/A.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall-rue (<i>A. ruta-muraria</i>) in situ</td></tr>
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The dainty and delicate wall-rue is another limestone lover and only found growing on shaded dolomite slump rocks, boulders, and cliff faces in Ohio. Due to such habitat specificity you're only going to see it in special places where its necessary bedrock requirements are met. The Edge of Appalachia preserve system and its plethora of dolomite is your best bet at spotting some in Ohio.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKxTeL9WuAGWFANGPH24fBUGJDtaYCwH3a2S9JzeMPzRSNPBb_lHO3RU8_lPNcGiZSKpp5q5nML5QNS9t-dnEye5WYt6Xdas40w0J5rjnd_32DyVYq-qMNoJQU-PV8um7d628VeWU-lc/s1600/B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1064" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKxTeL9WuAGWFANGPH24fBUGJDtaYCwH3a2S9JzeMPzRSNPBb_lHO3RU8_lPNcGiZSKpp5q5nML5QNS9t-dnEye5WYt6Xdas40w0J5rjnd_32DyVYq-qMNoJQU-PV8um7d628VeWU-lc/s640/B.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall-rue in the hand</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoJotSGSQIXFKY35QjpVsf2glfYc8DB7xxbqxOpTsZHAH9SpEa0LINs1pp-Oue-UlMSAghLnEA2jXvIfNiEqxShdK4GUk2P99HMWlYVTYX0pzjSr8_ygb7dDj2SoIL16le2thKE3p31Q/s1600/C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvoJotSGSQIXFKY35QjpVsf2glfYc8DB7xxbqxOpTsZHAH9SpEa0LINs1pp-Oue-UlMSAghLnEA2jXvIfNiEqxShdK4GUk2P99HMWlYVTYX0pzjSr8_ygb7dDj2SoIL16le2thKE3p31Q/s640/C.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall-rue on a dolomite boulder</td></tr>
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Wall-rue's small and lacy appearance, as well as its unique habitat preferences make it a pretty easy fern to identify. The fronds and its bluntly-toothed pinnae are deltoid in shape and appear rather leathery. This fern can range from dark green to a blue-green color, which I find to be extra beautiful. The photo above of an exceptionally large fronds with your blogger's hand behind it gives a great opportunity to study its features and shape.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgHz_vn_D3Y0Hc4_54-FHYUDgu52Z0zAaQNST7BaLoZz-68a9iRpJOHvUVVWQQw8hOOYP8LJ7JLoX38GlhjzhQAVZE13LQXi7Yk72F7CodhkmIx_RD2U9P1oP2BMb4ujobm0q1Npf8_c/s1600/Asplenium+ruta-muraria.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1052" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXgHz_vn_D3Y0Hc4_54-FHYUDgu52Z0zAaQNST7BaLoZz-68a9iRpJOHvUVVWQQw8hOOYP8LJ7JLoX38GlhjzhQAVZE13LQXi7Yk72F7CodhkmIx_RD2U9P1oP2BMb4ujobm0q1Npf8_c/s640/Asplenium+ruta-muraria.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North American distribution of Wall-rue (courtesy: BONAP)</td></tr>
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Wall-rue is most common along the central spine of the Appalachian Mountains with some outlying distributions to the west. It strangely reappears hundreds of miles disjunct to the north in the Straights of Mackinac region and the Bruce peninsula, where I've seen it on dolomite bedrock on Flowerpot Island.</div>
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<u><b><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Asplenium trichomanes </i>- Maidenhair Spleenwort</span></b></u></div>
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The seventh and final species of Ohio Asplenium I have to share is the maidenhair spleenwort (<i>A. trichomanes</i>). It's another small, dainty species that comes across as extra charming when one finds it in the field.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Hn_5qAe0HTYu2usWvAztFMP2EAzjbc1l34Q0MMWoaetDdW-MH0I8nfqOMUj3Qw0PiF62tWShWiuklIoPxrX759FpmRzImtdH-9T0vfi-1GsVNxcDkBTYqJS8vGFvFPGZg_l3hOvGl1U/s1600/A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1100" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Hn_5qAe0HTYu2usWvAztFMP2EAzjbc1l34Q0MMWoaetDdW-MH0I8nfqOMUj3Qw0PiF62tWShWiuklIoPxrX759FpmRzImtdH-9T0vfi-1GsVNxcDkBTYqJS8vGFvFPGZg_l3hOvGl1U/s640/A.jpg" width="440" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maidenhair Spleenwort (<i>A. trichomanes</i>)</td></tr>
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Maidenhair spleenwort is another rock lover but interestingly can't seem to make up its mind whether it prefers calcareous or acidic, non-calcareous substrates. In Ohio you can find it on both types of rock, but the limestone-loving stuff is definitely more rare. Experts treat this spleenwort with two subspecies depending on its substrate choice. Those found growing on acidic sandstone are <i>A. trichomanes subsp. trichomanes</i>; those found on limestone are <i>subsp. quadrivalens</i>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQp1eN1BB9xDTEyj-vJeHCNHe6sEyE8crCdlSovOWbGyfpf83gelJrNRyuWep_PHsjTQ3IxkitVynkph6aJgKGjDocOzRY2LHRV9QwYsuzKxEWiAOEOlV6LDpC7DkvOXrBEroHkHL11o/s1600/B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQp1eN1BB9xDTEyj-vJeHCNHe6sEyE8crCdlSovOWbGyfpf83gelJrNRyuWep_PHsjTQ3IxkitVynkph6aJgKGjDocOzRY2LHRV9QwYsuzKxEWiAOEOlV6LDpC7DkvOXrBEroHkHL11o/s640/B.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maidenhair spleenwort on limestone (subsp. quadrivalens)</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0UrHw72lIc2zrd9RV9gCNMRnPe9kCl4Q5zMnb4KbgbceSUWv9K_H0IUVBZKjIwbX1uFvJcLJKJ14Hy1pQlQjcKeRRjCaRu7pgpbKsUIUf2lXy78R5DF0dDdX9iTAmv8-jWwN4WIxuMY/s1600/C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0UrHw72lIc2zrd9RV9gCNMRnPe9kCl4Q5zMnb4KbgbceSUWv9K_H0IUVBZKjIwbX1uFvJcLJKJ14Hy1pQlQjcKeRRjCaRu7pgpbKsUIUf2lXy78R5DF0dDdX9iTAmv8-jWwN4WIxuMY/s640/C.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maidenhair spleenwort on sandstone (subsp. trichomanes)</td></tr>
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Like a majority of Ohio's spleenworts, maidenhair isn't too hard a species to discern from the others. It grows in tight clumps in cracks/crevices on slump rocks, boulders, and cliff faces. The stipe/rachis is smooth and a dark purple-brown color. The little orbicular pinnae are oppositely paired up and usually a pale green to greenish-yellow color. It typically occurs as sporadic individuals but I have seen it grow in sizable clumps, too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl61npmLcl_TicaUUjukt30rrK1oI8SDdyKuZjtghl7_D5SbR4eM8SNEW4vk2Y3AiOHnTVMLePLFiwno0kxxGES2Mb92oQGDPOiZItE_OxxZixFC1_v2d_KZ3m_G5QmEPNxA3Pa1R8CSY/s1600/Asplenium+trichomanes.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1052" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl61npmLcl_TicaUUjukt30rrK1oI8SDdyKuZjtghl7_D5SbR4eM8SNEW4vk2Y3AiOHnTVMLePLFiwno0kxxGES2Mb92oQGDPOiZItE_OxxZixFC1_v2d_KZ3m_G5QmEPNxA3Pa1R8CSY/s640/Asplenium+trichomanes.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North American distribution of Maidenhair Spleenwort (courtesy: BONAP)</td></tr>
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Maidenhair spleenwort is the most wide-ranging of Ohio's Asplenium species and has been collected from just about every contiguous state. The previous six ferns have been restricted to east of the Mississippi River, but this one continues on westward and occurs in the southern Rockies and Pacific Northwest. In select areas of its range (NE, N Great Lakes and PNW), you may come across the green spleenwort (<i>A. trichomanes-ramosum </i>or <i>A. viride</i>). It looks nearly identical to the maidenhair and grows in the same habitat, even growing in association, but the green spleenwort has an entirely green stipe/rachis. Recall the maidenhair's is a dark purple-brown. Green spleenwort is much more uncommon and a celebrated find here in the east.</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Asplenium resiliens</i> - Black-stemmed Spleenwort</span></u></b></div>
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To wrap things up, I wanted to touch on an eighth and final spleenwort species that should be mentioned and included. The black-stemmed spleenwort (<i>A. resiliens</i>) was collected a single time in Ohio back in 1900 and has yet to be seen again. The collection site was in southern Adams Co., where its preferred habitat of sunny calcareous bedrock exposures, slump rocks, and cliff faces are quite common. It looks strikingly similar to the ebony spleenwort (<i>A. platyneuron</i>) and takes a pretty keen eye to notice the differences. Black-stemmed spleenwort has a pure black, glossy rachis; pinnae that are more or less oppositely arranged vs ebony's alternate arrangement; and the pinnae of black-stemmed are more or less entire vs ebony's wavy/toothed margins and the presence of a little auricle near the pinnae's stalk.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq091KgBggvIsznlZQPB2SKoCEeQqm6MSNTkyARJ5XA279_JO3hebkwf8O0EMG5ufRwFc9ccQaMNNO6HydXeuGE3hSXCuvah12Mm1jYaPWAy88GpEXJHx-MjxM2DdPQFucjEPifVWZdSc/s1600/Asplenium+resiliens.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="642" data-original-width="1052" height="390" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq091KgBggvIsznlZQPB2SKoCEeQqm6MSNTkyARJ5XA279_JO3hebkwf8O0EMG5ufRwFc9ccQaMNNO6HydXeuGE3hSXCuvah12Mm1jYaPWAy88GpEXJHx-MjxM2DdPQFucjEPifVWZdSc/s640/Asplenium+resiliens.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">North American distribution of Black-stemmed Spleenwort (courtesy: BONAP)</td></tr>
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Black-stemmed spleenwort is a species of the southeastern and south-central US, and isn't uncommon just south of Ohio's border in central Kentucky. It stands to reason this species could still be lurking on some isolated, over-looked rock in extreme southern Ohio and the romantic in me would like to think it can and will be rediscovered one day.<br />
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I hope you've enjoyed this look into the Asplenium ferns of Ohio! Like I've mentioned they are some of my most cherished ferns and a group that while not too difficult to learn still deserved some light shed on them. I hope this post will inspire you to get out and see these spore-producers for yourselves and perhaps take the time to become better acquainted with them. I'm sure many have walked right past them and not taken much notice before. Even better is you don't have to wait for spring due to most all species we have being evergreen! Thanks again for tuning in and happy botanizing!<br />
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- ALG -</div>
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Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-47974705748015988492018-02-01T00:50:00.000-05:002018-02-01T00:50:17.122-05:00Top Ten Life Plants of 2017Better late than never! That's become the theme of this blog the last few years. I always pondered why some of my favorite nature blogger's work waned so much years ago and I've come to find out for myself just how quickly and easily it happens. Life gets busy...and busier, and busier! However, it doesn't get so busy that I can't manage to sit down and write up what's come to be a yearly favorite of mine. My annual look back on the past year's top ten life plants! Additionally, it's a superb way to reminisce on a growing season's worth of adventure and discovery.<br />
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2017 was an eventful year with exciting happenings both in my home state of Ohio and outside her borders. My work as a field botanist with the Ohio Division of Natural Areas & Preserves kept me busier than ever with some noteworthy discoveries. I also made treks out to southern Illinois and eastern Missouri to visit a close botany buddy of mine; as well as up to Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. Both trips provided some unforgettable botanical moments and finds, some of which will be proudly featured here. It is especially nice to see Ohio represented on my top ten life plants list again, as over the last couple years substantial lifers in my home region have been hard to come by.<br />
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I will say that I've become a bit of a lazy botanical photographer these days and rely heavily, really almost solely on my iPhone as a camera. It takes wonderful photos and just about every single one featured in this post was shot with it. However, when viewed so large and in closer detail the images are a bit lackluster to my nitpicky self. So for those with as high a standards as me, I apologize for some photos not being as up to snuff.<br />
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All that being said, let's begin the countdown of my favorite life plants from a memorable spring, summer, and fall of botanizing throughout the Midwest.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGcLcEjWPEAiZpyAa5p9vyNc511TDUcyFflUYq32y8yfw4ipBNOfmV2wbtxEEDs_vuDFznvR4wCvAaQsH1DcWZOiT1kyJ5CUtpqmb4_SVSQk3HC7oWLoifrNVNgnV2UaYackLNtv8BGE/s1600/A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1085" data-original-width="1600" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGcLcEjWPEAiZpyAa5p9vyNc511TDUcyFflUYq32y8yfw4ipBNOfmV2wbtxEEDs_vuDFznvR4wCvAaQsH1DcWZOiT1kyJ5CUtpqmb4_SVSQk3HC7oWLoifrNVNgnV2UaYackLNtv8BGE/s640/A.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My botanical cohort and good friend/mentor, Dan Boone at the site of life plant #10</td></tr>
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Starting things off is a look back to late June and an especially gorgeous summer day spent within one of Ohio's most spectacular remnant grasslands. It was at this location that I finally made acquaintances with an uncommon <i>Asteraceae</i> member that had evaded my life list for quite some time and comes in at #10.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx30vwvOqR4GXamCwBwI4m2Z4qsXlS2Ue9UEfMdHiXxVKlmfF8oG0PSDninrL7ZbQ6AtsLUEcDjfUeldFtkWrrQ73KaDgxoLyzSYLYnxvyi0XBMW4vy7bnj8o8GqCm7VuVwBdGHZGQQIM/s1600/B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx30vwvOqR4GXamCwBwI4m2Z4qsXlS2Ue9UEfMdHiXxVKlmfF8oG0PSDninrL7ZbQ6AtsLUEcDjfUeldFtkWrrQ73KaDgxoLyzSYLYnxvyi0XBMW4vy7bnj8o8GqCm7VuVwBdGHZGQQIM/s640/B1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#10 - Pasture Thistle (<i>Cirsium pumilum</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRQ9RokmPt3ioA4VXRY5l8RYJYg6u60QeXcImoz4JgdStsP5FN38816dDJup1Wjp4UHph_d4JKQOMygYxLx-vDz6BBx-vyB3fjyHuRmZB2TA1XF4PFy_0pRZUPzQC0Eo-Mb7PZFEQPKs/s1600/B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1071" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRQ9RokmPt3ioA4VXRY5l8RYJYg6u60QeXcImoz4JgdStsP5FN38816dDJup1Wjp4UHph_d4JKQOMygYxLx-vDz6BBx-vyB3fjyHuRmZB2TA1XF4PFy_0pRZUPzQC0Eo-Mb7PZFEQPKs/s640/B2.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#10 - Pasture Thistle (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cirsium pumilum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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Pasture thistle (<i>Cirsium pumilum</i>) isn't what I would call rare in Ohio, but it certainly isn't common either. With most of its occurrences residing up in the northeast and eastern portions of the state, I wasn't likely to see any of it in my normal haunts in the southeast and southern reaches. It's curious it occurs at all at this particular site in south-central Ohio, but I'm forever thankful it does. Pasture thistle never gets very tall and can be a pain to see but for its stunning purple composite flowerhead. Sadly, each individual plant only gets one opportunity to show off its thistle-licious (yes, I just made that word up) flowers. Like some of its other thistle kin, this species is monocarpic, meaning it only flowers once and subsequently dies. My visit to this site was at the tail end of its blooming cycle and many plants were already dispersing their seeds on the wind. Thankfully, a lucky few were still in photogenic shape and allowed them to just make the cut!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhJJBs4u2gR0g3HryA01pnwI-VPgGVaRgwn_KjsBmbukc-nhTtFteTtvID9kYlp0pItWuAUAAJmTjHBvRSxcI7yoG30RKJpXXH6oeJ3E6ArlwvqSQl1FTjkNEL1C7dG0wTS4sEbav16s/s1600/C1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQhJJBs4u2gR0g3HryA01pnwI-VPgGVaRgwn_KjsBmbukc-nhTtFteTtvID9kYlp0pItWuAUAAJmTjHBvRSxcI7yoG30RKJpXXH6oeJ3E6ArlwvqSQl1FTjkNEL1C7dG0wTS4sEbav16s/s640/C1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#9 - Cut-leaved Water Parsnip (<i>Berula erecta</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFs4p2n6323htEZRLPtXTlXT1GZ4vOOEaMOKDq8NUhIja3RQiM0MeBOVKFoo17QkitxI5rnI6G_zzMIN2O5v8zUOGRHjfyK0wDvR_JBtfJyqHnMJFfp2gyZtXVlgxSr-IiH8Uoa8kgX8/s1600/C2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHFs4p2n6323htEZRLPtXTlXT1GZ4vOOEaMOKDq8NUhIja3RQiM0MeBOVKFoo17QkitxI5rnI6G_zzMIN2O5v8zUOGRHjfyK0wDvR_JBtfJyqHnMJFfp2gyZtXVlgxSr-IiH8Uoa8kgX8/s640/C2.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#9 - Cut-leaved Water Parsnip (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Berula erecta</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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The criteria for how a plant makes this most esteemed of lists is much more than physical beauty. Some plants I find too curious, unique, and/or rare to not feel extra special about finding them. Life plant #9 fits that mold just right! The cut-leaved water parsnip (<i>Berula erecta</i>) is a small member of the carrot family (<i>Apiaceae</i>) I was lucky enough to spot while up in Michigan back in mid-July. It's much more common out West but quite rare east of the Mississippi River. It's at its easternmost and disjunct stations in Michigan and subsequently listed as a state-threatened species [S2]. It is only known to occur in about a dozen counties along Lake Michigan, where it grows in the specific habitats of cold headwater streams and seeps. This particular population was just beginning to flower in a tiny, freezing-cold spring-fed brook flowing through a white cedar swamp.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7qt5p_vmtMY81-uidfu7tIri-JIr80r4OD8ygPiqas3TC4WrXZFipkJbn0_6PwiXgKdRF825DBfpm7e85khPuZ7_RyA96MdMfCw0xDRN7Vb35OXQ2gPhGFXIfyh9xTBlC5ZHPlWKr-M/s1600/D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7qt5p_vmtMY81-uidfu7tIri-JIr80r4OD8ygPiqas3TC4WrXZFipkJbn0_6PwiXgKdRF825DBfpm7e85khPuZ7_RyA96MdMfCw0xDRN7Vb35OXQ2gPhGFXIfyh9xTBlC5ZHPlWKr-M/s640/D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The incredible surroundings of a secluded kettle lake with surrounding bog mat in the eastern UP of Michigan</td></tr>
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For life plant #8 let's hang around in Michigan but move further north into the Upper Peninsula. While there's not much going on in many people's eyes, the UP is heaven of earth for a botanist like me. I sincerely hope to deliver a post or three about my experiences up there and the insanity of treasures that came with it, but for now let's focus on one specific plant. A secluded and rarely visited kettle lake my friends and I visited contained the most intact and diverse floating bog mat I've ever stepped foot on. Orchids and sedges galore but the plant I was most honored to see was a teeny, tiny little rush...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAV-tQSeudktyxLNLaZ2Ci0Fij2kP5gCaHBBhpfMisMZmvR6Kd8lv-mQdw1JY_PurIhyphenhyphenUNTMAS5zNRtUpkmzU1nYt-mI69X7x0zUUh0xWFX6OqONgpcQlxC1gUcZXpaQLxI7tYezDc0w/s1600/E1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAV-tQSeudktyxLNLaZ2Ci0Fij2kP5gCaHBBhpfMisMZmvR6Kd8lv-mQdw1JY_PurIhyphenhyphenUNTMAS5zNRtUpkmzU1nYt-mI69X7x0zUUh0xWFX6OqONgpcQlxC1gUcZXpaQLxI7tYezDc0w/s640/E1.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#8 - Moor Rush (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Juncus stygius</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCGfzNVbVdYWYq3Efy_A7NDYsgVaoZLSLyng3tChcnSnMkmrGZAgjann41CG19IQGYdtullnU2Y8e2EO-Pzlks1T267Z4OzWWBvuZLKxgW8bUEiLtuKm8-HjGavTYD88tPRQds4FeKG8/s1600/E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRCGfzNVbVdYWYq3Efy_A7NDYsgVaoZLSLyng3tChcnSnMkmrGZAgjann41CG19IQGYdtullnU2Y8e2EO-Pzlks1T267Z4OzWWBvuZLKxgW8bUEiLtuKm8-HjGavTYD88tPRQds4FeKG8/s640/E2.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#8 - Moor Rush (<i>Juncus stygius</i>)</td></tr>
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What the moor rush (<i>Juncus stygius</i>) may lack in beauty, size, and well, interest for many folks it more than makes up for in rarity and peculiarity. This cute little graminoid is one of Michigan's more endangered plant species and currently known from less than ten extant sites. It also happens to be an overall rarity within the United States. Also known as bog rush, it's a circumboreal species found throughout the northern hemisphere but scarcely makes it south of boreal Canada in North America. Michigan's UP, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Maine are the only extant states for it and it's damn rare in all them, too. This rush's white flower, poorly photographed in the left photo above, is actually quite showy for a <i>Juncus </i>when seen perfectly opened. Its capsules have a pleasing aesthetic to them as well. Sure, it's not much to look for you but to a rare plant junkie and grami-nerd like myself it's botanical royalty!<i> </i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGXIBWPRrG7amcMD-2Wwar5NwrqO6CA9PMN0QCHTIjlzAq7LkYS93ANoo5d0Jtp8jZBTpF_nHXFW_yGx2lCnBJuiod_niiIpwgcv9k-PJuSgHjsTPlhNBhYXUrifT88vTzG0BtRJHZkc/s1600/F1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcGXIBWPRrG7amcMD-2Wwar5NwrqO6CA9PMN0QCHTIjlzAq7LkYS93ANoo5d0Jtp8jZBTpF_nHXFW_yGx2lCnBJuiod_niiIpwgcv9k-PJuSgHjsTPlhNBhYXUrifT88vTzG0BtRJHZkc/s640/F1.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#7a - Broad-lipped Twayblade (<i>Neottia convallarioides</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4h7lstgF6ynLq9X37Af5a3gg6BeJ_56G3CNoUNikIXXRvTUaPvrZQfmpFuMd2hlqztCdhfRsCG6gEk7msTlrVHg3BJFOGcsFfG2yaDYv5fwcAgWrAZJNzDs43kHenNtAVDE1v9GjevPA/s1600/F2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4h7lstgF6ynLq9X37Af5a3gg6BeJ_56G3CNoUNikIXXRvTUaPvrZQfmpFuMd2hlqztCdhfRsCG6gEk7msTlrVHg3BJFOGcsFfG2yaDYv5fwcAgWrAZJNzDs43kHenNtAVDE1v9GjevPA/s640/F2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#7b - Blunt-leaved Orchid (<i>Platanthera obtusata</i>)</td></tr>
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I love the UP so much that I've decided to stay put a little longer with life plant #7. Well, to be honest there's two species for number seven because I just couldn't decide between the two and declared things a tie. During my single day on the UP my botanical cohorts and I saw 30, yes 30 species of wild orchid! A majority were in flower, too, including the two lifers featured here. On the left in the above photo is the broad-lipped twayblade (<i>Neottia convallarioides</i>), a painfully small orchid that we found in great numbers growing in pure sand in a forested dune along Lake Superior. Above right is the blunt-leaved orchid (<i>Platanthera obtusata</i>), a taxon I'd seen vegetatively a few times before but never in flower. Finding it in a dense white cedar swamp was a needle-in-a-haystack situation but fortunately one peatmoss-covered hummock had a plant or two still in bloom. The UP was kind enough to proffer me a third life orchid on this most sacred of days but we'll get to that later.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSseP8_fbrJJy9ky-m4sFcU_dIvK05oAQp5eePX_RrDhjTbq_y4uk-MHW1npPW5CTGRQGlpOSBfBps2Ntb2DdbKiUPuVVOUxeTjnUARyzF97zxLrU7uVtAq3ewNFYtx1OwY88NvmZCIDk/s1600/G1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSseP8_fbrJJy9ky-m4sFcU_dIvK05oAQp5eePX_RrDhjTbq_y4uk-MHW1npPW5CTGRQGlpOSBfBps2Ntb2DdbKiUPuVVOUxeTjnUARyzF97zxLrU7uVtAq3ewNFYtx1OwY88NvmZCIDk/s640/G1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#6 - Large-flowered Fameflower (<i>Phemeranthus calycinus</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGs4aYYIRBK-2eRrcyvMXxUFcwJ0gJni4XfnVtJ00R-TrYCjowQMg98k2W4W2U2OKQH-Q0YfLIQoDJoerA35h9H3j0EhLNZtkY3vy54SUixaHjwrae-lx7DV_GA80k832Oul6ATU7Css/s1600/G2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGs4aYYIRBK-2eRrcyvMXxUFcwJ0gJni4XfnVtJ00R-TrYCjowQMg98k2W4W2U2OKQH-Q0YfLIQoDJoerA35h9H3j0EhLNZtkY3vy54SUixaHjwrae-lx7DV_GA80k832Oul6ATU7Css/s640/G2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#6 - Large-flowered Fameflower (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Phemeranthus calycinus</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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2017's life plant #6 takes us out to eastern Missouri and a wildflower I'd long wanted to meet face-to-face. My botany buddy, Roger Beadles (Hi, Roger! I know you'll read this as one of my few remaining faithful readers!) treated me to an unusual and globally-significant habitat I'd never experienced before known as an igneous glade. There, in the sun-baked and dessicated landscape grew the large-flowered fameflower (<i>Phemeranthus calycinus</i>), a fascinating little succulent that couldn't be happier in such a harsh environment. It was 90+ degrees that late afternoon without a cloud in the sky and the vivid, deep-pink fameflowers polka-dotted the exposed bedrock with their intense color. Which made perfect sense, as they only open in the latter half of the day and in full-sun conditions. Even had they not been flowering, I'd still been plenty pleased to see their charming fleshy, finger-like leaves. I wasn't expecting on seeing any during my trip and it made for a most excellent botanical surprise and easy inclusion on my countdown of best life plants.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43IUaFKUvX0IEp_gG5kJBv18vwT3yN7o1XXbuC6h-yJRskJYu6knYIvUZQWy4uhPTcFV36cflp2uVj2eruJZuRRGT1cPhIVJlzUDSRmxn6RoZL6qRTVR3juxAsv-PfvFN9bnhPZzJ9QY/s1600/H1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh43IUaFKUvX0IEp_gG5kJBv18vwT3yN7o1XXbuC6h-yJRskJYu6knYIvUZQWy4uhPTcFV36cflp2uVj2eruJZuRRGT1cPhIVJlzUDSRmxn6RoZL6qRTVR3juxAsv-PfvFN9bnhPZzJ9QY/s640/H1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#5 - Glade Spurge (<i>Euphorbia purpurea</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusHyIWoM1Y40UjaOYIjSZrCSApNqHLOb-OlxXEnoHRJ5qLz8xtChjlOZKcXzPLzODlVCMtbH-S3piIRtFXOvkaXxRiZYrAs6br3VBy309dNC0J6EtUosNJIR_i3n_QxXe8QjgXi5tvIU/s1600/H2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1069" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusHyIWoM1Y40UjaOYIjSZrCSApNqHLOb-OlxXEnoHRJ5qLz8xtChjlOZKcXzPLzODlVCMtbH-S3piIRtFXOvkaXxRiZYrAs6br3VBy309dNC0J6EtUosNJIR_i3n_QxXe8QjgXi5tvIU/s640/H2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#5 - Glade Spurge (<i>Euphorbia purpurea</i>)</td></tr>
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Hitting the halfway point on my countdown of 2017's top ten life plants is #5. It also has the distinction of being one of Ohio's rarest of the rare. Featured here is the odd and unusual glade spurge (<i>Euphorbia purpurea</i>). It's not only rare in Ohio, where it's an endangered species [S1], but globally as well [G3]. Glade spurge is currently only known to occur sparingly at about 50 sites in eight mid-Atlantic states, with Ohio being an intriguing westernmost disjunct. It grows at only two spots at one site in south-central Ohio, both on rich-mesic limestone bluffs above a small dolomite-bottomed stream. The two dozen or so plants in total rarely flower but a few appeared to have tried this season, as evidenced by the orbicular bracts produced at the apex of the stem in the above right photo. Despite being a toxic spurge, deer browse is a real and present threat to this plant. So it's no surprise our only known remnants of it are in such an inaccessible situation. The photos may not be much to look at, especially of vegetative-only material but for a botanist, at least this botanists it's a most precious member of Ohio's diverse flora. Long may it reign...or at least persist!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmvDG7SXqFq65Rl82NaPus01qQmWa6VuETZySrjKLTLsOnkBYSERe_wVkebehJwdemRm4fSHXJlk9TlQEJf4sjKNIxhR0on5YMQVU9-_YpvZGA5Lqyg2WQcRJb_eaMhYXQMpSKF2PdnU/s1600/I1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmvDG7SXqFq65Rl82NaPus01qQmWa6VuETZySrjKLTLsOnkBYSERe_wVkebehJwdemRm4fSHXJlk9TlQEJf4sjKNIxhR0on5YMQVU9-_YpvZGA5Lqyg2WQcRJb_eaMhYXQMpSKF2PdnU/s640/I1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#4 - Triangle Grape Fern (<i>Botrychium lanceolatum</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fMWn_j_K0GSkPlxa_zjZFIWjZ0sZjOHOM2af9zYgHLN43_SY67E6Mcl_L1Be2PW_VOpuokWLP8pWtidBlgjc1WjGWexfkgKI2fAFYaFSh6MN3TWNQaF0ChEeY-464QGanKxKIehOIds/s1600/I2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2fMWn_j_K0GSkPlxa_zjZFIWjZ0sZjOHOM2af9zYgHLN43_SY67E6Mcl_L1Be2PW_VOpuokWLP8pWtidBlgjc1WjGWexfkgKI2fAFYaFSh6MN3TWNQaF0ChEeY-464QGanKxKIehOIds/s640/I2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#4 - Triangle Grape Fern (<i>Botrychium lanceolatum</i>)</td></tr>
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The final four plants on this countdown all had a big impact on my botanical year no matter their size, and believe me when I say #4 is about as small as it gets! This past late May I had the pleasure of checking a rare fern off my life list while working in the Hocking Hills region. It's the tiniest, daintiest thing you ever saw, too! The triangle grape fern (<i>Botrychium lanceolatum</i>) is a state-threatened [S2] species in Ohio, and something you'd better have luck on your side to find. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the first plant and how miniscule it was: it makes my pencil look gargantuan in the photo above right. This particular grape fern grows on rich, moist stream terraces in more mature woodlands and should hypothetically be more commonly known since that habitat type isn't exactly rare. I'd imagine its impossibly small size keeps most, even those looking specifically from ever noticing it. Triangle grape fern is an expert hider under taller vegetation, especially stinging nettle (<i>Urtica dioica</i>). Ouch!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0KXuguWML8IXMIH3QPKt6Aao7rzygZtxWCcXCXmiOVhds0Z1Qx6-vq6PQHr9Js_m6sm8eytuiLOWuHh089MI9Av1ja9G116g0CzoiGD86IigvY3INZnTC9D0XfAZWNYEnnhNoEwVD3E/s1600/J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz0KXuguWML8IXMIH3QPKt6Aao7rzygZtxWCcXCXmiOVhds0Z1Qx6-vq6PQHr9Js_m6sm8eytuiLOWuHh089MI9Av1ja9G116g0CzoiGD86IigvY3INZnTC9D0XfAZWNYEnnhNoEwVD3E/s640/J.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#3 - Greater Round-leaved Orchid (<i>Platanthera macrophylla</i>)</td></tr>
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I've whittled down my top ten list of 2017's best life plants to the last three. This is where the fun really begins if you ask me. I don't think I've ever had an orchid not take at least one of these last three spots in the four years or so I've done this and 2017 is no different. #3 is my favorite of the 30 UP orchids I saw this past July and was a long-awaited lifer I'd daydreamed of seeing for many years, too!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32rzeATD5bYzuYSWL0GKDuHitd4Nmuj4_Fu6majhXV59jlVKzxEc4NzvaE9sndjDj7hDL8K2OW87kPpbywNeWtu8APF6eBhMzBGa32t-zeigCTiVC_TdddtscYJC4fEumpCQRPi4TtOU/s1600/K1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1070" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj32rzeATD5bYzuYSWL0GKDuHitd4Nmuj4_Fu6majhXV59jlVKzxEc4NzvaE9sndjDj7hDL8K2OW87kPpbywNeWtu8APF6eBhMzBGa32t-zeigCTiVC_TdddtscYJC4fEumpCQRPi4TtOU/s640/K1.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#3 - Greater Round-leaved Orchid (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Platanthera macrophylla</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqONtgIwMUyfkpopBmtKdDtXqsxVHe5NqWCIU5uGrH2qGwf1fAz2uGXNKrEw2mqKUEWDEqZ_izDdB31rPh8V2pq2HeKTgCnOks-5VSMKVV64MRrZAlsP0j98RtkU5ZPfqW46luALj6wY/s1600/K2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqONtgIwMUyfkpopBmtKdDtXqsxVHe5NqWCIU5uGrH2qGwf1fAz2uGXNKrEw2mqKUEWDEqZ_izDdB31rPh8V2pq2HeKTgCnOks-5VSMKVV64MRrZAlsP0j98RtkU5ZPfqW46luALj6wY/s640/K2.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#3 - Greater Round-leaved Orchid (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Platanthera macrophylla</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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The greater round-leaved orchid (<i>Platanthera macrophylla</i>) looks nearly identical to its close kin, the lesser round-leaved orchid (<i>P. orbiculata</i>) when viewing it in a book or online. However, seeing it in the flesh and it's instantly clear you're not dealing with the same species at all. The greater round-leaved orchid looks like it raided a less-than-honest weight lifter's gym locker and stole every steroid it could find. This behemoth of an orchid is larger in every regard from its brethren with nectar spurs twice as long (40+ mm) and basal leaves sometimes as large as dinner plates (my sunglasses served for scale in the one photo). Unlike the wide-ranging lesser round-leaved species, the greater is restricted to the northern Great Lakes region and NE US/Canada. My group and I found a dozen or so in bloom in dry wooded dunes of the Grand Sable Dunes near Lake Superior. One especially monstrous specimen was just shy of two feet tall and had 50-60 flowers on its raceme. Due to the harsh lighting and its awkward color, I had a tough time photographing it with satisfactory results in situ. I guess I'll just have to go back, eh?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxnUxzrysxkYNmxsgoDIfuknm4hByb8xoKnfgv26dTtJAkpi6BUwPS5trO1t_sIZjrbE1mnsIsUsK7EkhQkITq4BGcVTA57tEgzxsMlRTm9dummr4IcmcEtVOu9rMoGmQ_j97857eDHk/s1600/L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="1600" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWxnUxzrysxkYNmxsgoDIfuknm4hByb8xoKnfgv26dTtJAkpi6BUwPS5trO1t_sIZjrbE1mnsIsUsK7EkhQkITq4BGcVTA57tEgzxsMlRTm9dummr4IcmcEtVOu9rMoGmQ_j97857eDHk/s640/L.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2 - Mead's Milkweed (<i>Asclepias meadii</i>)</td></tr>
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I hope people have enjoyed this countdown thus far as it comes down to the final reveal. I love reminiscing on yet another great field season with the wildflowers and plants that caused the most memorable emotion and joy! This global rarity that comes in at #2 has us travel back out to Missouri and its stunning igneous glade ecosystem.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzPgOE83X21MI9b9hka8yfMmpMAoHMr9qBGMjI6klfQeMSYBpCGaDnZzRZg-0hyphenhyphenkTy8EuHk01ejLKutqoJs83jgPcUj1E7jQC33Obl_vBDgzx_gog1_yGJyFWQixNCWeCAQCpdxBLwUc/s1600/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLzPgOE83X21MI9b9hka8yfMmpMAoHMr9qBGMjI6klfQeMSYBpCGaDnZzRZg-0hyphenhyphenkTy8EuHk01ejLKutqoJs83jgPcUj1E7jQC33Obl_vBDgzx_gog1_yGJyFWQixNCWeCAQCpdxBLwUc/s640/M1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2 - Mead's Milkweed (<i>Asclepias meadii</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKcQ2CK6di69_s5cv9oPZEol5vEUxLe7SWH_Nyh4NE0J_cgad1zudGmrp425kaTu8KgzuGl_m8MX5OprfAiSItNWmsCr-kW2CX02r5erCP32pbAevxQMJSTST39YSDIMt2Dr4hyG-RKw/s1600/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1068" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWKcQ2CK6di69_s5cv9oPZEol5vEUxLe7SWH_Nyh4NE0J_cgad1zudGmrp425kaTu8KgzuGl_m8MX5OprfAiSItNWmsCr-kW2CX02r5erCP32pbAevxQMJSTST39YSDIMt2Dr4hyG-RKw/s640/M2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2 - Mead's Milkweed (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Asclepias meadii</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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On top of a very special Missouri mountain glade lives the federally threatened Mead's milkweed (<i>Asclpeias meadii</i>). It's a rarity I'd wanted to see since I first got into botany nigh on a decade ago and bless Roger, he knew right where to look. This particular milkweed has all the right parts and physically looks like a milkweed but its jumbo flowers and lime-green coloration has it stand apart from much of its kin. We only were able to find a total of seven plants, only two of which flowered and even then a sole specimen with perfect blossoms. Beggars certainly cannot be choosers. The surrounding scenery was stunning, too with phenomenal vista views across the rolling forested mountains from the milkweed's glade home. This precious rarity is only known from few extant sites in five Midwestern states and was an absolute honor to witness. It interestingly seems to prefer both dry glade/barren habitats and mesic upland tall grass prairie. It's an extremely conservative and fickle species that is indicative of a stable and old prairie ecosystem. Mead's milkweed would have been an easy #1 life plant had I not been so lucky to have seen this next plant....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEw66Cbg72hDFQEJUlmcWeILj8U3uAJKn2slwNh7KFdZdpfE_SCaj_Jfyg5tAIganaZ6znTOiZfmHhM-AdVFuqkonh6heaBA9CUhKGiOwY9C6lD-EcF6mTQ0qhGFI0IaL3AP8A173WsVE/s1600/N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="1600" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEw66Cbg72hDFQEJUlmcWeILj8U3uAJKn2slwNh7KFdZdpfE_SCaj_Jfyg5tAIganaZ6znTOiZfmHhM-AdVFuqkonh6heaBA9CUhKGiOwY9C6lD-EcF6mTQ0qhGFI0IaL3AP8A173WsVE/s640/N.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1 - Featherfoil (<i>Hottonia inflata</i>)</td></tr>
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It's time to reveal the best and #1 life plant I had the pleasure of seeing during the 2017 botany season. It was an instant and easy decision to have this wildflower be my ultimate lifer as it was one of the most exciting and meaningful of rare plant discoveries of my career thus far.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ygQDl13uVhu8Nzuv_NfnhiKCp-8ck-vmssVdME0aNUAaid0Fy9KBcnD_gKKY4ax3OghvpYEhSuaf5NNWL_ZYFT-25nNO6Dp0vPHA16qdgHdzeVuMGZuv31LWrDWGzKOHTq36StTlSog/s1600/O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1074" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0ygQDl13uVhu8Nzuv_NfnhiKCp-8ck-vmssVdME0aNUAaid0Fy9KBcnD_gKKY4ax3OghvpYEhSuaf5NNWL_ZYFT-25nNO6Dp0vPHA16qdgHdzeVuMGZuv31LWrDWGzKOHTq36StTlSog/s640/O.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1 - Featherfoil (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hottonia inflata</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aNZl61oe0vVFDeVhO_HNc6D6clw9mxVXssKuC6NuFIqVTzpJewoDiYqPSrwJD2DWV9g_XBaw_6pQIhNeoBt-kHBGVP4lSyFpiXeMG2R7phsWPkS0hPLJEe7dxR8wLOgk5ZYNrIaQajc/s1600/P2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-aNZl61oe0vVFDeVhO_HNc6D6clw9mxVXssKuC6NuFIqVTzpJewoDiYqPSrwJD2DWV9g_XBaw_6pQIhNeoBt-kHBGVP4lSyFpiXeMG2R7phsWPkS0hPLJEe7dxR8wLOgk5ZYNrIaQajc/s640/P2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1 - Featherfoil (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hottonia inflata</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span><br />
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The featherfoil (<i>Hottonia inflata</i>) has been considered extirpated and unseen in Ohio for over 30 years and thought long-lost for our flora. It's a winter annual that is very fickle and finicky about blooming, which makes finding/tracking it even more difficult. Many have looked for it over the decades with zero luck. As the botanical fates would have it, I managed to rediscover a lovely population of it back in late May in a pond in extreme southern Ohio doing its thing and looking great! I can't recall the last time my heart about leaped out of my chest in such a manner as it did: I couldn't believe my eyes! It's such an odd and goofy plant that nothing, and I mean nothing else comes close to looking like. It also happens to be rather rare across its range in the eastern US, too. The feather-like submerged leaves are topped with hollow inflated stems adorned with tiny and inconspicuous white flowers. The cherry on top was the presence of the state-endangered low spearwort (<i>Ranunculus pusillus</i>) occurring at the site as well! Days and discoveries like this are an easy part of why I became a field botanist and do what I love, and love what I do. It's definitely a plant few would find attractive but it's the most beautiful thing I saw in 2017! I plan to do a post dedicated to this plant and discovery in the near future; I meant to back in May when I found it, but we know how that goes.<br />
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I hope you've enjoyed this look back on my favorite finds and life plants of 2017. I'll be curious to hear from you, my readers if any of these are on your life lists or plants you've had the pleasure of coming into contact with before. If anything, I hope I've warmed your spirits and computer screens even a little bit as Ohio's winter and wildflower-less season trudges on. Spring is on the horizon, though, and I expect to be staring some skunk cabbage, snow trillium, harbinger-of-spring etc. in the face in the next couple months. Thanks for tuning in and reading!<br />
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- ALG -<br />
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Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-33232800695582814172017-05-28T00:06:00.001-04:002017-05-28T00:28:50.427-04:00The Bruce Peninsula Part VII: Majestic Flowerpot Island *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-wild-and-wonderful-bruce-peninsula.html">Part I</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-bruce-peninsula-singing-sands-of.html">Part II</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-bruce-peninsula-part-iii-rugged.html">Part III</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-iv-roadside.html">Part IV</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-v-rare-ferns.html">Part V</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-vi-alvar.html">Part VI</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-bruce-peninsula-part-vii-majestic.html">Part VII</a>*<br />
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The time has finally come to bring my whirlwind tour of the fabulous Bruce peninsula to a close. It's nearly two years in the making and long over due for completion but better late than never. I have a handful of friends heading up to the Bruce over the next few weeks and I'm green with envy of their trips. What I wouldn't do to sneak away and re-immerse myself in the spring perfection that is one of Ontario's best kept secrets. I'm of the opinion that I saved the best for last and hope you'll agree with that once you've dug into this final installment...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The large flowerpot on aptly named Flowerpot Island</td></tr>
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Flowerpot Island. Easily one of the biggest draws for the Bruce peninsula and adjacent Fathom Five National Marine Park. It's a short ferry ride off the northern shores of the peninsula and within this rocky 500 acre crag of exposed limestone lives a plethora of incredible plants, including one very elusive orchid I'd chased for many years.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowerpot Island on the horizon with a smaller unnamed island in the foreground</td></tr>
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The aqua jeweled waters of the Georgian Bay are dotted with an assortment of rocky islands of varying sizes and interests. Many are very small, uninhabited and seldom, if ever visited but still very aesthetic in their own rights. I'd love to explore these forgotten specks of bedrock and see what plants have managed to colonize and persist. Many of the island's rocks exhibit huge patches of a bright orange-yellow species of lichen that had to have taken centuries to accumulate.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Approaching Flowerpot Island through the morning mist and fog </td></tr>
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Our visit to Flowerpot Island coincided with a thick layering of morning fog and mist that made the island seem even more primordial and mysterious than it already is. The sheer rock cliffs and thick emerald vegetation gave me visions of Jurassic Park for one reason or another and I almost expected to hear the roar of a T-Rex from the depths of the island.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqoBAEE2NunGkjf5Gn2_7qLis4gGjcySfV1UXBNcz8JRpcRh6ZGPvU_PFEtpuQeAL55b_CCalsC9wtXlMrCc3Ca047i6V_Qu56y8vkttlNiKwDx7fgz-euvf-SCrV8oA6bYPUPc_rDJs/s1600/D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvqoBAEE2NunGkjf5Gn2_7qLis4gGjcySfV1UXBNcz8JRpcRh6ZGPvU_PFEtpuQeAL55b_CCalsC9wtXlMrCc3Ca047i6V_Qu56y8vkttlNiKwDx7fgz-euvf-SCrV8oA6bYPUPc_rDJs/s640/D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheer limestone cliff faces and bluffs of Flowerpot Island</td></tr>
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Some of the white cedars (<i>Thuja occidentalis</i>) growing out of the limestone cliff faces on the surrounding islands have been studied and their ages taken by core samples. It's almost impossible to believe but some trees not even a foot in diameter have been determined to be over a millennia old! What tenacious and incredibly hardy organisms they are to have weathered countless bitter winters, horrendous storms, and hot, dry summers.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The famed flowerpots of Flowerpot Island</td></tr>
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On the ferry's approach you'll pass right by the island's namesake flowerpots in all their geological glory. Here in this photo the larger of the two sits in the foreground with the smaller one nestled further back. A third flowerpot once occurred but tumbled down back in 1903. I'll dive deeper into these wonderful sea stacks further on in this post.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bunchberry (<i>Cornus candensis</i>)</td></tr>
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Once you dock on the island and exit the ferry you are immediately thrown into a botanical paradise unlike most any place you've been before. The lushness and biodiversity from the start is dizzying and you're left almost numb from a bombardment of pleasures on the senses. We spent as much time on the island as possible but even then time went by far too fast and I felt a bit rushed.</div>
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Two trails occur on the island: one is a one-way walk to a sensational wetland known as a marl bed; the other a loop trail that takes you around the eastern half of the island. Both are well worth every step and take you to some fascinating sites, both botanical and geological. However, there is one spot on the island that is ground most hallow and was an instant visit for myself once I set foot on solid ground.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqEJyAHBHUuIev8kChyphenhyphen9ET6FbhsAQrRO3YIRXQcKNHu4bjlloRxjQAHHOY77aDBTBVwWiFctfW69QnB1fhA7Li3AAtZHMMuGWewaCNzh3ASfdGc_Iuyvvnf6zhUvIzgZx-h76XgLufz0/s1600/G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1077" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiqEJyAHBHUuIev8kChyphenhyphen9ET6FbhsAQrRO3YIRXQcKNHu4bjlloRxjQAHHOY77aDBTBVwWiFctfW69QnB1fhA7Li3AAtZHMMuGWewaCNzh3ASfdGc_Iuyvvnf6zhUvIzgZx-h76XgLufz0/s640/G.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calypso Orchid (<i>Calypso bulbosa</i>)</td></tr>
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In the shaded haunts of one corner of Flowerpot Island's coniferous forests lives a mystical being that I had waited many years to make acquaintances with: the calypso (<i>Calypso bulbosa</i>). This ever more rare denizen of the northern woods is also known as fairy slipper and at first look doesn't appear to belong anywhere else but the equatorial jungle with its countless other bizarre orchid kin. I nearly melted when I first laid eyes on this incredible wildflower and could have spent my entire time on the island staring at its ineffable beauty.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKnQJoaRBvKkmyHV8pEycGCB5L-5-vPr1D4En_VxW_o9bvJqhxN1akyY18lHmG0gHNKu5DqwAzJgmpkI6ctXY2bwikM-98DwhEqLbmh3act6roEpEovBRl7R1KonzLjASRI1IGk7RivA/s1600/H1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKnQJoaRBvKkmyHV8pEycGCB5L-5-vPr1D4En_VxW_o9bvJqhxN1akyY18lHmG0gHNKu5DqwAzJgmpkI6ctXY2bwikM-98DwhEqLbmh3act6roEpEovBRl7R1KonzLjASRI1IGk7RivA/s640/H1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calypso Orchid (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Calypso bulbosa</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-LCxWSby4RP5IxcXCXCY9nPYdL02B2oRpkUBGuHTGRj77kjHljewP9chJ2eIt7IEF-HtI167hZQsJUc90jjwS2y9TM8DClFJTxxaG10_eTHwhrZTUCVVEL6pvZxbyJhngWKeGbPIq2M/s1600/H2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-LCxWSby4RP5IxcXCXCY9nPYdL02B2oRpkUBGuHTGRj77kjHljewP9chJ2eIt7IEF-HtI167hZQsJUc90jjwS2y9TM8DClFJTxxaG10_eTHwhrZTUCVVEL6pvZxbyJhngWKeGbPIq2M/s640/H2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calypso Orchid (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Calypso bulbosa</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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There were about a dozen calypsos in picture perfect flower with maybe another dozen in their vegetative leaf-only phase. Much like the ram's head lady's slippers (<i>Cypripedium arietinum</i>), I knew this wildflower would be miniscule in size but I was still caught off guard by just how damn dainty they were. The entire flower was perhaps the size of the end of your thumb.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9heUVWgS_VaZNAEjjV0FSQ0KsNE4XcxZdF5Kk7bMLG0J7DYPagg6khtw2iLyMcOLC6WgusqZb9Ppfv5mvM3uIhsLnmxv1ilskCLkRS22cRBSAKLXlyOr14Fp0kQLuHrpASAL3pa5C6v0/s1600/I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9heUVWgS_VaZNAEjjV0FSQ0KsNE4XcxZdF5Kk7bMLG0J7DYPagg6khtw2iLyMcOLC6WgusqZb9Ppfv5mvM3uIhsLnmxv1ilskCLkRS22cRBSAKLXlyOr14Fp0kQLuHrpASAL3pa5C6v0/s640/I.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calypso Orchid (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Calypso bulbosa</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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I can't recall the last time I sat and intensely photographed a wildflower as much as I did the calypsos. I'd unsuccessfully hunted them for years and even visited this very spot during my first Bruce trip back in mid June 2011. Alas, that visit was too late and I found only leaves and brown husks that were once their otherworldly flowers. The etymology of Calypso's name, which hails from a nymph in Greek mythology, comes from the meaning "to conceal" or "to hide". This makes perfect sense considering this orchid's affinity for dark, secluded boreal forests. And despite its colorful appearance believe me when I say it's an apt hider.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkbJrhsK1tlEk3aPWS9bLJk7JyphPsKc9vELskONCp45sHjE7w6M2yZVbLLLNkC7ai__K9vciJ5vN0HVw2UOfwX4s3RormP64IWUwbbho_ygBksnrz5gpahJLzLzbu5PEiGZOuK5Ctxg/s1600/J2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkbJrhsK1tlEk3aPWS9bLJk7JyphPsKc9vELskONCp45sHjE7w6M2yZVbLLLNkC7ai__K9vciJ5vN0HVw2UOfwX4s3RormP64IWUwbbho_ygBksnrz5gpahJLzLzbu5PEiGZOuK5Ctxg/s640/J2.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calypso Orchid (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Calypso bulbosa</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTv4Bn16swCMYNYo38QoJe9yi_UnPM4GuJHt6S6L8E6FK4Jbc5nmj7zBu41rC494khoYU9WN5PDhzqXukR-Kbl7tAvlktBqEc2V9eemYpTgTChXFzuUlgXze9EdY71WcDcMQE5bxDzFy0/s1600/J1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1064" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTv4Bn16swCMYNYo38QoJe9yi_UnPM4GuJHt6S6L8E6FK4Jbc5nmj7zBu41rC494khoYU9WN5PDhzqXukR-Kbl7tAvlktBqEc2V9eemYpTgTChXFzuUlgXze9EdY71WcDcMQE5bxDzFy0/s640/J1.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calypso Orchid (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Calypso bulbosa</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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After finding the calypsos in spectacular shape and finally marking such an anticipated "life" orchid off my list, I don't think my feet touched the ground the rest of the day. I merely floated about the island on wings of pure bliss and botanical joy that only something like this orchid could produce. But as memorable as the calypso is, Flowerpot Island has so many more wildflower treasures to share!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfszKkVX-r4KINvsDhMNAWCvCioXF2kgVwp19UhpKlajI0rhAlBN2MPf-xBGA9BEpkMhI0m2uCdUfNIJirHykDDwQRnw9tl7jR7nt3Za2Sblzb7uEmz4wXnyfEj28yehFfBLZpjfSEN-o/s1600/K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfszKkVX-r4KINvsDhMNAWCvCioXF2kgVwp19UhpKlajI0rhAlBN2MPf-xBGA9BEpkMhI0m2uCdUfNIJirHykDDwQRnw9tl7jR7nt3Za2Sblzb7uEmz4wXnyfEj28yehFfBLZpjfSEN-o/s640/K.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gaywings (<i>Polygala paucifolia</i>) </td></tr>
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With every step down the island's trails more and more wildflowers appear from behind their emerald curtain. With no deer or other major herbivores on the island, the flora has a chance to largely grow unimpeded with some amazing results. Not only is the diversity of species eye-popping but the density at which many occur is, too. Huge swathes of gaywings (<i>Polygala paucifolia</i>) covered the ground in many spots, including all over the calypso site with the orchids often growing right out of the middle of it.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dwarf Rattlesnake Plantain (<i>Goodyera repens</i>) </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMFzBFgKCDuWCACLSyVpIGCCB3OH2SAeVpWDWMBcbi1EKK2RWaD4rzUwo_jkMwUWkPEKUEscs3T2-x0PH34kvwItU9XZGJI1BkzJb18eVqOiuZMrnAk1CpIxiIJxIbl52SxJ7yNRMUdc/s1600/L2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1087" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMFzBFgKCDuWCACLSyVpIGCCB3OH2SAeVpWDWMBcbi1EKK2RWaD4rzUwo_jkMwUWkPEKUEscs3T2-x0PH34kvwItU9XZGJI1BkzJb18eVqOiuZMrnAk1CpIxiIJxIbl52SxJ7yNRMUdc/s640/L2.jpg" width="434" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Rattlesnake Plantain (<i>Goodyera oblongifolia</i>)</td></tr>
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The calypso is hardly the only orchid to call this island home either. Well over a dozen species occur throughout the variable landscape and bring their own charm to the party. While not blooming until a month or so later, two species of rattlesnake plantain orchid's artistic basal rosettes could often be seen in the forest understory. The western or giant rattlesnake plantain (<i>Goodyera oblongifolia</i>) may be the blandest of North America's four <i>Goodyera </i>taxa but make up for it by being yet another odd example of a western disjunct that's right at home in this region of the Great Lakes. It's much more common in the Mountain West and PNW and skips the entire middle of the continent before showing up in a very local fashion here on the Bruce.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihipgcIwAFac47hCfEDZS2Vyh3XaxzF2jhYjdtOAXzsPWLLG6iY1ZWKKlm4h5FjtmLvYdFkofId5f6UzT9mRoK4A2pPywu4sHd5bQHSIDmrg9j30CMhkY4__blm3uf9tzUlaUlw_lfueo/s1600/M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1078" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihipgcIwAFac47hCfEDZS2Vyh3XaxzF2jhYjdtOAXzsPWLLG6iY1ZWKKlm4h5FjtmLvYdFkofId5f6UzT9mRoK4A2pPywu4sHd5bQHSIDmrg9j30CMhkY4__blm3uf9tzUlaUlw_lfueo/s640/M.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Naked Miterwort (<i>Mitella nuda</i>)</td></tr>
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Delicate. That's the best word to describe the impossibly adorable flowers of the naked miterwort (<i>Mitella nuda</i>). Each flower appears like a snowflake with its deeply fringed sepals adorning the less impressive petals. Not far from this small colony of the naked miterwort was the two-leaved miterwort (<i>M. diphylla</i>), a species common in Ohio but a scarcity for my friend and botanical companion, Rob. It made me chuckle to have both species nigh on side-by-side with one miterwort common to me but rare to Rob and vice-versa.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMr9UtGh7lWGsLtz6euGIBdk5L8i3Pn7rOFlIgxn5tGzoJp0-GvYl0jCTnuLVbS6axd0ehQV0RNDborKzCFqF2uhdrm-NzUV_5NUQtoGNcviK-feVQucqoIICXez2YP4FMENnlyXrLJA/s1600/N1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijMr9UtGh7lWGsLtz6euGIBdk5L8i3Pn7rOFlIgxn5tGzoJp0-GvYl0jCTnuLVbS6axd0ehQV0RNDborKzCFqF2uhdrm-NzUV_5NUQtoGNcviK-feVQucqoIICXez2YP4FMENnlyXrLJA/s640/N1.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early Coral-root (<i>Corallorhiza trifida</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYo-4ky2xmIR4o2OExa-NMGL9n5CD5Q1tz9qLfLNapgkRnhJBNusQji50srX82u5q2LZM9GocyMgIRXFa8JH5FDjdO5rBW-x5RDRpqxKuLfCl2HCbzbWH2IEBli0M1cjOiqc1Uzy8lW9M/s1600/N2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1073" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYo-4ky2xmIR4o2OExa-NMGL9n5CD5Q1tz9qLfLNapgkRnhJBNusQji50srX82u5q2LZM9GocyMgIRXFa8JH5FDjdO5rBW-x5RDRpqxKuLfCl2HCbzbWH2IEBli0M1cjOiqc1Uzy8lW9M/s640/N2.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Early Coral-root (<i>Corallorhiza trifida</i>)</td></tr>
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Yet another orchid to grace us with its presence was the limey green stalks of early coralroot (<i>Corallorhiza trifida</i>). While a critically endangered species back home in Ohio, this early bloomer is quite common on the Bruce and occurred all over the more shaded, moist areas of Flowerpot Island. It almost has a ghostly glow to it in the damp, dark understory and makes it rather easy to pick out. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB72aN8pUY7TY-2CjrDz3Xe0llqDXjpsPD92BFq1PBLSDS10-98pfgrVi1-DUMpAAU7If_ZFew1F0uIgDnYy-x8coidlKqJDAsKZxwSnJu4KRH-5YdBMgn88PiEMCyVmBtWzyFg1sg62o/s1600/O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1081" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB72aN8pUY7TY-2CjrDz3Xe0llqDXjpsPD92BFq1PBLSDS10-98pfgrVi1-DUMpAAU7If_ZFew1F0uIgDnYy-x8coidlKqJDAsKZxwSnJu4KRH-5YdBMgn88PiEMCyVmBtWzyFg1sg62o/s640/O.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Striped Coral-root (<i>Corallorhiza striata</i>)</td></tr>
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Not to be upstaged by its orchid brethren was plenty of striped coral-root (<i>C. striata</i>) looking dapper in the drier, sunnier forested sections. The overnight soaking rain hadn't fully evaporated off its red and white flowers and gave it a jeweled appearance. While 'striped' is an accurate name for this particular myco-heterotroph, I much prefer the common name of peppermint stick orchid. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IjS67WUZDFytw9LfDKezKn4R_1w4kyfY8O8Kbuad5iRZHGrXhdz-SF6TMaxaMG_rVvHzG19p5KBMcbtDfy48k6bK1cht2qbdZzund36rf8mpMCubInwXlT2gsPSr2QIhkwfOCAO-fxQ/s1600/P1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1076" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7IjS67WUZDFytw9LfDKezKn4R_1w4kyfY8O8Kbuad5iRZHGrXhdz-SF6TMaxaMG_rVvHzG19p5KBMcbtDfy48k6bK1cht2qbdZzund36rf8mpMCubInwXlT2gsPSr2QIhkwfOCAO-fxQ/s640/P1.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heart-leaved Twayblade (<i>Neottia cordata</i>)</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfqbKb-T1ERlk0IwBEIVnJ12GAX5590YoMUct9Whe9hpouhT7eNKCiR2uEueGZKS0P6okiyPAUKChXeh3hy5D2u27YwTj2bwP4uEWsxKODQriotK7FL0KKM3FIDu2Mt44eUIPEdpcnE0/s1600/P2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1077" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmfqbKb-T1ERlk0IwBEIVnJ12GAX5590YoMUct9Whe9hpouhT7eNKCiR2uEueGZKS0P6okiyPAUKChXeh3hy5D2u27YwTj2bwP4uEWsxKODQriotK7FL0KKM3FIDu2Mt44eUIPEdpcnE0/s640/P2.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heart-leaved Twayblade (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Neottia cordata</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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The calypso can definitely take home the title for most gorgeous of orchids I saw, and despite being genuinely small it cannot also hold the belt for tiniest orchid. That honor goes to the absolutely, positively dainty heart-leaved twayblade (<i>Neottia cordata</i>). It's an easy one to miss if you don't get one shining in a beam of sunlight on the needle-strewn forest floor. Each flower is the size of a BB at best and requires a hand lens or a camera's macro lens to fully appreciate. I had a terrible time getting a good photo due to the deep shade calling for a slooow shutter speed combined with a slight breeze ever-so-slightly pushing the twayblade around. It was miraculously rediscovered in extreme NE Ohio a few years ago after being thought long lost and extirpated for nearly 80 years! I still need to get up to that site and get this tiny wonder on my Ohio list one of these days.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmwtMzvWZ_E9IsabLu1NkvRjmOEokwpaMVzj_-MB1yE4XdOuTi_xcVXiywHuwUq4lAJmuwclGHaVhe3t58DL-1xQKKPtaPMrDZOLjLucX2_WEZUW52GyTmgZjaktoWduaRTpBJw9X-kM/s1600/Q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1121" data-original-width="1600" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqmwtMzvWZ_E9IsabLu1NkvRjmOEokwpaMVzj_-MB1yE4XdOuTi_xcVXiywHuwUq4lAJmuwclGHaVhe3t58DL-1xQKKPtaPMrDZOLjLucX2_WEZUW52GyTmgZjaktoWduaRTpBJw9X-kM/s640/Q.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John exploring the mucky margins of the island's marl bed</td></tr>
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Earlier in the post I mentioned a unique wetland on the island known as the marl bed. It's hard to miss when walking by as it appears as an extremely shallow, mucky pond of sorts but don't write it off too quickly! One can, and should spend plenty of time exploring its area for a wealth of quality plants. From orchids like the showy lady's slipper (<i>Cypripedium reginae</i>), which wouldn't bloom until later in June, to dozens of sedge species: the marl bed is a real treat.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starry False Solomon's Seal (<i>Maianthemum stellatum</i>)</td></tr>
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Along the not-as-wet margins of the marl bed was a dense colony of the ever-stunning starry false solomon's seal (<i>Maianthemum stellatum</i>) in full, spectacular bloom. It's by no stretch a rarity in Ohio and I see it frequently in the right spots but it's never one I'd ignore and not give some attention to with my camera.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird's-eye Primrose (<i>Primula mistassinica</i>)</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67-Vm9h3HUzcZdKB8CvJBW_jNVUlFpCLOSp1f_wyO1IXkB8x3rLHk5lcSsqbQ_CsjcDZKEYGGRhNNqQZgjj1buA1eIP8k27agMLJTSiz0C2w-Hne5BRiv2JxloP2xi5JMYOFr6xE8IN8/s1600/S2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1078" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh67-Vm9h3HUzcZdKB8CvJBW_jNVUlFpCLOSp1f_wyO1IXkB8x3rLHk5lcSsqbQ_CsjcDZKEYGGRhNNqQZgjj1buA1eIP8k27agMLJTSiz0C2w-Hne5BRiv2JxloP2xi5JMYOFr6xE8IN8/s640/S2.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bird's-eye Primrose (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Primula mistassinica</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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Undoubtedly the marl bed's most exciting bloomer during our visit was scads of the bird's-eye primrose (<i>Primula mistassinica</i>) flowering throughout its mucky margins. It was a species I'd been too late for on my first Bruce trip and was elated to find looking so fine in its alkaline wetland home. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The picturesque shorelines of Flowerpot Island</td></tr>
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After spending plenty of time in the damp, dark, close quarter conditions of the island's interior it's blissful perfection to finally breakout onto the sun-drenched, boulder-strewn, limestone pavement shorelines. The water is as pristine an aqua blue as exists in the northern hemisphere and makes you think you'd found a wormhole to the Caribbean.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The unmistakable blue perfection of the Georgian Bay</td></tr>
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Flowerpot Island is literally nothing more than a giant exposed crag of limestone bedrock and its shorelines show that splendidly. The huge bedrock pavement pieces almost immediately give way to deeper water right off the coast and make for a gorgeous transition of water colors from aqua to deep sapphire blue.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_4L-Cmt5mS6Sk1-p2Uu88oWq5EYI0tt1JeI_5UPyUbGF5DMNGh0lsQw2KBPDirGoFX7QTjn7fsVewVrfa3BVX8z2z9fIgMYlt491qGVxU0ptpa4ezgCFHkeGNJTZ1UJm5N-UndL9VFA/s1600/V1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1073" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ_4L-Cmt5mS6Sk1-p2Uu88oWq5EYI0tt1JeI_5UPyUbGF5DMNGh0lsQw2KBPDirGoFX7QTjn7fsVewVrfa3BVX8z2z9fIgMYlt491qGVxU0ptpa4ezgCFHkeGNJTZ1UJm5N-UndL9VFA/s640/V1.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall-rue (<i>Asplenium ruta-muraria</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLVz_t_OeGwB1LYcDQmVO3gZbCHsGEpE55GvFrbGY7v3oBvpIkubhfm5du_9XWuK-oeyg_Mq5Lay-VhQaDDGKnE0GY_oeXcXwepBklw_eOyioX_hWS-zxkTSavKXFSr3NRdLCS0YrQtY/s1600/V2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDLVz_t_OeGwB1LYcDQmVO3gZbCHsGEpE55GvFrbGY7v3oBvpIkubhfm5du_9XWuK-oeyg_Mq5Lay-VhQaDDGKnE0GY_oeXcXwepBklw_eOyioX_hWS-zxkTSavKXFSr3NRdLCS0YrQtY/s640/V2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wall-rue (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Asplenium ruta-muraria</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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Don't let the scenery of the island's shorelines distract you from botanizing, though! There's plenty more to be had among the boulders and limestone cobble. Some careful searching of the larger moss and lichen covered rocks can reward the patient with patches of the very rare and disjunct wall-rue (<i>Asplenium ruta-muraria</i>). This fern is predominately an Appalachian species found from New England down to Alabama, but fascinatingly occurs hundreds of miles north of any other sites on the Bruce and nearby Manitoulin Island and the Straits of Mackinac area. I don't know what it is about the Bruce that makes it act like such a plant magnet for oddities like this but I freakin' love it!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWccF2XV1_zJ09D8otDVLJBK8rQxKjUUnhwgUxsazFHzMzCgaRXHQiGKmyf3hWEXJxnJoXlGjurMtplYSGSb27YWmg2hjwtPUlXjewnf5k1iIxpI6L1ZDMbYw0cP_eCIbIgh1jE83_fc/s1600/W.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1192" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdWccF2XV1_zJ09D8otDVLJBK8rQxKjUUnhwgUxsazFHzMzCgaRXHQiGKmyf3hWEXJxnJoXlGjurMtplYSGSb27YWmg2hjwtPUlXjewnf5k1iIxpI6L1ZDMbYw0cP_eCIbIgh1jE83_fc/s640/W.jpg" width="476" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The large flowerpot</td></tr>
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As promised it's time to show off the most prominent feature of Flowerpot Island and its namesake: the flowerpots! These sea stacks were formed over the millennia by water, waves, ice and wind all hammering away at the cliffs along the island's shoreline. Softer rock layers slowly eroded and as the water levels waxed and waned post glaciation it finally left these two unique pillars that we see today. It's hard to believe that man had nothing to do with their formation and all it took was time and opportunity for nature and its power of erosion to do its thing.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjn2wNNpnG-1aH-rLRm6U4uuD0UyZlT_8EjliGySJh4U3u-gdqTb9nFEWGO4947Goy4BCPVVmZmah-M-aN2eL-g0TTIWOF4RxHJ8QhfX6vQkAWU-2NUgAqSoTmV6bg8NJdQBjLGt5YYs/s1600/X1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1079" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQjn2wNNpnG-1aH-rLRm6U4uuD0UyZlT_8EjliGySJh4U3u-gdqTb9nFEWGO4947Goy4BCPVVmZmah-M-aN2eL-g0TTIWOF4RxHJ8QhfX6vQkAWU-2NUgAqSoTmV6bg8NJdQBjLGt5YYs/s640/X1.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your blogger posing with the larger flowerpot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gfJJZCOoA3Ne7pllf4v38sNDz5brQm6GXwFJ8oZAHjAaFOH6WXyVpx2Btl3CedUuGG3z13x7_KNThJUc_MyiHuXyb2Pjo9nCX4lfPRbhcBOmT6aciTAwproQWFonnl7kaUzrIxdoG8I/s1600/X2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1085" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1gfJJZCOoA3Ne7pllf4v38sNDz5brQm6GXwFJ8oZAHjAaFOH6WXyVpx2Btl3CedUuGG3z13x7_KNThJUc_MyiHuXyb2Pjo9nCX4lfPRbhcBOmT6aciTAwproQWFonnl7kaUzrIxdoG8I/s640/X2.jpg" width="434" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The smaller, but still awesome flowerpot</td></tr>
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Judging just how big the larger of the two flowerpots is is a hard task without something for scale. So what better than your blogger to provide such a service! It's a lot bigger when you get up close to it and you kind of just have to stare in awe and wonder at the odds this thing beats to continue standing year and year, decade after decade. The smaller one is only a third the height but both contain some genuine bonsai white cedar trees that somehow, someway manage to survive growing out of nothing more than a crack in the limestone. I compared photos with extremely similar angles of both flowerpots from my 2011 and 2015 trips and could not notice any bit of growth from any of the cedars. They're seemingly frozen in time, at least from a human being's lifespan's viewpoint.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slender Cliff Brake (<i>Cryptogramma stelleri</i>)</td></tr>
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Another limestone-loving fern you might be lucky enough to see while on Flowerpot Island, and other select areas of the mainland peninsula is the slender cliff brake (<i>Cryptogramma stelleri</i>). It prefers cool, shaded, moist fissures and cracks in the bedrock and exhibits dimorphic fronds, or fronds that differ in their appearance based on whether they're fertile or sterile. The fertile fronds have a lacier, skinnier look to them, while the sterile ones have a more blunt, stubby shape.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Columbine (<i>Aquilegia canadensis</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rocky shorelines and small flowerpot</td></tr>
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The alvar-like shorelines are full of other fascinating plant life and a diversity of wildflowers for those that can peel their eyes away from the water and flowerpots. Species like wild columbine (<i>Aquilegia canadensis</i>), upland white goldenrod (<i>Solidago ptarmicoides</i>), bearberry (<i>Arctostaphylops uva-ursi</i>), northern bog violet (<i>Viola nephrophylla</i>), harebell (<i>Campanula rotundifolia</i>) and ninebark (<i>Physocarpus opulifolius</i>) are but a handful of wildflowers that grow all over the place.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowerpot Island sitting in the jeweled waters of the Georgian Bay as you head back for the mainland</td></tr>
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I've really only scratched the surface of Flowerpot Island but hope it was enough to show just how amazing a place it is. It's well worth a day of your time up there to head out and explore its forested depths, limestone bluffs, and incredible shorelines.</div>
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Well, all good times must come to an end and this long look back on my unforgettable spring 2015 trip back up to the Bruce has finally come full circle. I really hope you've enjoyed this detailed look at what all this gem of a location has to offer and it has inspired you to take a trip up there one of these years. Or maybe it has rekindled your love for it and caused a deep-rooted passion to return to its beauty once more. I really want to make a return trip later in the summer sometime and re-experience it all over again with different plants. The Bruce is one of eastern North America's most incredible of botanical, geological, bird-rich, and scenic of landscapes and I wish I could do her better justice than I have. The Bruce will always be near and dear to my heart for the rest of my days no matter how many times I return. Thanks so much for following along and I hope to see you back for more botanical adventures soon.</div>
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- ALG -</div>
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Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-25375240400293434962017-04-07T19:41:00.000-04:002017-05-28T00:28:00.312-04:00The Bruce Peninsula Part VI: An Alvar Wonderland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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*<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-wild-and-wonderful-bruce-peninsula.html">Part I</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-bruce-peninsula-singing-sands-of.html">Part II</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-bruce-peninsula-part-iii-rugged.html">Part III</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-iv-roadside.html">Part IV</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-v-rare-ferns.html">Part V</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-vi-alvar.html">Part VI</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-bruce-peninsula-part-vii-majestic.html">Part VII</a>*<br />
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One of the Bruce peninsula's most remarkable and noteworthy of natural treasures is its abundance of a unique habitat known as an alvar. I've mentioned the term and habitat type a number of times during this series but now it's time to dive head first into this globally rare occurrence and dedicate some much deserved attention to its botanical wonders.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alvar pavement complex on the northern Bruce peninsula</td></tr>
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As mentioned, alvars are a globally rare habitat and only occur in the Great Lakes of North America, and the Scandinavian/Baltic region of northwest Europe. It's a habitat characterized by flat, exposed limestone/dolostone bedrock with very little soil accumulation. Really, it looks like an immense parking lot with patches of accumulated soil, plants, mosses and lichens. The previous glacial epoch scoured this landscape clean of organic material and often left signs of its presence as long gashes, grooves, scrapes etc. in the bedrock. Ohio's Kelley's Island in Lake Erie is well known for this stunning geological feature. </div>
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Ontario is the official alvar headquarters of North America with 85% of the continent's remaining habitat. The Great Lakes region's alvar can be organized into five general categories: pavement, grassland, savanna, shrubland, and shoreline. We've seen shoreline alvar previously at both Singing Sands and Halfway Log Dump; most of this post will deal with the pavement sub-type. It's taken nature literally thousands of years to reclaim the landscape and soil to accumulate enough to support plant life again. <br />
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And plant life has definitely returned! Alvars naturally result in a grassland-type ecosystem, and a unique one at that. The landscape is punished nearly year round by the elements and makes for a harsh place to live. The winters are bitterly cold and snow-filled; the summers bake the landscape to a dry crisp. This, along with the very shallow, if any soil accumulation does a great job of keeping trees at bay and the alvars open. Spring, however is the alvar's time to shine, at least botanically. The melted snows and seasonal rains fill the alvar's shallow depressions and fissures with water and creates a stunning rock garden of epic proportions. The botanical diversity is surprisingly impressive and even offers some evolved specialists that only call this limestone parking lot home as you'll come to see.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large Yellow Lady's Slippers (<i>Cypripedium pubescens</i>)</td></tr>
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One of the most obvious and conspicuous of wildflowers to colonize the alvars in the Bruce region is the large yellow lady's slipper (<i>Cypripedium pubescens</i>). Back in Ohio this species is largely restricted to high-quality woodlands with rich, fertile soil but up here they are much more of a generalist and grow just about anywhere. The dry, shallow, gravelly soils of the roadsides and alvars seem to be their favorite haunts, though.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rob inspecting an alvar fissure for the rare fern we were after</td></tr>
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Walking out onto the Bruce's alvar pavement is like stepping onto another world. Some places are literally nothing more than pure limestone bedrock with the only life being tiny pockets of moss and lichen that can eek out a precarious existence. Large cracks and fissures aren't an uncommon sight and provide a small habitat niche for many plants, especially some of the area's rare ferns we were after.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green spleenwort (<i>Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green spleenwort (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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If any theme keeps resurfacing during this series, it's the fact that the Bruce and adjacent areas seem to be a nexus for western disjunct species to thrive. Yet another example of this is the green spleenwort (<i>Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum</i>) (also see: <i>A. viride</i>). Green spleenwort is an uncommon species in North America but mostly found in the Mountain West and scattered locations in the Great Lakes and Northeast. Our group managed to come across a handful of sites for it, with my favorite being this clump growing literally out of the rock within a crack in the alvar pavement.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maidenhair Spleenwort (<i>Asplenium trichomanes</i>)</td></tr>
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For the few times we found the green spleenwort, we were tricked a dozen more by the common look-a-like maidenhair spleenwort (<i>A. trichomanes</i>). It would often grow right alongside its rarer kin and offered a great chance to see the distinguishing features: the best of which being green spleenwort's distinctly green rachis versus the maidenhair's black rachis.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet paintbrush out on the open alvar pavement</td></tr>
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One of the alvar pavement's most distinguished of wildflower denizens is the unmistakable scarlet paintbrush (<i>Castilleja coccinea</i>). It occurs just about everywhere there's enough moisture and light on the Bruce and in the most pristine of areas can carpet the landscape with its brilliant color. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Limestone Oak Fern (<i>Gymnocarpium robertianum</i>)</td></tr>
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Another of the Bruce's more rare pteridophytes on my radar during our botanical foray was a big life species for me and with the help of Bob Curry, you'll remember him from my previous post on Inglis Falls and the Hooker's orchid, it quickly had a check next to its name on my list. In an isolated complex of alvar pavement was a small fissure that has housed a colony of the limestone oak fern (<i>Gymnocarpium robertianum</i>) for decades. If you come to the Bruce for the orchids, you should stay for the ferns! Both are in great supply on this tiny spit of the Niagara Escarpment.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Limestone Oak Fern (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Gymnocarpium robertianum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lpse0G2E60nzj3JzFlXP1h1cjpapm3eG757wLbemz6S7HdvNvpHARUHwOyMcHlNwqq44u9olCUjD76PCbJrmwC5a_oL8S1dArxfs5mB-Ptm2W7Qw7If92UI6pHeeiOa65qw-FDt_EzM/s1600/H1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7lpse0G2E60nzj3JzFlXP1h1cjpapm3eG757wLbemz6S7HdvNvpHARUHwOyMcHlNwqq44u9olCUjD76PCbJrmwC5a_oL8S1dArxfs5mB-Ptm2W7Qw7If92UI6pHeeiOa65qw-FDt_EzM/s640/H1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Limestone Oak Fern (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Gymnocarpium robertianum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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It's never a bad thing to have such a trustworthy and consistent spot for such a rare plant, and I, for one was very thankful Bob was willing to share it. Limestone oak fern is a rarity throughout its limited range in the northern Midwest and western Great Lakes, and is at about its easternmost known locality on the northern tip of the Bruce peninsula. Its appearance is very similar to the rest of its oak fern ilk but for the glandular nature of its rachis and stipe. This gives the plant a silvery sheen at close inspection and is a bit sticky to the touch, too.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYXV-VDV7KRl17-awfiiAgI-cpU19OclvGw-E1SWm4UtYPyukdCVuiKnRxttHpQlLbvmPf1uuB2x1Kye26nRKtH5fRaFOTyILxC7wo2G8COFVvIXFkK5xMvpSf9l8VZHoXIqlWLRR2-8/s1600/I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKYXV-VDV7KRl17-awfiiAgI-cpU19OclvGw-E1SWm4UtYPyukdCVuiKnRxttHpQlLbvmPf1uuB2x1Kye26nRKtH5fRaFOTyILxC7wo2G8COFVvIXFkK5xMvpSf9l8VZHoXIqlWLRR2-8/s640/I.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring makes the alvars come alive with wildflowers!</td></tr>
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The alvars are snow and ice-covered all winter and dried to a crisp of little else but drought-tolerant grasses, sedges, mosses and lichens come summer. But that small window of opportunity in the spring makes them truly come alive! Late May into mid June allows for an explosion of wildflowers unlike little else I've seen. Our arrival was just a bit too late for the peak bloom of thousands upon thousands of the globally rare lakeside daisy (<i>Tetraneuris herbacea</i>) but the scenery was still spectacular.</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflef5RsOpGWE5t0nzgYfHz3V_PBXbYhr1EMxh1DqWZ7OBMtv60oAAlWTqwmDuBkHUkTnNSXJ9IAoiu0NxB-f5AMuvKlDf6yQh197NELrXuYKJWkH64x6Yks45bG6gc7Z_VRZW8Kx12Hs/s1600/J1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgflef5RsOpGWE5t0nzgYfHz3V_PBXbYhr1EMxh1DqWZ7OBMtv60oAAlWTqwmDuBkHUkTnNSXJ9IAoiu0NxB-f5AMuvKlDf6yQh197NELrXuYKJWkH64x6Yks45bG6gc7Z_VRZW8Kx12Hs/s640/J1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lakeside Daisy (<i>Tetraneuris herbacea</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkgi7-XbPS3-gricwbpR0ylmEZjov9YyYUA_USIGnGVBwZNX1qOdHflaUPQX7hOaEFLTEnkjWzY3L4qS2DTmhHczk0g5tspkzKZkmwTIBXqaMZwZ7cWVlFfutmSyB0kyNI7_zPquFIKI/s1600/J2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWkgi7-XbPS3-gricwbpR0ylmEZjov9YyYUA_USIGnGVBwZNX1qOdHflaUPQX7hOaEFLTEnkjWzY3L4qS2DTmhHczk0g5tspkzKZkmwTIBXqaMZwZ7cWVlFfutmSyB0kyNI7_zPquFIKI/s640/J2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lakeside Daisy (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Tetraneuris herbacea</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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Earlier on in this series I gave a brief preview of this remarkable wildflower on the alvar shorelines of Halfway Log Dump and mentioned it was hardly the best place to see them. Hopefully the photos in this post prove I was right! You'd never know the yellow blossoms of this daisy was so rare or special if all you knew was its presence on the Bruce. Lakeside daisy is an alvar specialist and is only known to occur on alvar in select areas of the Great Lakes. It was isolated long ago during the series of glacial events and evolved into its own unique being to color the limestone pavement come late May.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8LqZxqtJmrge5CyGuBa0pr6r8yNxw98PZD5Q51SjgWcZMzTI3acKAk39s7BKh_kg8qKG_AdvNqiPqRpIPgUsCgGOHYOP2vPnYpyawiAVETmAF8kRDGqALi_O-AOrBeoCF2TwM5yksD4/s1600/K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM8LqZxqtJmrge5CyGuBa0pr6r8yNxw98PZD5Q51SjgWcZMzTI3acKAk39s7BKh_kg8qKG_AdvNqiPqRpIPgUsCgGOHYOP2vPnYpyawiAVETmAF8kRDGqALi_O-AOrBeoCF2TwM5yksD4/s640/K.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Flag Iris (<i>Iris brevicaulis</i>)</td></tr>
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It's an interesting contrast to see pure bedrock covered in millennia of accumulated moss and lichen crust and then literally right next to it see a fissure full of a wetland species like blue flag iris (<i>Iris brevicaulis</i>). The Bruce's alvars go a long ways in showing that no one and nothing is a finer gardener or landscape artist than Mother Nature herself.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWagihv4vt56Ysh-qKIOhpTPajE-fr_mX3PUapWpjV6A92YDkxFiGyLhTZ6NV7mcfzsRu-9b1Hy1pC3emcap7feEDB2djyQFIms2dnhNjG3ErcI3hRiT86-BuhT0qVvdr5JdzLyPMk8Y/s1600/L1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmWagihv4vt56Ysh-qKIOhpTPajE-fr_mX3PUapWpjV6A92YDkxFiGyLhTZ6NV7mcfzsRu-9b1Hy1pC3emcap7feEDB2djyQFIms2dnhNjG3ErcI3hRiT86-BuhT0qVvdr5JdzLyPMk8Y/s640/L1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nodding Trillium (<i>Trillium cernuum</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxARxvo5m-aYnD6YAoFztvG7ruiLQdmRv6UbtANPMPD-A5S_T_0mvxwKTounocvIeKvtHfO7GjuRKy-p-JQ9AUAbmooj8I6fP_0_PqTy8Y7PYjjffimuUlLbGxwcgwYYGlVCiqLkf6Sc/s1600/L2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPxARxvo5m-aYnD6YAoFztvG7ruiLQdmRv6UbtANPMPD-A5S_T_0mvxwKTounocvIeKvtHfO7GjuRKy-p-JQ9AUAbmooj8I6fP_0_PqTy8Y7PYjjffimuUlLbGxwcgwYYGlVCiqLkf6Sc/s640/L2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nodding Trillium (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Trillium cernuum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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I couldn't help but share one of my absolute favorite of wildflower finds during my time up north, even if its not an alvar species. After exploring a particularly awesome complex of alvar remnants, we came to a woodland stream that was flush with vegetation. All along its banks was a trillium I'd only had the pleasure of seeing once before in the nodding trillium (<i>Trillium cernuum</i>). It's a genuine species of the northern woods and is quickly disappearing from its southern range for reasons not fully known. It looks nearly identical to the more southern drooping trillium (<i>T. flexipes</i>) but for its anther's filament length. Nodding trillium's anthers hang well outside the whorl of petals on long filaments; drooping trillium's anthers are tucked back against the base of the ovary on very short, often unseen filaments.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jmTRwT-wtWeZVYW5MwEISukwiOJ3Zt945pxPud_MqYtpyZNLUzyDxu1xMwQjODTbICisjE1Z8PlFKr1vvS-6ouITNQaY6EYR-entDZPskDJ1kur5UtciZEtoqVghfO7pewGJTYlxB78/s1600/M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jmTRwT-wtWeZVYW5MwEISukwiOJ3Zt945pxPud_MqYtpyZNLUzyDxu1xMwQjODTbICisjE1Z8PlFKr1vvS-6ouITNQaY6EYR-entDZPskDJ1kur5UtciZEtoqVghfO7pewGJTYlxB78/s640/M.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple Cliffbrake (<i>Pellaea atropurpurea</i>)</td></tr>
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A surprise fern find while out on the alvars was a familiar face to this Ohio botanist but yet another great rarity for the Bruce. The purple cliffbrake (<i>Pellaea atropurpurea</i>) isn't all that uncommon in Ohio, where it's restricted to vertical limestone cliff faces, but to occur so far north is another testament to the Bruce's affinity for fern diversity. As mentioned, I've only ever seen this species growing in a vertical fashion so it was quite the shock to see it happy as could be in the full sun on the horizontal alvar pavement.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BqRa4N8MlrPhhVlUtJmcKIh3v6p1BZE7xqy_XCPeZVgc2is-whAJV9Qfy28qdtgTYUb-idmOhIuCzHxYt-2Mqga5fzu_lGg1T-Y8DA4HJ1eonIhyphenhyphenIYv_l4hwpMamtaPcQETlXRpeyEo/s1600/O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BqRa4N8MlrPhhVlUtJmcKIh3v6p1BZE7xqy_XCPeZVgc2is-whAJV9Qfy28qdtgTYUb-idmOhIuCzHxYt-2Mqga5fzu_lGg1T-Y8DA4HJ1eonIhyphenhyphenIYv_l4hwpMamtaPcQETlXRpeyEo/s640/O.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alvar pavement landscape</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKNShGqSmqYOZwHi5TCYsZF9ObI35O8LFCnResS3CdXcZwSTmlO2ItzAmBKOCQkK-TGSM-TGVbYBgsrRerP53l3Z4mojji_7ipz0IYj6CvwhRWib4Kd1mkC-lOpmZFnUrJexXwcZZlCQ/s1600/N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKNShGqSmqYOZwHi5TCYsZF9ObI35O8LFCnResS3CdXcZwSTmlO2ItzAmBKOCQkK-TGSM-TGVbYBgsrRerP53l3Z4mojji_7ipz0IYj6CvwhRWib4Kd1mkC-lOpmZFnUrJexXwcZZlCQ/s640/N.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lakeside Daisy (<i>Tetraneuris herbacea</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmf5oXLaU0mKVyhF3LX2o3vrg0QdUfI1UPHXx_vbxByJueuOLF3b9JIlscfrVlrP9j2M5M166E8b9UzDtGuHPsw_e3eCavH3tHQM1LYBVE1dMw3OvZRqZc618hOV47VdQl8hbA9661R7g/s1600/P1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmf5oXLaU0mKVyhF3LX2o3vrg0QdUfI1UPHXx_vbxByJueuOLF3b9JIlscfrVlrP9j2M5M166E8b9UzDtGuHPsw_e3eCavH3tHQM1LYBVE1dMw3OvZRqZc618hOV47VdQl8hbA9661R7g/s640/P1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow and red never looked so swell together</td></tr>
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A few more scenes of the Bruce's springtime wildflower wonder on the alvars never hurt anyone! I could spend a lot more time delving deeper into the alvar's flora. Hell, I could do an entire post on the dozens of exciting sedges that call it home, but I'll end things here and hope it's inspired you to experience this globally rare and exciting habitat for yourselves one day. I'd love to get back up there during the early summer months to experience the Bruce in a whole new way. I have one last post to share before I call this series done and I think I've saved the best for last! So check back soon and leave your thoughts and comments below. Thanks again for taking the time read and hopefully enjoy this incredible world!<br />
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- ALG -</div>
Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-58419278646414903562017-04-04T20:51:00.002-04:002017-05-28T00:28:08.198-04:00The Bruce Peninsula Part V: Rare Ferns and an Elusive Orchid *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-wild-and-wonderful-bruce-peninsula.html">Part I</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-bruce-peninsula-singing-sands-of.html">Part II</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-bruce-peninsula-part-iii-rugged.html">Part III</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-iv-roadside.html">Part IV</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-v-rare-ferns.html">Part V</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-vi-alvar.html">Part VI</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-bruce-peninsula-part-vii-majestic.html">Part VII</a>*<br />
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The magical run continues as your blogger is back again for yet another post on the majestic spring time wonder of Ontario's Bruce peninsula! I hope no one is getting too burned out on the topic as we've gone past the halfway point with this fifth of seven posts. To be frank, I'm not sure how anyone could get bored or apathetic about the Bruce. I know the posts have been marathons but there's just an overwhelming amount to share and most everything is honestly too memorable, aesthetic, and/or interesting to not make the cut. So if you're still here and excited for more then I know just how to help out.<br />
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With that being said, I'd like to dedicate this next post to a couple sites on the southern end of the Bruce and the intriguing botanical rarities that occupy them. Not to mention the lovely landscapes and geology of them, too!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-CB_RFAfSQe4YS1sHrxWj0njO2UswGNGyrVuAFEc-fuhusOMUIxX5sw2n7btwdbpmuQKfTLGaSy8eFFfHXNrHV-JCqtzKBHV1dRy0LUE-xRsNFrJanCqWfMzMhPZ4xbDhNvK2__Ef_0/s1600/A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-CB_RFAfSQe4YS1sHrxWj0njO2UswGNGyrVuAFEc-fuhusOMUIxX5sw2n7btwdbpmuQKfTLGaSy8eFFfHXNrHV-JCqtzKBHV1dRy0LUE-xRsNFrJanCqWfMzMhPZ4xbDhNvK2__Ef_0/s640/A.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inglis Falls outside the town of Owen Sound on the southern end of the Bruce peninsula</td></tr>
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Inglis Falls. The scene above should be more enough to grab your attention and renew your interest in this incredible region of the Great Lakes if it was beginning to wane! Inglis Falls is the peninsula's largest, most attractive, and thus most visited waterfall. It's formed by the Sydenham River as it flows north and tumbles 60 feet over the limestone edge of the Niagara Escarpment. The falls will often slow to a trickle during the summer and fall months but the spring rains had it roaring and audible from the parking lot.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQ1kHUdYTJv9zo6354zgG-F0YE4i-40wgjjrrEYGfRTUhqH8sm3723NYP6xUpOMyQxNABevD137h1S6CUJWCcpuv9d6_MazSW5FPV9VWWn_VRH23M9Jo4lYKuQj8dxDCU5tfEdGlY3dQ/s1600/B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQ1kHUdYTJv9zo6354zgG-F0YE4i-40wgjjrrEYGfRTUhqH8sm3723NYP6xUpOMyQxNABevD137h1S6CUJWCcpuv9d6_MazSW5FPV9VWWn_VRH23M9Jo4lYKuQj8dxDCU5tfEdGlY3dQ/s640/B.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern White Cedars (<i>Thuja occidentalis</i>) around the rim of Inglis Falls</td></tr>
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With the falls flowing over the natural rim of the Niagara Escarpment, much of its surrounding area is dry, rocky woodland and bluffs. Interestingly, all around the falls was a near monoculture of northern white cedar (<i>Thuja occidentalis</i>) growing in the thin soils and often on/over the limestone rocks and boulders. Some were quite large and make you ponder just how old they are to have attained their dimensions in such a harsh habitat.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcrifU6dqpLmglDadIMON2JW8qRPX0rOjEwD9wGcW_tkxv-B9cwRCMEmuWgW3rjmYHYqYvdG7to7AsMtGB8EGd1o9C4oZ_TV_O24Q9faF9MxP2aF-4YXJslMTJiKioJcVWjDNXdHPJrI/s1600/C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfcrifU6dqpLmglDadIMON2JW8qRPX0rOjEwD9wGcW_tkxv-B9cwRCMEmuWgW3rjmYHYqYvdG7to7AsMtGB8EGd1o9C4oZ_TV_O24Q9faF9MxP2aF-4YXJslMTJiKioJcVWjDNXdHPJrI/s640/C.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north from the fall's rim towards the Georgian Bay</td></tr>
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The Sydenham River continues its course north through an impressive labyrinth of riffles and limestone blocks below the falls. It's not much further before it empties into the Georgian Bay at the Owen Sound harbor.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NaKfl78gb1U3BfoiC-Dv0_y4vSIjnQ6EJfeKCDP4QCL5GTM4OliZ5bntDasjeRpas80WbSscgYLEK2aIksr9KVPrGhcbhK4HAnNIGAQEFK-YsBKCIoVlGdH1BPRCVrh94LhcJyew0P4/s1600/D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NaKfl78gb1U3BfoiC-Dv0_y4vSIjnQ6EJfeKCDP4QCL5GTM4OliZ5bntDasjeRpas80WbSscgYLEK2aIksr9KVPrGhcbhK4HAnNIGAQEFK-YsBKCIoVlGdH1BPRCVrh94LhcJyew0P4/s640/D.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern white cedar growing out from a limestone slump rock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Making your way down from the bluffs and rim of the Niagara Escarpment takes you past some interesting works of geological and botanical art. I found this eroded block of limestone to be especially worth a photo. Standing here in the present day it's hard to believe these fractured layers of dolomite were laid down 400+ million years ago at the bottom of a warm, shallow tropical sea. Almost equally hard to believe is the tenacity of the white cedars to grow literally out of the rock and form into twisted, gnarled specimens.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjiOhGlLY21gr-1nhvmoPmIfcoX1rPCd8x7oLn0TfSl-wSQ3qyWYKwQ4cJQReZN3FKn_F65JakbbppsTAom7IE47OAZ-Ewwr21kaPWRBOoCim7kjb9S8BSkmf4TIp1Dm_C6cObYi8IW4/s1600/E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEjiOhGlLY21gr-1nhvmoPmIfcoX1rPCd8x7oLn0TfSl-wSQ3qyWYKwQ4cJQReZN3FKn_F65JakbbppsTAom7IE47OAZ-Ewwr21kaPWRBOoCim7kjb9S8BSkmf4TIp1Dm_C6cObYi8IW4/s640/E.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Holly Fern (<i>Polystichum lonchitis</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As pretty as Inglis Falls is, and it most certainly is that, I wasn't there to see the falls itself as much as what grows below it. More specifically the rare ferns that grow below it. One of those pteridophytes on my radar was the northern holly fern (<i>Polystichum lonchitis</i>). Related to the ubiquitous Christmas fern (<i>P. acrostichoides</i>), the northern holly fern is much more erect in growth but similar with its truly evergreen fronds. The veins of the pinnae conspicuously end in a sharp, bristly point and give the structure a rather holly-like appearance, hence its common name.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaI8IS8nEn0VGraL_-_KjClP-Myejold0FQM0qQYhNi0muc-oqeS_E-UJMESRPHaVn2SlZ_SZZw6KGflYyR0PKR8sn7YJjlnWH0BgOrfAvAvY1SflsWCDCA6hgEr24x81AoICVg5JT11c/s1600/F1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaI8IS8nEn0VGraL_-_KjClP-Myejold0FQM0qQYhNi0muc-oqeS_E-UJMESRPHaVn2SlZ_SZZw6KGflYyR0PKR8sn7YJjlnWH0BgOrfAvAvY1SflsWCDCA6hgEr24x81AoICVg5JT11c/s640/F1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Holly Fern (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Polystichum lonchitis</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJiTJ0tH86LlWs5N3d5a0AWodVCuCHhk1elYPEtC5paUXWA_64MMtSBhZzTqLwJFgH2-TnVy2vdvREh3al9IyUAIfPoDZHmvIk1aKcx5DLUiKelxLiHZEV8BspQuu-CgcrOiCGyFX3yc/s1600/F2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJiTJ0tH86LlWs5N3d5a0AWodVCuCHhk1elYPEtC5paUXWA_64MMtSBhZzTqLwJFgH2-TnVy2vdvREh3al9IyUAIfPoDZHmvIk1aKcx5DLUiKelxLiHZEV8BspQuu-CgcrOiCGyFX3yc/s640/F2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Holly Fern (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Polystichum lonchitis</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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It's much more widespread and frequent out in the Mountain West and Pacific Northwest states but curiously persists in a very limited and local fashion here on the Bruce and nearby Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Other than that you're very hard pressed to see this fern east of the Rockies. It's exclusive to exposed dolomitic limestone in the region and Inglis Falls, not coincidentally abounds with it. A healthy percentage of Ontario's occurrences of this western disjunct occur within the Bruce and its adjacent islands, making it a phenomenal spot to mark this plant of one's life list.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKt441aTsJUqyq5w8QQgQZ1PFbsTsLLt0LcXrLoSvwxh51TZVwOdRD-0Q2c2fxgLPci1Dj7mruBr6K53CDP84hxEEWkXE608jmDoU-Da0xkURqTaP41JNde04m4CulqrSMg1IJxyLHtuo/s1600/G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKt441aTsJUqyq5w8QQgQZ1PFbsTsLLt0LcXrLoSvwxh51TZVwOdRD-0Q2c2fxgLPci1Dj7mruBr6K53CDP84hxEEWkXE608jmDoU-Da0xkURqTaP41JNde04m4CulqrSMg1IJxyLHtuo/s640/G.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another portrait of the beauty of Inglis Falls</td></tr>
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As I soaked in the beauty and views of Inglis Falls, I couldn't help feel a strange sense of tropical-ness to it. There was just something about the way it looked with its moss-covered boulders surrounding/within the falls and vegetation clinging to every nook, cranny and crevice all around its rim and cliff faces that suggested a location much closer to the equator. Perhaps I'm alone in that thought but regardless of your disagreement it's a phenomenal waterfall to take in!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUitFVdG67r-7lIuGKBF0uGj9e9onpB3voAgZB7eSMomAqFNBjKrEQin8Ify_47DHkiGRMIui9Tj_Zedg0kB7pdt3TtoFAwTwymT9M2iaJ9LlLNmS7JNDYOfZiW9_fmWWB3r9oF8HCDU/s1600/H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQUitFVdG67r-7lIuGKBF0uGj9e9onpB3voAgZB7eSMomAqFNBjKrEQin8Ify_47DHkiGRMIui9Tj_Zedg0kB7pdt3TtoFAwTwymT9M2iaJ9LlLNmS7JNDYOfZiW9_fmWWB3r9oF8HCDU/s640/H.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Below and just downstream of Inglis Falls</td></tr>
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Moving further down the eroded gorge below the falls, the habitat and landscape quickly changes from the dry, sparsely-vegetated upper rim and bluffs. Below, the woods becomes much cooler, shaded, humid and rich with an explosion of plant life created by the site's microhabitat. Once again, I was hot on the trail of a fern, but this one much more rare and enticing.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEius_XT2mNOMBffpVu4gXDXczhyphenhyphenk3qUUlv1vq7JiPEWBNLgIg8KrAXWiDh7qo5AOJhkZVgSRbKVZumdHTxPZ2NbID7_ORs3oTF-zz6RpyvJ64-gTGsJu67T_0baigJocjOvUW8MNTofjCE/s1600/I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEius_XT2mNOMBffpVu4gXDXczhyphenhyphenk3qUUlv1vq7JiPEWBNLgIg8KrAXWiDh7qo5AOJhkZVgSRbKVZumdHTxPZ2NbID7_ORs3oTF-zz6RpyvJ64-gTGsJu67T_0baigJocjOvUW8MNTofjCE/s640/I.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clumps of the very rare Hart's tongue fern (<i>Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum</i>)</td></tr>
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Before my first foray onto the Bruce back in 2011, I'd heard the curious story of one of North America's more rare pteridophytes in the Hart's tongue fern (<i>Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum</i>). I searched and searched for it but never had any luck and swore the next time I wouldn't fail. Had I just known about Inglis Falls, I'd have been guaranteed some fantastic face time with this most excellent of spore producers!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi979Ei-KP2dV-So0abobMAJf3LoXdVFtatJPYHIfV90n1RUKTQLi5KpR2NOdTiY3CoETOvLwnuvC9OnO_Lr6GWnK9Tfm-qfMcOsq7Q9PJufD7dC4LQigV_n9Jlx6xGXx5zNrgkxCVxfPw/s1600/J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi979Ei-KP2dV-So0abobMAJf3LoXdVFtatJPYHIfV90n1RUKTQLi5KpR2NOdTiY3CoETOvLwnuvC9OnO_Lr6GWnK9Tfm-qfMcOsq7Q9PJufD7dC4LQigV_n9Jlx6xGXx5zNrgkxCVxfPw/s640/J.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hart's Tongue Fern (<i>Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum</i>)</td></tr>
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What makes Hart's tongue fern such an exciting find and plant for many botanists, naturalists etc. is its very odd distribution and localities in North America. While much more common across the pond in Europe, it is only known to occur in very sporadic, very local places in Ontario and the eastern United States. In fact, other than the Bruce, Hart's tongue fern can only be found in the Straits of Mackinac region of Michigan, central New York, and a few counties in eastern Tennessee and northern Alabama. From what I can gather it sounds like the Bruce and central New York are the best of those locations.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZGzcEruyahzhfe9SkCr57MWN6BKWVSpK0ycGvo_8qJOBWssOofOI92zt7d9K2ujwql7By53fQ_1oEQ9DaPZpIwAkkrq0serJ4QO4wbfrCAOIWSYoabhSJday3TPv3V_imIslEXUcDtI/s1600/K1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZGzcEruyahzhfe9SkCr57MWN6BKWVSpK0ycGvo_8qJOBWssOofOI92zt7d9K2ujwql7By53fQ_1oEQ9DaPZpIwAkkrq0serJ4QO4wbfrCAOIWSYoabhSJday3TPv3V_imIslEXUcDtI/s640/K1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hart's Tongue Fern (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1Ai5SikHQ5Gdq-JakZjH9yIWB4mqdgpa7bmee7r0_N7pw-91hrZD0IvVUQbLyrOSBY3LfVAAuWNXk7PO8D9LrTf6dKU7RRUAsjf8UN7swi1Z9SZaBqAzUJUuaYfU45gBVphXZS9Hw04/s1600/K2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc1Ai5SikHQ5Gdq-JakZjH9yIWB4mqdgpa7bmee7r0_N7pw-91hrZD0IvVUQbLyrOSBY3LfVAAuWNXk7PO8D9LrTf6dKU7RRUAsjf8UN7swi1Z9SZaBqAzUJUuaYfU45gBVphXZS9Hw04/s640/K2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hart's Tongue Fern (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Asplenium scolopendrium var. americanum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Much like the aforementioned northern holly fern, Hart's tongue is restricted to moist, shaded dolomite limestone; often times associated with waterfalls and deep stream ravines. It looks unlike any other fern you'll run into with thick, leathery, sword-like fronds and linear sori on the undersides. Due to such scarcity in North America it's listed as a federally threatened species in the United States, and an 'at risk' species of concern in Canada. For readers who enjoy the more taxonomic side of botany, the North American Hart's tongue plants are considered a separate variety (<i>var. americanum</i>) to Europe's. The physical differences between the two are minute and split based on polyploidy: North America's being a tetraploid (four sets of chromosomes) to Europe's diploid (two sets). When it comes to ferns polyploidy can really make a difference.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0dVyzQ2-P0EgAq3J-enZWBtPtC0CSnBEUn1UXZqWhtB7F8HrXA3BCkm2hf_aUzpNIQz43Q2mCOMWgLvBiF3X0NIfR2rjFa9MWXnPG1ktmjDvanyWOtBzyRy8fy4IbFx4J_aDKpjypL8/s1600/L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI0dVyzQ2-P0EgAq3J-enZWBtPtC0CSnBEUn1UXZqWhtB7F8HrXA3BCkm2hf_aUzpNIQz43Q2mCOMWgLvBiF3X0NIfR2rjFa9MWXnPG1ktmjDvanyWOtBzyRy8fy4IbFx4J_aDKpjypL8/s640/L.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A northern holly fern and Hart's tongue fern growing together</td></tr>
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With both the Hart's tongue and northern holly ferns calling Inglis Falls home, it was little surprise to find the two growing literally side-by-side on a few occasions and made for a fun photo opportunity. Not everyday not just one but two major life fern species can be captured in the same frame!<br />
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After enjoying the pteridophyte bliss of Inglis Falls and already being on the southern end of the peninsula, the decision was made to swing over to a section of woodland outside Sauble Beach for a most elusive orchid. At least it was elusive to me! Luckily, I had my Ontario friend and excellent naturalist, Bob Curry with me to help out. I had originally met Bob in the spring of 2015 when he and his wife came all the way down to Adams County, Ohio for an orchid hike I was leading. When I told him I'd be on the Bruce a month later, he said it was a must that he return the favor and take me out for some orchids! It should be noted that Bob was the one to share Inglis Falls and the ferns with me as well. Needless to say Bob is a swell guy and one of my favorites.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreYOOBO_jjxiJOZ9KCf0QDCUZFJO-Cg_LWKMAcX9okO8XwIU3RcMroJloMEcvSLUvYu_OLsuuW-efLSt8bl47wdIQTWfD32PaztirfX_aPOw0Xk4loVeCNmYTPbJz9i9KMoCj6hRnGrc/s1600/M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgreYOOBO_jjxiJOZ9KCf0QDCUZFJO-Cg_LWKMAcX9okO8XwIU3RcMroJloMEcvSLUvYu_OLsuuW-efLSt8bl47wdIQTWfD32PaztirfX_aPOw0Xk4loVeCNmYTPbJz9i9KMoCj6hRnGrc/s640/M.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bob with the rare Hooker's orchid (<i>Platanthera hookeri</i>).</td></tr>
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Looking at the photo featured above and following the stare of Bob's camera it can still be quite hard to make out just what the heck he's taking a photo of. With sharp eyes you can just make out the pair of round, prostate leaves on the ground and green raceme of green flowers directly above. Green is the name of the game with the rare Hooker's orchid (<i>Platanthera hookeri</i>) and it puts the 'pro' in professional at blending in. Fortunately, the wooded stabilized dune just off Lake Huron had plenty of the orchid to share and find them we did.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CrASM5dySICA2CcqboQEl4Wjp3fZFHh-7ifzk9C5ZCI1TQxi_SOr3rQVbvIG6TKkLcBCx8VMYru_cMumpb5GDWxcLzsoSFzbh2Pxm_1mKWp2wZb3K4Qh-h4BYMlzJFSE92WIUliE5og/s1600/N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CrASM5dySICA2CcqboQEl4Wjp3fZFHh-7ifzk9C5ZCI1TQxi_SOr3rQVbvIG6TKkLcBCx8VMYru_cMumpb5GDWxcLzsoSFzbh2Pxm_1mKWp2wZb3K4Qh-h4BYMlzJFSE92WIUliE5og/s640/N.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooker's Orchid (<i>Platanthera hookeri</i>)</td></tr>
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It's a given that your blogger is an orchid freak and it should also be well-known that they don't have to be the showy, pretty kind to get my heart racing. As previously stated, the Hooker's orchid isn't much to get excited about for the lay man but the sugar maple/beech/paper birch forest it resided in at Sauble Beech was most hallowed ground to this botanist. I had previously only seen this orchid once before out in the Adirondack's of New York back in 2013. I had made the 12 hour journey almost solely for it and was rewarded with a single plant just barely starting to flower. Even so, it was a very special and memorable trip but I'd be lying if the dozens of Hooker's orchid in perfect flower on the Bruce didn't just make my heart melt.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPn4jqXSX1B42hjWKZ-je2G_T9jCCnbUESNuG1adHqZej9pi5kRE5O-Eml05k4IUV_QwSfgb53Y2MWSwMPe-U4KGWeX-ySKE_WhHyx1mKHhtn11hGOGjepNN-1zoBGnR3-23WjcNBOcQ/s1600/O1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPn4jqXSX1B42hjWKZ-je2G_T9jCCnbUESNuG1adHqZej9pi5kRE5O-Eml05k4IUV_QwSfgb53Y2MWSwMPe-U4KGWeX-ySKE_WhHyx1mKHhtn11hGOGjepNN-1zoBGnR3-23WjcNBOcQ/s640/O1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooker's Orchid (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Platanthera hookeri</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoU8oBOjNRV0zW3xysWZI3OkVyzyy5Op51s4_3-0DaGAw4oETlRzGftqCJdwFgSFF06KHlAEPdPmdYNfKY5tocN7ELbRSSenJYhPanfevbH46M4ak4325VTusdEtHudapuFaQX0vid_jY/s1600/O2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoU8oBOjNRV0zW3xysWZI3OkVyzyy5Op51s4_3-0DaGAw4oETlRzGftqCJdwFgSFF06KHlAEPdPmdYNfKY5tocN7ELbRSSenJYhPanfevbH46M4ak4325VTusdEtHudapuFaQX0vid_jY/s640/O2.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooker's Orchid (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Platanthera hookeri</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Hooker's orchid gets the elusive tag from me by the fact it's long been extirpated from Ohio's borders and not seen/collected since the 1890's. In fact, it's been disappearing at a fast rate throughout the entirety of the southern half of its distribution. Acid rain, warming soil temperatures, and other effects of climate change and habitat alteration are not doing this orchid any favors. I certainly hope this prime population I visited here can withstand the pressures and continue to persist.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VKyHvxnDU4K2_CdQ6wtuymUkBo16CaoxHlJiF0oSPniAGXjXe4_o2FKqaH1KioVp47IJ4nR0X1Dzws6rsX1Dmx-YhrkJlgK_Zr090IYZZOnIpbwIvI0ZKai2g_JBXLs-_vHne4EPB7I/s1600/P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-VKyHvxnDU4K2_CdQ6wtuymUkBo16CaoxHlJiF0oSPniAGXjXe4_o2FKqaH1KioVp47IJ4nR0X1Dzws6rsX1Dmx-YhrkJlgK_Zr090IYZZOnIpbwIvI0ZKai2g_JBXLs-_vHne4EPB7I/s640/P.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooker's Orchid (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Platanthera hookeri</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTPP6zNYhqbnXTjsqtO-AIiuUUPqIzNndjthd748bwmewLGJ6TeU8r3dSUaxrQYKt5ui7nSSeYflTiS2DrmpMBndj_xDaMX1IgBDRGsuMo0L3cGJL-AJU2vrMPBKm2GoHnGywhgm7dZI/s1600/Q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYTPP6zNYhqbnXTjsqtO-AIiuUUPqIzNndjthd748bwmewLGJ6TeU8r3dSUaxrQYKt5ui7nSSeYflTiS2DrmpMBndj_xDaMX1IgBDRGsuMo0L3cGJL-AJU2vrMPBKm2GoHnGywhgm7dZI/s640/Q.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooker's Orchid (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Platanthera hookeri</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Even being one of the 'blander' all-green Platanthera orchids, Hooker's orchid has some exquisite details to be had from its architecture. The curvature of its labellum and long nectar spur are often colored a more yellowish-green than the rest of the plant and can really stand out in extra spectacular specimens. I think the photo above with an orchid contrasted nicely against my hat really shows off that color difference. Seeing a lot of large-flowered trillium (<i>Trillium grandiflorum</i>) mixed in with the orchids was extra nice, even if the trillium were mostly all well-past peak stage. If it wasn't for the storms and heavy rain quickly closing in on us, I could have hung out in this woods and its Hooker's orchids all day.<br />
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With that I think I'll call it quits on this fifth of seven installments on my botanical foray onto the Bruce peninsula in June 2015. If you're still enjoying what you're seeing and reading, I encourage you to come back soon as I wrap things up with two more posts! I've definitely saved some of the best for last and hope to have your readership at the conclusion of it all. Thanks as always for tuning in!<br />
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- ALG -Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-10233231248692121102017-04-03T01:01:00.000-04:002017-05-28T00:28:14.772-04:00The Bruce Peninsula Part IV: Roadside Plants & Critters<div style="text-align: left;">
*<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-wild-and-wonderful-bruce-peninsula.html">Part I</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-bruce-peninsula-singing-sands-of.html">Part II</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-bruce-peninsula-part-iii-rugged.html">Part III</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-iv-roadside.html">Part IV</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-v-rare-ferns.html">Part V</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-vi-alvar.html">Part VI</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-bruce-peninsula-part-vii-majestic.html">Part VII</a>*</div>
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I'm back and ready to march on with my seven part series on the wild and wonderful Bruce peninsula. However, this time around I'd like to do something a bit different. Instead of focusing on a specific place and exploring its depth, I'd like to share the plethora of plant and animal life one can come across by sticking to the roads. As I've mentioned in previous posts, the Bruce is largely an untamed wilderness that's comprised of national park land and nature reserves, and thus quite conducive to high diversity. Roadside botanizing can produce great results and many times one doesn't have to walk much further than a few meters to see dozens and dozens of wildflowers in the spring time.<br />
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So with that being said, I'd like to start things off and share some of my favorite wildflowers and critters my group and I came across during our week there in early June. Each photo will be accompanied by a little information but the pictures will definitely do most of the talking!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqs7sIQWyBb7XuyvywT2hhVf7U44a7by2XY2gwrIH5c-WSk2WAwkAb09REynUwO4cJ0nMZtNopYREXg9hxgXIv5eXbs0MIOWYhmu4ZZux2w1eg7l_mCRrs5uGMxCqtBL0aznxoc6g3tQ/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqs7sIQWyBb7XuyvywT2hhVf7U44a7by2XY2gwrIH5c-WSk2WAwkAb09REynUwO4cJ0nMZtNopYREXg9hxgXIv5eXbs0MIOWYhmu4ZZux2w1eg7l_mCRrs5uGMxCqtBL0aznxoc6g3tQ/s640/1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Incredible wildflower display at Cabot Head</td></tr>
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The rule is usually to save the best for last but I thought I'd try and grab everyone's attentions right away with the phenomenal wildflower display at Cabot Head. The open meadows are completely covered in a primary color explosion come early June. Scarlet paintbrush (<i>Castilleja coccinea</i>), balsam squaw-weed (<i>Packera paupercula</i>), and northern blue-eyed grass (<i>Sisyrinchium montanum</i>) all pop off the landscape unlike anything I'd seen before or since.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHI37R1uYpRR9xXNnEZoQp6uNNuMDhAwdqxeiotMBbtQlJKFbPWQM76aowc-NGVSiBagBKLTOjHklN6R52zRPjSfxOfkLJgGS74aIf0CY2S9K6ROHinnBbwEb7mb7yd1CBf3agclUOu0/s1600/2A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHI37R1uYpRR9xXNnEZoQp6uNNuMDhAwdqxeiotMBbtQlJKFbPWQM76aowc-NGVSiBagBKLTOjHklN6R52zRPjSfxOfkLJgGS74aIf0CY2S9K6ROHinnBbwEb7mb7yd1CBf3agclUOu0/s640/2A.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starflower (<i>Trientalis borealis</i>)</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTxI5b5-kfHi0hqoiw3sRa_IWC5s1KI6yb-pwi3u01a9PytSvXhVocfR-sWQZgC1EJRbD5VRsp7UVbbwTujfkbDF4cumTIyy_q8oNIhoHvFx_doJSM4a7pFWHdiOsR9N91NFj24kqILc/s1600/2B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTxI5b5-kfHi0hqoiw3sRa_IWC5s1KI6yb-pwi3u01a9PytSvXhVocfR-sWQZgC1EJRbD5VRsp7UVbbwTujfkbDF4cumTIyy_q8oNIhoHvFx_doJSM4a7pFWHdiOsR9N91NFj24kqILc/s640/2B.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canada Mayflower (<i>Maianthemum canadense</i>)</td></tr>
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Two common spring-blooming flowers that occur throughout the Bruce's cool, shaded coniferous forests are the starflower (<i>Trientalis borealis</i>) and Canada mayflower (<i>Maianthemum candense</i>). Both occur in Ohio, too, but they are done flowering by the time they get going this far north. Botanizing up here is like a literal time machine in the spring!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvzstP9_Rfaf2sgENtcFBJefKpi-Yc-s-npQApOCxFFXVv5TuRAqqejsiYFRmIgQx32j0vKsJyL5tIdXQPGuvlDH7BJllpZKMAZY0zxjCECido0ENHCTQj_MR0Z8-KAXXZgU1ahNFNN4/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipvzstP9_Rfaf2sgENtcFBJefKpi-Yc-s-npQApOCxFFXVv5TuRAqqejsiYFRmIgQx32j0vKsJyL5tIdXQPGuvlDH7BJllpZKMAZY0zxjCECido0ENHCTQj_MR0Z8-KAXXZgU1ahNFNN4/s640/3.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Prickly Rose (<i>Rosa acicularis</i>) </td></tr>
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Some wildflowers only look attractive; others are better suited to be enjoyed with your olfactories. Then there's the ones that are a two-for-one and treat both senses well like the wild prickly rose (<i>Rosa acicularis</i>). This northern species can often be smelled before it's seen, although it would be pretty difficult to not immediately see their bright pink blossoms.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JQTlL_E4RCi1BBYovOLcCtPjBPkgYGC6ff1AWTP-Qf9E4HUToG6hSy1FyEzOSZ-M6ezE4wCHvJkI-HLMmuNonTFvathhETqzu1GrNr4nXflP-t1PWarzHL_t8E2UIvxh1oXALuRbpkk/s1600/4A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7JQTlL_E4RCi1BBYovOLcCtPjBPkgYGC6ff1AWTP-Qf9E4HUToG6hSy1FyEzOSZ-M6ezE4wCHvJkI-HLMmuNonTFvathhETqzu1GrNr4nXflP-t1PWarzHL_t8E2UIvxh1oXALuRbpkk/s640/4A.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Fern (<i>Dryopteris filix-mas</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0NGav8bp1WydkO-jDP4lyfmpyk7KI9i713FLX5ZtYwh19N_MpO7aHHBhZALWNTf-9sXN3nw6UrCmTXOe_iPcyXhiF-Csp36AszMT2kM-GIV5T3YhUMThT1y32_SdRAQn9SXwktpuN20/s1600/4B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0NGav8bp1WydkO-jDP4lyfmpyk7KI9i713FLX5ZtYwh19N_MpO7aHHBhZALWNTf-9sXN3nw6UrCmTXOe_iPcyXhiF-Csp36AszMT2kM-GIV5T3YhUMThT1y32_SdRAQn9SXwktpuN20/s640/4B.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Fern (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Dryopteris filix-mas</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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An intriguing member of the Bruce's roadside flora is the rare male fern (<i>Dryopteris filix-mas</i>). Like many other odd species in the Great Lakes region, the male fern is a disjunct occurrence this far east. It's much more widespread and common out West but only grows in a few scattered locations this far east. Male fern was one of the dozens of life plants I had the pleasure of making acquaintances with while up there and was a surprise find!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7No3bkkFvBeSbtNysVYNKADwKZ5A3TsjrjftJd8oxjKrpO0YoxurGltEsl5g2kfukx_nxij_qcmGcar67KteASY3IYTLhYLgmP0ENr8AtLTwTFjsC9CpQgKw5W_g3PS5Vnrwg3cjrIc/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7No3bkkFvBeSbtNysVYNKADwKZ5A3TsjrjftJd8oxjKrpO0YoxurGltEsl5g2kfukx_nxij_qcmGcar67KteASY3IYTLhYLgmP0ENr8AtLTwTFjsC9CpQgKw5W_g3PS5Vnrwg3cjrIc/s640/5.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Lily (<i>Lilium philadelphicum</i>)</td></tr>
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If ferns aren't exactly your thing and not aesthetically appealing enough to make you want to visit the Bruce then I think I have you covered with the gorgeous wood lily (<i>Lilium philadelphicum</i>). Come mid-June the dry, gravelly roadsides and other open areas explode in fire orange as the lilies open their tepal (petals and sepals that look identical) perfection. Wood lilies are excruciatingly rare in Ohio and I easily saw more along a mile of roadside on the Bruce than still exists in the entire state. That's a sight I never, ever got tired of!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHP7alaPGUc58Q3lNaonOdU3vpkRNOY_62r6pNB9w2n3v-L1SUF46i_RvoDn5fHAxKTqzdgLRvMJQy8AvOC2idmQQUOxRwzeB5GNJ-FfngtmzZgvabcc-gYa0GVumZlpwfJ7twvcHbKw/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHP7alaPGUc58Q3lNaonOdU3vpkRNOY_62r6pNB9w2n3v-L1SUF46i_RvoDn5fHAxKTqzdgLRvMJQy8AvOC2idmQQUOxRwzeB5GNJ-FfngtmzZgvabcc-gYa0GVumZlpwfJ7twvcHbKw/s640/6.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showy Lady's Slipper (<i>Cypripedium reginae</i>) </td></tr>
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Yet another stunning wildflower to be found in select spots along the Bruce's roadsides is the stately showy or queen's lady's slipper (<i>Cypripedium reginae</i>). They bloom in the second half of June and weren't ready to show off during our 2015 visit but we did find several spots getting ready to bloom. The photo here was from my 2011 trip. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsHFL9OKXEcsev9AvUr8NwadiJFKvQF3xe24AvfS5Efa0yVkYGKM1T74l3bED3wfXeqvM2pGb326ua6l8MJ8JOVJPE5venOG924acba6RDpOMFkvAgwlPC3UrLU2c3V289p8aZnwg9x4/s1600/7A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsHFL9OKXEcsev9AvUr8NwadiJFKvQF3xe24AvfS5Efa0yVkYGKM1T74l3bED3wfXeqvM2pGb326ua6l8MJ8JOVJPE5venOG924acba6RDpOMFkvAgwlPC3UrLU2c3V289p8aZnwg9x4/s640/7A.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large Yellow Lady's Slippers (<i>Cypripedium pubescens</i>)</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLgo2YRK8c_aIo-04l3Pwh1JiBlYGucZPM4UJyX90U_m_b6TqOts3kpui71cJmZXGSTbAxroxT6MqvBOKRhwpLel6JeokOz0SOtD3pkz-2zwDuIySgCzLj3iHOOHijxN90LEzA7GiUJ0/s1600/7B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLgo2YRK8c_aIo-04l3Pwh1JiBlYGucZPM4UJyX90U_m_b6TqOts3kpui71cJmZXGSTbAxroxT6MqvBOKRhwpLel6JeokOz0SOtD3pkz-2zwDuIySgCzLj3iHOOHijxN90LEzA7GiUJ0/s640/7B.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Small Yellow Lady's Slippers (<i>Cypripedium parviflorum var. makasin</i>)</td></tr>
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The Bruce is an orchid wonderland and not a single post during this long series will be bereft of their beauty. I wish I had a photo to really show off exactly how common and dense the yellow lady's slippers are along the roadsides in many spots but even then it wouldn't do much to beat seeing them in person. Both the large and northern small yellow lady's slippers (<i>Cypripedium pubescens </i>& <i>C. parviflorum var. makasin</i>) occur and can often times form extensive hybrid swarms of integrating plants, making true identification one way or the other nigh on impossible.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1Wfv1wAcbihJiJ54hEg9765E8wy3XcT6L942lmefkxd7pbG6CJHXdPdtfRc6Vr7Dmx94wiH5INJ8WXOSPLiKNeaTyT4LPuZylSjGeaCtf6K-YbuettwPSlhuHl-4dT_AZYfjAt441ro/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh1Wfv1wAcbihJiJ54hEg9765E8wy3XcT6L942lmefkxd7pbG6CJHXdPdtfRc6Vr7Dmx94wiH5INJ8WXOSPLiKNeaTyT4LPuZylSjGeaCtf6K-YbuettwPSlhuHl-4dT_AZYfjAt441ro/s640/8.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Ruffed Grouse with her chicks, sadly not seen in photo</td></tr>
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One of my favorite roadside happenings was seeing a gorgeous female ruffed grouse perched on a log not more than ten feet off the road. She stayed completely still for a long while and allowed for some photos to be taken. It was easily the best, and really only time I've seen this bird up close. Most times they're exploding at/near my feet and about giving me a heart attack. My friends, Paul Marcum and his wife Jean Mengelkoch were in the car behind mine and later informed me she had a line of chicks with her! A shame I didn't have the angle to see them...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheV77e0_a079ex2Ihej32PbW-9sc29H_-_b7M8zjJQpXYs2_AKsQzwBBZpH4MaULRJ3kCNojs-TndXkwitl8UYmzKqd_n_kik0N_LHguNheWaj13GPDEK2VyV4OVMw-xk6MSxay8e8KL4/s1600/9A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheV77e0_a079ex2Ihej32PbW-9sc29H_-_b7M8zjJQpXYs2_AKsQzwBBZpH4MaULRJ3kCNojs-TndXkwitl8UYmzKqd_n_kik0N_LHguNheWaj13GPDEK2VyV4OVMw-xk6MSxay8e8KL4/s640/9A.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fire Cherry (<i>Prunus pensylvanica</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-iCzAHD5u8qry-1kohrNOp7zIaId9Q7vlCk2WhwIf4t97KzaTvdHf9JZU0UdIp6Y33sMT4Fjzb4JjgnlmQd6QeuLwDs0Wo2YwBbjwEWTxbQJyZYJWrNQRJcn-ITxhyDfvRXXXgjcMXk/s1600/9B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP-iCzAHD5u8qry-1kohrNOp7zIaId9Q7vlCk2WhwIf4t97KzaTvdHf9JZU0UdIp6Y33sMT4Fjzb4JjgnlmQd6QeuLwDs0Wo2YwBbjwEWTxbQJyZYJWrNQRJcn-ITxhyDfvRXXXgjcMXk/s640/9B.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prickly Currant (<i>Ribes lacustre</i>)</td></tr>
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A couple neat woody plants exhibiting their pretty flowers during our stay were the fire cherry (<i>Prunus pensylvanica</i>) and prickly currant (<i>Ribes lacustre</i>). I'd seen fire cherry a handful of times before when botanizing up north but the prickly currant was a new life plant for me and curiously growing literally right beside our cabin. Nice to find a lifer without much effort!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuxosCb3FoxCg0NKNqXzCHmtDuVT1aolYULhFxtGt5KO7gwNY4rBnlNUkkfhcwvbodbY2TB0lR0HF4a0-946oRaEQbflBUQlegMwTTNxnSjybRXyKU_lOkpoA03Z5q7MHgNu3AeYI4xg/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPuxosCb3FoxCg0NKNqXzCHmtDuVT1aolYULhFxtGt5KO7gwNY4rBnlNUkkfhcwvbodbY2TB0lR0HF4a0-946oRaEQbflBUQlegMwTTNxnSjybRXyKU_lOkpoA03Z5q7MHgNu3AeYI4xg/s640/10.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Limber Honeysuckle (<i>Lonicera dioica</i>)</td></tr>
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One of the best parts of the Bruce is the fact that invasive species, while present are fewer and farther between and not nearly the issue they are down home's way. While honeysuckle is largely heard as an evil name in Ohio, the Bruce is home to a handful of indigenous honeysuckle vines/shrubs like the limber honeysuckle (<i>Lonicera dioica</i>) featured here. It occurs all over the place in large, dense tangles and was in picture perfect flower.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1ONmOfoYUo1n-104IuzMI8mVDZe69lr-mg38SgFexm94E-B7zb-1aKM55zFrBkbIchNeZvXPT4MPgDq8HP_59cxSqjYlweezKFqC7kpc7UcKwDsEjN_Vk-a_2lb7KF9gBHPye2W4hwQ/s1600/11A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_1ONmOfoYUo1n-104IuzMI8mVDZe69lr-mg38SgFexm94E-B7zb-1aKM55zFrBkbIchNeZvXPT4MPgDq8HP_59cxSqjYlweezKFqC7kpc7UcKwDsEjN_Vk-a_2lb7KF9gBHPye2W4hwQ/s640/11A.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Fly Honeysuckle (<i>Lonicera canadensis</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXULUASQuTEqggP-zQyB4SY6zXKdIaVsgt67jRwsgODHSdYOed_ePoe8fbmnNjNlA6OuGGO3eqiL_cqOF67jE2AY9hCT976v1Hv0gzmy3HhD9j0d-aGOFBCZ4jxnNDus4jiw5s48RSoQ/s1600/11B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQXULUASQuTEqggP-zQyB4SY6zXKdIaVsgt67jRwsgODHSdYOed_ePoe8fbmnNjNlA6OuGGO3eqiL_cqOF67jE2AY9hCT976v1Hv0gzmy3HhD9j0d-aGOFBCZ4jxnNDus4jiw5s48RSoQ/s640/11B.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swamp Fly Honeysuckle (<i>Lonicera oblongifolia</i>)</td></tr>
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A couple more native honeysuckles I was fortunate enough to see while on the Bruce was swamp fly honeysuckle (<i>L. oblongifolia</i>) and American fly honeysuckle (<i>L. canadensis</i>). Both are more shrubby in form and have exquisite blossoms. Interestingly, the American fly honeysuckle (odd it's commonly called American with the epithet meaning 'of Canada') was just barely still in flower at the beginning of my trip; the the swamp fly honeysuckle just barely starting to bloom on my last day. It felt like I timed it just right to get both on my list!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZoH3wpQbLyExAAanxbSG5ISWLSrGFruW-gJ7IU1KamAdEndnM6SwHk-2FwfVzNwa1wWxM6U2UwyTUDDr-7joj7KA6O0vyl5nmDjwN2Fjft35AlQA4dI_SPJ8cksGTAcCw1bfaIQ5kRU/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRZoH3wpQbLyExAAanxbSG5ISWLSrGFruW-gJ7IU1KamAdEndnM6SwHk-2FwfVzNwa1wWxM6U2UwyTUDDr-7joj7KA6O0vyl5nmDjwN2Fjft35AlQA4dI_SPJ8cksGTAcCw1bfaIQ5kRU/s640/12.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black bear out foraging in a meadow</td></tr>
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One of the best critter sightings of the trip was a large black bear foraging in a meadow off the road. Black bears are a common occurrence throughout the Bruce but I'd yet to lay eyes on one in the flesh. This fella was a few hundred yards away and my zoom lens was able to get a decent shot or two. Hilariously, my friend Rob decided to do his best moose call impression and got the bear to stand up on its back legs and look back our way a few times!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-sY4y96GTnaFIu-1Jn1RhYUrGZLpwYjd2l6zfEoHxVFbEgjYp4mN9IWkbmwdDvCG87KTiPTSaANGxZajdZz-LDA667AAPZCh2-11T5VjPDXUZz2eHdHWhuQBhhwlu77VsXS-XPagsTlI/s1600/13A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-sY4y96GTnaFIu-1Jn1RhYUrGZLpwYjd2l6zfEoHxVFbEgjYp4mN9IWkbmwdDvCG87KTiPTSaANGxZajdZz-LDA667AAPZCh2-11T5VjPDXUZz2eHdHWhuQBhhwlu77VsXS-XPagsTlI/s640/13A.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Federally Threatened Dwarf Lake Iris (<i>Iris lacustris</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6HNR1FAnOzpgk6oL9QwZcjN54BBsfQkYnIW1bFdVu3fhe0xaQwJGiSfcNKy2UMhGQWfLsj6kvXoLFO83pT_QoZkvVknIUyqWLQiWV-SQRDCHa8Ex5CBrQBYIRiq5i_-1W6dE1FHMmdk/s1600/13B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid6HNR1FAnOzpgk6oL9QwZcjN54BBsfQkYnIW1bFdVu3fhe0xaQwJGiSfcNKy2UMhGQWfLsj6kvXoLFO83pT_QoZkvVknIUyqWLQiWV-SQRDCHa8Ex5CBrQBYIRiq5i_-1W6dE1FHMmdk/s640/13B.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Federally Threatened Dwarf Lake Iris (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Iris lacustris</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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No tribute to the region's best roadside botany would be complete without mention of the federally threatened dwarf lake iris (<i>Iris lacustris</i>). I went into more detail about this globally rare wonder in my earlier post on the Singing Sands but its splendor was more than worth sharing again! I tossed in an iPhone photo with my hand in the frame to give you a grasp on just how dainty these irises are.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcJYPKfQNhACmCf7-TR01E2mMB0tS-J8vV2mxAAlWYjT9zBg4AuuXOaH0Ocai8_zWJ4YC62b8_s3ZHcXLuC1qvf4IVrw17CGB0Z9fb8R_ziPCxEQ749MkDdyKimrzTjalMRPwOuat6WU/s1600/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQcJYPKfQNhACmCf7-TR01E2mMB0tS-J8vV2mxAAlWYjT9zBg4AuuXOaH0Ocai8_zWJ4YC62b8_s3ZHcXLuC1qvf4IVrw17CGB0Z9fb8R_ziPCxEQ749MkDdyKimrzTjalMRPwOuat6WU/s640/14.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A splendid wetland complex full of awesome flora</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Wetlands dot the landscape throughout the northern half of the peninsula and just about every one of them is worth taking the time to explore. One particular boggy pond near our cabin was full of exciting plants, including a mass of one in perfect flower I almost never get to see.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw24wrZPKo8vKDEV2k94XjrP5IWJptsq4xcKZVvtQeoNsiyoU46LG8lPjut9pi07PtkJTZJebGqHL-zuYNoI1yyjUYAtVCSMehzCOOiIxRP5CZxDzEUlPmBOR3PCCJe1ID3YziX2aOcQQ/s1600/15A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw24wrZPKo8vKDEV2k94XjrP5IWJptsq4xcKZVvtQeoNsiyoU46LG8lPjut9pi07PtkJTZJebGqHL-zuYNoI1yyjUYAtVCSMehzCOOiIxRP5CZxDzEUlPmBOR3PCCJe1ID3YziX2aOcQQ/s640/15A.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bog Buckbean (<i>Menyanthes trifoliata</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qUEEduAGNLqc6lR58rNFhI0dgXTR9gaMUVPQIhG_kehCzfAaKldta1hOkVNjm58-4xraH2Bjv4Jdjx9gRN9SFYVKAeQFDETAFf8ZSWnUE3SBJ-sEIMDjwyUI8eiX_bgUMEMBfj-yXys/s1600/15B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_qUEEduAGNLqc6lR58rNFhI0dgXTR9gaMUVPQIhG_kehCzfAaKldta1hOkVNjm58-4xraH2Bjv4Jdjx9gRN9SFYVKAeQFDETAFf8ZSWnUE3SBJ-sEIMDjwyUI8eiX_bgUMEMBfj-yXys/s640/15B.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bog Buckbean (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Menyanthes trifoliata</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The bog buckbean (<i>Menyanthes trifoliata</i>) isn't a rare plant to come across while up in the northern Great Lakes by any stretch but finding it blooming en masse can be a fickle task. One edge of the pond was covered in the stuff and a wonderful chance to enjoy their unique flowers adorned with hair-like fringing. The pseudo-bottom of the pond was covered in a thick mat of dead, sunken vegetation that could just barely hold my weight and keep the waterline below my boots. One wrong step could, and did a time or two send my leg plunging deeper down and soaking me thoroughly. Well worth it to see such a wonderful wildflower!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGj8fexzwL870groDaWmasM1zuXwXugnZJBep8tyNU6bihXca_n_1HRFaZazxlmxIzddMSPwaHuyqTij2w9aTbdxUmnGY4lAXWVOB5NEMcQSP78kLWdydjMwWxiVn2H8EIJGwTkU8ufj0/s1600/16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGj8fexzwL870groDaWmasM1zuXwXugnZJBep8tyNU6bihXca_n_1HRFaZazxlmxIzddMSPwaHuyqTij2w9aTbdxUmnGY4lAXWVOB5NEMcQSP78kLWdydjMwWxiVn2H8EIJGwTkU8ufj0/s640/16.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bunchberry (<i>Cornus canadensis</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Perhaps my favorite plant of all to be found in the northern woods is the bunchberry (<i>Cornus canadensis</i>). This member of the dogwood genus is a small trailing vine/shrub that produces stunning flowering dogwood-like bracts and flower clusters each spring but at your feet instead of above your head. The Bruce is covered with the stuff and I never, ever got tired of seeing it.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYidHUrnRXzgWFTv0fTGtH4NotfM0LLI5_l0duUdPuBGyowN2eRRRnw9PR8Agyu7exF0EVCQO0PpdqCc628bdN9in4wXWLSIqX5XXzYWpUp137lCWcbBgFL5ioOAQvdmADrbElpX_n74/s1600/17A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzYidHUrnRXzgWFTv0fTGtH4NotfM0LLI5_l0duUdPuBGyowN2eRRRnw9PR8Agyu7exF0EVCQO0PpdqCc628bdN9in4wXWLSIqX5XXzYWpUp137lCWcbBgFL5ioOAQvdmADrbElpX_n74/s640/17A.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flat-leaved Bladderwort (<i>Utricularis intermedia</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RLT0R3hsXFqvZQ5FNJ5YR_VQwYLiw1AWfdn56rht2YxaZXc2O1NwVSqfK1ITS982gNGAf2aI48iwMq1tXPkz5ERQoQ8Rq110XZJPGdmYfXN6zdCAvzk1WqL_IUmiPKAMYwv4MPg_YCU/s1600/17B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_RLT0R3hsXFqvZQ5FNJ5YR_VQwYLiw1AWfdn56rht2YxaZXc2O1NwVSqfK1ITS982gNGAf2aI48iwMq1tXPkz5ERQoQ8Rq110XZJPGdmYfXN6zdCAvzk1WqL_IUmiPKAMYwv4MPg_YCU/s640/17B.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Pitcher Plant (<i>Sarracenia purpurea var. purpurea</i>)</td></tr>
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Even the roadside wet ditches can be a botanical treasure trove up on the Bruce. In the more secluded back roads it wasn't uncommon to see long stretches of ditch covered in a medley of carnivorous plants such as the northern pitcher plant (<i>Sarracenia purpurea var. purpurea</i>) and flat-leaved bladderwort (<i>Utricularia intermedia</i>). If only home's roadside ditches could be this cool, eh?</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYd2iF9w5Gzdbp57i_wfE3ooW9f9GV7HUlVRqcyeWl9VVNYke0KPiphHLNvuwfwsLQ3SsxBXC2Wr27f1oyGr5Wtu8MGcQLn1ELtZUP0P9nONtlNQI3ISMcxzy68oI9P-7vugfDAR146Q/s1600/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidYd2iF9w5Gzdbp57i_wfE3ooW9f9GV7HUlVRqcyeWl9VVNYke0KPiphHLNvuwfwsLQ3SsxBXC2Wr27f1oyGr5Wtu8MGcQLn1ELtZUP0P9nONtlNQI3ISMcxzy68oI9P-7vugfDAR146Q/s640/18.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Columbine (<i>Aquilegia canadensis</i>)</td></tr>
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The large patches of wild columbine (<i>Aquilegia canadensis</i>) were impossible to miss with their ruby red flowers quivering in the cool breezes. Not too shabby a place when your roadside 'weeds' are gobs of columbines!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsYa7N8R7B8wZhrSIu1MQQAmzLF2lsk8OjpQAqA0Chd6USlBcUjOhE_r1QB25ORO3wN7gOJer91xOMqYLC0_dMFivRSCmvG4E5oh-0qMlnDSGKxMnKSt6dYM8znswiAb7cnqR5LkecLs/s1600/19A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsYa7N8R7B8wZhrSIu1MQQAmzLF2lsk8OjpQAqA0Chd6USlBcUjOhE_r1QB25ORO3wN7gOJer91xOMqYLC0_dMFivRSCmvG4E5oh-0qMlnDSGKxMnKSt6dYM8znswiAb7cnqR5LkecLs/s640/19A.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blanding's Turtle!</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuY802CZRgEYQ0z32O7SRy6oYqCn3sKdEnO-xySnvCH9CSabEQTw2zKuEAx2XWmfKrjdFbXYb5GPRhGmnl-BhA3-v985mgVsZ2pDtjVDTtMAfuuZNI_Ef2FsYh05Xkd46UrD8GsNsPyZs/s1600/19B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuY802CZRgEYQ0z32O7SRy6oYqCn3sKdEnO-xySnvCH9CSabEQTw2zKuEAx2XWmfKrjdFbXYb5GPRhGmnl-BhA3-v985mgVsZ2pDtjVDTtMAfuuZNI_Ef2FsYh05Xkd46UrD8GsNsPyZs/s640/19B.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blanding's Turtle!</td></tr>
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Hands down my favorite wildlife sighting during our Bruce trip was also our most serendipitous find. While cruising over to the Cabot Head region along the Georgian Bay we happened across this Blanding's turtle trying to cross the road. I'd never seen one before but instantly recognized it by its distinct yellow markings. As it turns out, Blanding's turtles are quite rare in Ontario, as they are in Ohio and listed as a threatened species. Rob turned in an electronic record for our sighting in the Ontario database and was shocked to see this was only the second or third recorded sighting of a Blanding's turtle on the Bruce in the last 20 years! Hopefully that's just folks being lazy and not turning in their data and they're more common than that. Regardless, it was so awesome to spend time with this increasingly rare but always beautiful reptilian critter.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3q9oXzzxGodMocGCt54te7JbG0k-Vuk_eFmxGvebKCCowN7471WATdQAomVP0KP2m8BNRYB8jQrPP-poqAfMIkM3HlFiUQ1g3Yht9jS8ymtsP5TC0e_o-3aws2JCunsX2s6lsj7ntkqE/s1600/20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3q9oXzzxGodMocGCt54te7JbG0k-Vuk_eFmxGvebKCCowN7471WATdQAomVP0KP2m8BNRYB8jQrPP-poqAfMIkM3HlFiUQ1g3Yht9jS8ymtsP5TC0e_o-3aws2JCunsX2s6lsj7ntkqE/s640/20.jpg" width="422" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Thimbleweed (<i>Anenome multifida</i>)</td></tr>
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Yet another example of the Great Lakes playing home to disjunct western plants is the red thimbleweed (<i>Anenome multifida</i>). I had hopes to find some and managed to luck out on a single flowering plant along the road. The sun was bright and the wind constantly blowing so I only managed a quick iPhone photo and figured I'd come back with my camera for a better chance later in the day...only to come back to the petals fallen! Quite the ephemeral flower, I'd say. Even so, it was another check next to a life plant on my list! The magic of the Bruce continues.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rough-leaved Ricegrass (<i>Oryzopsis asperifolia</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxr5FUtwyO7XYT77snUodc95itjly0JxJ1DbdThe2u7Xcm97ym12fiRqn15tF3J3PjMKyGFyQmrpYjjR9gGHPH3w-7CCdQ-IBRRN8eLZv0KQlOKsmb928S8preLxbQFRttbjhJ4b5Scr4/s1600/21B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxr5FUtwyO7XYT77snUodc95itjly0JxJ1DbdThe2u7Xcm97ym12fiRqn15tF3J3PjMKyGFyQmrpYjjR9gGHPH3w-7CCdQ-IBRRN8eLZv0KQlOKsmb928S8preLxbQFRttbjhJ4b5Scr4/s640/21B.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet Grass (<i>Hierochloe odorata</i>)</td></tr>
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I'll cap off this long blog of Bruce roadside botany with a pair of grasses to please my inner grami-nerd'ness. The rough-leaved ricegrass (<i>Oryzopsis asperifolia</i>) won't win any awards for its looks but as a critically endangered species back home in Ohio and a life plant, I was ecstatic to find some! On the other hand, sweet grass (<i>Hierochloe odorata</i>) isn't nearly as rare in Ohio but is restricted to higher-quality fens and wet meadows. Always nice to see and get a whiff of its sweet aroma!<br />
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I hope everyone enjoyed this look at but a small sampling of the pretty, rare, unusual, exciting etc. plants one might find along the Bruce's roadsides in spring. I also hope you're enjoying this series as it hits its mid point! I have three more posts to go and think the best is yet to come. So check back soon for more on the wild and wonderful Bruce peninsula!<br />
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- ALG -</div>
Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-19990109754840888682017-03-31T22:50:00.003-04:002017-05-28T00:28:22.164-04:00The Bruce Peninsula Part III: Rugged Shores of the Georgian Bay *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-wild-and-wonderful-bruce-peninsula.html">Part I</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-bruce-peninsula-singing-sands-of.html">Part II</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-bruce-peninsula-part-iii-rugged.html">Part III</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-iv-roadside.html">Part IV</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-v-rare-ferns.html">Part V</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-vi-alvar.html">Part VI</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-bruce-peninsula-part-vii-majestic.html">Part VII</a>*<br />
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I hope my previous post on the phenomenal Singing Sands at Dorcas Bay was enough to whet your appetite for more of the Bruce peninsula because this series is just getting started. The region is such a memorable and botanically, geologically, ecologically etc. fascinating place that I'd be doing it a genuine disservice to not share an in-depth look at it. Plus, I'll be honest and say that this is a bit personal and a fun way to reminisce on one of the more exciting weeks of my life. Really, I can't sell the perfection of the Bruce enough!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crystal clear aqua water and rough shorelines of the Halfway Log Dump area</td></tr>
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Part III on this series takes us to the opposite side of the northern Bruce's shoreline. While Dorcas Bay and the western shores have been worn and weathered away, the eastern side sits in the calmer, more protected Georgian Bay. This makes for a rather dramatic landscape complimented by boulder-strewn beaches and breathtaking cliffs as you'll come to see. Your blogger is of the opinion that these stretches of coast are as gorgeous and scenic as you'll find in the entire Great Lakes region. In this post we'll stick to an area locally known as Halfway Log Dump and the botanical treasures that reside within.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twinflower (<i>Linnaea borealis</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgV4WbLO6b8bDNVG0WQJXQG7ubm0xG5Zi47gW6rAO7SsCZYwSqAWwJ3DeWg3yPjwz0Jw5br8jzv5xxszXCGRZZxsCWeXEr3d24Nf51NSD19huOaQ5OR4yJrme4AMiFQ1xFqVp3vp7r5M/s1600/B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVgV4WbLO6b8bDNVG0WQJXQG7ubm0xG5Zi47gW6rAO7SsCZYwSqAWwJ3DeWg3yPjwz0Jw5br8jzv5xxszXCGRZZxsCWeXEr3d24Nf51NSD19huOaQ5OR4yJrme4AMiFQ1xFqVp3vp7r5M/s640/B2.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Twinflower (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Linnaea borealis</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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The drive through the interior of the peninsula to its eastern shores takes you through a mosaic of wetlands, coniferous forest, marsh, and alvar pavement. Next to no development; just preserved and undisturbed wilderness. The northern flora takes full advantage of this with plants like the charming twinflower (<i>Linnaea borealis</i>) a common sight on the hike to Halfway Log Dump's aqua waters.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbGWk4MZDAhDeQLjp0ICmLL0MdWYFp-r9iq1hX6zyQ1v9BQ84kktNbNVx40bfC2hfR2nss1x0zdmXvrvNaK__ycgCJoE-qj_JNC2eLo-6-Oc7Z4HEK5froiDixQA2qz8X6rbjzwVu3Ps/s1600/C.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigbGWk4MZDAhDeQLjp0ICmLL0MdWYFp-r9iq1hX6zyQ1v9BQ84kktNbNVx40bfC2hfR2nss1x0zdmXvrvNaK__ycgCJoE-qj_JNC2eLo-6-Oc7Z4HEK5froiDixQA2qz8X6rbjzwVu3Ps/s640/C.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Striped Coral-root (<i>Corallorhiza striata var. striata</i>)</td></tr>
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The Bruce is perhaps best known to plant folks for its staggering diversity of native orchids in such a small geographic area. It shouldn't come as any surprise that this fact was the catalyst for my initial visit years ago. Some species are so locally common that you'd have a harder time not coming across them, like the striped coral-root (<i>Corallorhiza striata var. striata</i>). Also known as peppermint stick orchid, this striking myco-heterotroph loves to appear in the drier upland coniferous woodlands bordering the Bruce's wetlands. Striped coral-root ranges widely throughout the Mountain West but persists in a disjunct, rare fashion in the Great Lakes.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMb4cSEj4lA2V4wv6Ml1MrbG9rNqFcK_kSMHQGjLC3Vuvf7lGsr-60qqMQ-a7dahmgzbCfnaq3gv6fM4KhNaBYyL7uoX2fsdPZEpAjrHUJ6dO9uIUsvj8Ky0yLu0QGMbreQNJZVfujxQ0/s1600/D1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMb4cSEj4lA2V4wv6Ml1MrbG9rNqFcK_kSMHQGjLC3Vuvf7lGsr-60qqMQ-a7dahmgzbCfnaq3gv6fM4KhNaBYyL7uoX2fsdPZEpAjrHUJ6dO9uIUsvj8Ky0yLu0QGMbreQNJZVfujxQ0/s640/D1.JPG" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dewey's Sedge (<i>Carex deweyana</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjpHP95bmj52d5eAe26L3m5abqWvwKIrHP08xbG8VD5WA-JmVGG96ORUr64dEJMx4g7-DfuT109JavSzNUsGX6EwAGtubEmELFOv8ax8EH-kTvpNm83Ge2532ZBVV40lmE5N-SaJe1p8/s1600/D2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUjpHP95bmj52d5eAe26L3m5abqWvwKIrHP08xbG8VD5WA-JmVGG96ORUr64dEJMx4g7-DfuT109JavSzNUsGX6EwAGtubEmELFOv8ax8EH-kTvpNm83Ge2532ZBVV40lmE5N-SaJe1p8/s640/D2.JPG" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Balsam Poplar (<i>Populus balsamifera</i>)</td></tr>
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The walk through the woods to the Georgian Bay's shoreline was very fruitful and gave me the opportunity to enjoy plants I'd never get to see back home. Looking down along the trail I noticed Dewey's sedge (<i>Carex deweyana</i>), a species long extirpated from Ohio's soils; and then looming directly above it was the Ohio endangered balsam popular (<i>Populus balsamifera</i>). Both won't get much of a look from local botanists but to a 'southerner' like me they were plants to cherish!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVWiPkR1RyR3PfbAMTvXhvXxVTm6djk956KmBd7VQlkJmg1XQ-COlgvXScBYZFbn0VLJAURHr-wrc2KCwAQgA2uRvqwVOOc57NkVCQKtRdj_CmkVokeEU_H3kCKqumWqqZ-hZnVEU5Is/s1600/E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVWiPkR1RyR3PfbAMTvXhvXxVTm6djk956KmBd7VQlkJmg1XQ-COlgvXScBYZFbn0VLJAURHr-wrc2KCwAQgA2uRvqwVOOc57NkVCQKtRdj_CmkVokeEU_H3kCKqumWqqZ-hZnVEU5Is/s640/E.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bleached limestone cobble along the aqua waters of the Georgian Bay</td></tr>
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Upon breaking out of the forest and onto the coast you are rewarded with a sight like something out of a dream. An endless beach of bleached limestone cobble melts into the most pristine crystal clear water for as far as the eye can see.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Perfect waters of the Georgian Bay</td></tr>
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If you didn't know any better you'd seriously think someone transported you to the equatorial waters of the Caribbean or Indonesia looking out across the Georgian Bay. The aqua shallows quickly dive into the dark blues of deep water just off the coast in a fashion similar to continental shelves in the oceans. This becomes much more apparent when viewed at a higher elevation as photos to come will show.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halfway Log Dump along the shores of the Georgian Bay</td></tr>
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Halfway Log Dump always gets a bit of a chuckle out of me when I read, hear and/or see the name, especially considering just how beautiful the landscape is. The name comes from the beach being used as a 'dump' or staging area for lumber during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It was much easier to amass cut timber here and float the logs up and down the coast to mills for processing. There's no evidence of this practice left, at least as far as I could tell but the name stuck.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmD8gmfTHRo8aYpBxF28127SdVoDLBiPHquKiQ9pH7_Ui8K4LDowhr2smCuywCB2ffUcHWUsxRNvoUZ4K0c-_nVbrqmTtjTyDnjcHOsZJS2h6pi1UKr4BctYYWS8K5Nx0zyCFFMSx4LeU/s1600/H1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmD8gmfTHRo8aYpBxF28127SdVoDLBiPHquKiQ9pH7_Ui8K4LDowhr2smCuywCB2ffUcHWUsxRNvoUZ4K0c-_nVbrqmTtjTyDnjcHOsZJS2h6pi1UKr4BctYYWS8K5Nx0zyCFFMSx4LeU/s640/H1.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Bog Violet (<i>Viola nephropylla</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4VnoXyo70Pd4jedgigTAPocqh3x8_Mi-Tju8RV7scUk5jwcR1lcTc1qnnUzab8uYVc7qbza9yCNgO2DrlfnknViqWPdU59vHX1Fh6s2grQfpiKGujpq404KYJsl8Fsmair4Ff-Ixt3I/s1600/H2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4VnoXyo70Pd4jedgigTAPocqh3x8_Mi-Tju8RV7scUk5jwcR1lcTc1qnnUzab8uYVc7qbza9yCNgO2DrlfnknViqWPdU59vHX1Fh6s2grQfpiKGujpq404KYJsl8Fsmair4Ff-Ixt3I/s640/H2.jpg" width="436" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ancient white cedar</td></tr>
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The harsh conditions of the beach do a good job of preventing much plant growth overall with sun-baked summers and ice-covered winters but a number of species manage to do just fine. The most noticeable and distinguished are the ancient white cedars (<i>Thuja occidentalis</i>) growing from the cobble and cracks in the limestone pavement. More on them and their incredible story in a future post! On a smaller and much more ephemeral scale is the northern bog violet (<i>Viola nephrophylla</i>). It grew in just about every seepy crack and crease on the beach.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMCsaHxYBr08IvYPYOUblfwAue1e6K4kulYNsjGwPsZDGy3E2pc_Qw9LLCTyYwL9MA5SkBucwtDRnNJB-67vgekfbcIRdF8kucdBWyOVqSyGNaTxU-UOoGO0e_r_fi6Sq7kZn9jRFl1Y/s1600/I.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieMCsaHxYBr08IvYPYOUblfwAue1e6K4kulYNsjGwPsZDGy3E2pc_Qw9LLCTyYwL9MA5SkBucwtDRnNJB-67vgekfbcIRdF8kucdBWyOVqSyGNaTxU-UOoGO0e_r_fi6Sq7kZn9jRFl1Y/s640/I.JPG" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halfway Log Dump with Cave Point in the distance</td></tr>
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The further north you explore along the shores of Halfway Log Dump, the larger and larger the boulders become with some reaching house-sized proportions. In places the beach is a literal labyrinth of limestone and a challenge to successfully navigate. This draws rock climbers from all over and makes this beach one of the region's most popular bouldering areas. But be careful where you do your climbing because a stretch of this shoreline is off limits as it hosts one of the continent's more rare wildflowers.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63nC0BC_vXDjwuwjiCEeEWJiuKDZEIG76yoyeoZb14G1pfEx5kHZy38wxXAr99MUGI7qlP5ss6oDRasQSxm-o7oNLfBIisp74PZY5JyRZRLvcVbfsxyX1a1gS3UCismdHpON5OTkAqPo/s1600/J1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh63nC0BC_vXDjwuwjiCEeEWJiuKDZEIG76yoyeoZb14G1pfEx5kHZy38wxXAr99MUGI7qlP5ss6oDRasQSxm-o7oNLfBIisp74PZY5JyRZRLvcVbfsxyX1a1gS3UCismdHpON5OTkAqPo/s640/J1.JPG" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge boulder polka-dotted with Lakeside Daisies</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVcq6_Wr96RTT74icqVEFDY6hTqYxJtsMSeVOBOzCElkfPZebTOZAJCmQukAP-sIA_DK53QkkSrxTHPzQnM-cGAhMQJnjtEtaMOsRQDr_01278ZtWmG8kLPvPAgl9oiknMcxHtXxW4yY/s1600/J2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSVcq6_Wr96RTT74icqVEFDY6hTqYxJtsMSeVOBOzCElkfPZebTOZAJCmQukAP-sIA_DK53QkkSrxTHPzQnM-cGAhMQJnjtEtaMOsRQDr_01278ZtWmG8kLPvPAgl9oiknMcxHtXxW4yY/s640/J2.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The federally threatened Lakeside Daisy (<i>Tetraneuris herbacea</i>)</td></tr>
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If you know where to look and time it right you might see some of the larger boulders polka-dotted yellow with the globally rare and federally threatened Lakeside Daisy (<i>Tetraneuris herbacea</i>). It's endemic to select spots of the Great Lakes' alvar habitat and currently only known from The Bruce; nearby Manitoulin Island; Ohio's Marblehead peninsula; and the Straits of Mackinaw area of Michigan. It curiously occurred in the past in a couple limestone gravel barrens in NE Illinois, too.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvNv4lNUREXgrOZHspGDZQ3jKZYOfXLBPqV4Br_5gyeC2JQOewEx9akFOGolWw-UG_-kbxmJ9n7H7kgr3y12IVHDA7FR4XEqGnYXVRbnOBChiFuTQIHmumj-W1DZV9npIbPsGm6xSEwY/s1600/K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjvNv4lNUREXgrOZHspGDZQ3jKZYOfXLBPqV4Br_5gyeC2JQOewEx9akFOGolWw-UG_-kbxmJ9n7H7kgr3y12IVHDA7FR4XEqGnYXVRbnOBChiFuTQIHmumj-W1DZV9npIbPsGm6xSEwY/s640/K.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The federally threatened Lakeside Daisy (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Tetraneuris herbacea</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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Halfway Log Dump is hardly the only, nor the best spot on the Bruce to see this stunning bloomer in early June but it's hard to beat these particular plant's view of the Georgian Bay atop their boulder homes. Stay tuned to a future post where I'll share the alvar pavement ecosystem of the Bruce and the sensational displays of lakeside daisy they produce.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiGIQf2zxTVh35TOLCYiG4OcfpnMJJVSnrFJbmKDo7hlDAccX0aMgD0f-o9l5ZEJ6ke73hY31QHyknMlqDd0sVOzWohMeXgzTS8bE6KF9G8EtTuUYMLOBfQ62czkjx2HodvvMNhROfaU/s1600/L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifiGIQf2zxTVh35TOLCYiG4OcfpnMJJVSnrFJbmKDo7hlDAccX0aMgD0f-o9l5ZEJ6ke73hY31QHyknMlqDd0sVOzWohMeXgzTS8bE6KF9G8EtTuUYMLOBfQ62czkjx2HodvvMNhROfaU/s640/L.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Incredible view north across the Georgian Bay and Cave Point</td></tr>
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As incredible as the shorelines of Halfway Log Dump are to explore and botanize, you'd never get the full experience of the place without making your way to the top of the coast's dramatic cliffs. The views are unbeatable and give as good a representation of the Niagara Escarpment as can be seen. Recall how flat and tame Dorcas Bay was? Hardly the same situation here! And how about that water now? It's even more vivid and blue in person. At the back of the photograph above is Cave Point, which I think I recall reading is the tallest vertical cliff to be found on the peninsula at nearly 300' above the waters.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cWxONrOD800PHu9MBY_TgYDE9inCSAE3gs78ev7GKwcBWI8upqPwTLDt8DFNxg-ayWepC1Gw0RvRWgofE8db7Is6x4hWckazsM-ca8mjsEvcGU4cAGQiKhoID908aVjaQCBWtI6xmT4/s1600/N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7cWxONrOD800PHu9MBY_TgYDE9inCSAE3gs78ev7GKwcBWI8upqPwTLDt8DFNxg-ayWepC1Gw0RvRWgofE8db7Is6x4hWckazsM-ca8mjsEvcGU4cAGQiKhoID908aVjaQCBWtI6xmT4/s640/N.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from atop Cave Point looking back the way I came</td></tr>
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Above is the view from Cave Point looking exactly back where the last photo was taken. The famous Bruce Trail winds its way along the bluff tops at this location and allows for numerous unbelievable vista views across the landscape. Mind your step, though! It's a long way to the bottom and a bit too close and personal a relationship with that perfect water.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRN0shZdDdVbPAiH5NfX0nNqkFyE0sGcDkWRxTKlY5QbfBTI9dAtNK7KHuHAS0H95DKPu0iKwaaPkvGC7LwvdN4Wc95XlQbYbzCTBYpkHb11FyrNwUtaj5Xljo2WP4nWaZTvfg5N0gQ4/s1600/O.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWRN0shZdDdVbPAiH5NfX0nNqkFyE0sGcDkWRxTKlY5QbfBTI9dAtNK7KHuHAS0H95DKPu0iKwaaPkvGC7LwvdN4Wc95XlQbYbzCTBYpkHb11FyrNwUtaj5Xljo2WP4nWaZTvfg5N0gQ4/s640/O.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock Sandwort (<i>Minuartia michauxii</i>)</td></tr>
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As mesmerizing as the scenery and views are from the top of the Niagara Escarpment's bluffs you can't forget to look down. The botany is exciting up here as well! The dainty and fairy-like rock sandwort (<i>Minuartia michauxii</i>) thrives in the dry, sunny conditions and literally clings to existence at the very edge of the bluffs.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHfdG9JAiPbzq3RkDNj-YhmdSv4lvKDQEzqlf2Lp7uWlwzcq5Pp0UOowR9GmZz5vbDVNF3Sfi5mtlQIS_sQxJMBIito_aXELd2f4KnkrS01VHdg72P5YIrNI4Vtrbq6XkgpdNj520g30/s1600/M1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHfdG9JAiPbzq3RkDNj-YhmdSv4lvKDQEzqlf2Lp7uWlwzcq5Pp0UOowR9GmZz5vbDVNF3Sfi5mtlQIS_sQxJMBIito_aXELd2f4KnkrS01VHdg72P5YIrNI4Vtrbq6XkgpdNj520g30/s640/M1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Comandra (<i>Geocaulon lividum</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kt7BeHj0EOVdxUC0tDlKQTiqd0YdDUGQMVAJXPwzzp16BfhIChssKlb3ja0KYIsMWL6z-kvhyphenhyphen2uFoS4Cq-wBpdJK-SHrdNwhywqpVcLagiuI7h7KjMUVWkff8Gb-34cPRRCoLErExdc/s1600/M2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_kt7BeHj0EOVdxUC0tDlKQTiqd0YdDUGQMVAJXPwzzp16BfhIChssKlb3ja0KYIsMWL6z-kvhyphenhyphen2uFoS4Cq-wBpdJK-SHrdNwhywqpVcLagiuI7h7KjMUVWkff8Gb-34cPRRCoLErExdc/s640/M2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Comandra (<i>Geocaulon lividum</i>)</td></tr>
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In fact, the botany along the bluffs of Halfway Log Dump is so exciting that one of my favorite and best plant finds of the entire trip occurred there. It may look lame and the epitome of unmemborable to many but what northern comandra (<i>Geocaulon lividum</i>) may lack in showiness it more than makes up for in rarity and uniqueness. It's only known to occur sparingly in less than a dozen states; all bordering Canada, where it's more frequent. It grows in cold coniferous forests on stabilized dunes and bluffs, and on rare occasions in bogs/fens in the Great Lakes region. It's much more conspicuous in fruit when it trades its small green axillary flowers for a striking orange-red drupe. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-MuDofO7klivqCNSz8giws4SSsIJ7fuu20tbFWU-P7xMyYMiHgDT-XyiGBLRj7pnpDjE-w6X8z6RH0MAFg8mpxVXw1Wy_t8MO2fO53Dv6gQPy4Ulm5Zfu1oNf9Q1V3CZgbQ8V1tE81o/s1600/P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-MuDofO7klivqCNSz8giws4SSsIJ7fuu20tbFWU-P7xMyYMiHgDT-XyiGBLRj7pnpDjE-w6X8z6RH0MAFg8mpxVXw1Wy_t8MO2fO53Dv6gQPy4Ulm5Zfu1oNf9Q1V3CZgbQ8V1tE81o/s640/P.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wider view from Cave Point looking southeast towards Cabot Head</td></tr>
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I'll end this post with one more look down the coast from atop Cave Point. Even if you aren't much of a plant person, I think this blog has shown what else the Bruce has to offer and how it's worth anyone's time who's interested in the wild, untamed beauty of the Great Lakes. Speaking of untamed beauty, amazing botany and geology, and the Georgian Bay's aqua bliss, stay tuned for my next post dealing with the magical Flowerpot Island. Seriously, there's nothing and nowhere else like it on Earth! Thanks for reading and come back soon!<br />
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- ALG -</div>
Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-54951475602079731172017-03-30T02:03:00.001-04:002017-05-28T00:28:31.475-04:00The Bruce Peninsula Part II: Singing Sands of Dorcas Bay *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-wild-and-wonderful-bruce-peninsula.html">Part I</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-bruce-peninsula-singing-sands-of.html">Part II</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-bruce-peninsula-part-iii-rugged.html">Part III</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-iv-roadside.html">Part IV</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-v-rare-ferns.html">Part V</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-vi-alvar.html">Part VI</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-bruce-peninsula-part-vii-majestic.html">Part VII</a>*<br />
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Recently, I've had the pleasure of talking to a number of people who've taken the time to compliment this blog. It always means a lot to hear someone say such positive things about the countless plants, places, and topics I've shared on here for nearly six years. But that praise is almost assuredly followed with the regret that I'm barely active on here anymore. Believe me when I say no one understands that more than your blogger. It seems just about every post I've managed to get on here the last couple years is prefaced by more or less the same message of "not enough free time and energy", which is Nature's honest truth but getting a bit old to type. I'll never post on here like I did back in the first few years but it's nice to know this blog is always waiting for new adventures to be shared.<br />
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And new adventures will be shared, indeed! Starting with my long overdue series on my botanical whirlwind tour of Ontario's Bruce peninsula back in early June 2015. Devotees may remember my intro piece from last summer that was the planned starting off point but never went any further. Until now! The Buckeye Botanist is back to take you vicariously along to one of eastern North America's most incredible displays of botanical and geological wonder. If you'd like to read the intro, which I encourage you to do, <a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-wild-and-wonderful-bruce-peninsula.html">you can click this link here to do so</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5PZ0-NdtR8tBUMbOuv0BRf14NMyQnJ9TQmxMnnSbNRfgVxb8nbcgJgTcLqsuEKSM5B7QvRufqyv_uXzDpFZYK1YCuWfzOkd9H8dV6grzzrwBdlcUTwUTmSLE0_ji-tI2FFdblhcpjio/s1600/A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="328" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq5PZ0-NdtR8tBUMbOuv0BRf14NMyQnJ9TQmxMnnSbNRfgVxb8nbcgJgTcLqsuEKSM5B7QvRufqyv_uXzDpFZYK1YCuWfzOkd9H8dV6grzzrwBdlcUTwUTmSLE0_ji-tI2FFdblhcpjio/s640/A.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Limestone cobble and alvar shorelines of the Singing Sands at Dorcas Bay</td></tr>
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My intrepid group of botanists/naturalists and I visited so many wondrous spots on the Bruce that it's difficult to know where to begin. However, when one really thinks about it there's no wrong answer so it might as well be the picturesque shorelines of Dorcas Bay. I'll warn you ahead of time this is a lengthy post but more in pictures than anything. So read it all, peruse the photos only: just have fun and enjoy!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFTQRYN5FfhAcAG92S8hMI0KQCFWTKM3Ply70eeroB9lHUvjIgZgz4-JxUy3tnlOzY3BPeSd8L9qogXCRKuwEIG_JY-mtLXZIC1BrYikHpa4WxuYqU4Yw7zs51XWVZVEnTEqXnj0Iw1k/s1600/A1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsFTQRYN5FfhAcAG92S8hMI0KQCFWTKM3Ply70eeroB9lHUvjIgZgz4-JxUy3tnlOzY3BPeSd8L9qogXCRKuwEIG_JY-mtLXZIC1BrYikHpa4WxuYqU4Yw7zs51XWVZVEnTEqXnj0Iw1k/s640/A1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sprawling shoreline fen complex near the shores of Lake Huron</td></tr>
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This parcel of Bruce Peninsula National Park known as the Singing Sands sits near the northern tip of the peninsula on Lake Huron's western shores. It's home to a nice array of both wetland and forested habitat with the likes of alvar, shoreline fen, and mixed coniferous woodland all merging together in a tapestry of diversity.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZZlVNuggwF4uYRXlH8G6Annpi0b5OxRtJXvqaVnoEbFSZ9RcoD4gp_8gsOJWWpvQHSoYqm9h6QB-UZE_FIwKUtZ7IMkwNjE9SYAB_tAiD4cy1mn87qydWFH9zLuMjEsTi-CgjFs1wks/s1600/B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwZZlVNuggwF4uYRXlH8G6Annpi0b5OxRtJXvqaVnoEbFSZ9RcoD4gp_8gsOJWWpvQHSoYqm9h6QB-UZE_FIwKUtZ7IMkwNjE9SYAB_tAiD4cy1mn87qydWFH9zLuMjEsTi-CgjFs1wks/s640/B.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet Paintbrush (<i>Castilleja coccinea</i>) on the limestone cobble shorelines</td></tr>
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The Singing Sands allegedly gets its moniker from the eerie howl the sand makes as its blown over the limestone cobble shorelines and alvar. It's true the wind is nigh on always whipping about at this site and it is one of the only sandy beaches on the northern end of the Bruce, so I guess we can let our imaginations do the rest. Due to the western shores of the Bruce constantly battling the unbroken fury of Lake Huron its landscape is much more flat and topographically docile than the eastern shores as you'll come to see in this series.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj44sZzMEtspyOKip9zQJVHVrK1UwblkMgAa4MtVQX49g5HB-0RKLoi4jMZK8TzbUJ8ZIBUDlI6dvqqHGURPAVXw9n2uXtTLSPiWYEDYpF0k3tngSm4RFZZuFj0Dmn0dTfDjRVXt7jtQ/s1600/C1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSj44sZzMEtspyOKip9zQJVHVrK1UwblkMgAa4MtVQX49g5HB-0RKLoi4jMZK8TzbUJ8ZIBUDlI6dvqqHGURPAVXw9n2uXtTLSPiWYEDYpF0k3tngSm4RFZZuFj0Dmn0dTfDjRVXt7jtQ/s640/C1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Odd yellow colored form of the scarlet paintbrush (<i>Castilleja coccinea</i>)</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubVY3tycixFz_dU3JD1fHTmX-II77Nt_jpT9YhlyRDDNXSDLpI4xp8AbnOJ2Pr9PLx0jUXPP4rGOM_ytJMKgmP6RxvhOQGDvFFSqvHZa5hFMnFfDvPTWGq0p9ED7FudO52UvBZcpPa94/s1600/C2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubVY3tycixFz_dU3JD1fHTmX-II77Nt_jpT9YhlyRDDNXSDLpI4xp8AbnOJ2Pr9PLx0jUXPP4rGOM_ytJMKgmP6RxvhOQGDvFFSqvHZa5hFMnFfDvPTWGq0p9ED7FudO52UvBZcpPa94/s640/C2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Odd yellow colored form of the scarlet paintbrush (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Castilleja coccinea</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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One of the more common and delightful denizens of Dorcas Bay's wet, open shorelines is the scarlet paintbrush (<i>Castilleja conncinea</i>). It's certainly hard to miss when aglow in its traditional red garb, but an uncommon lemon yellow color form was even more conspicuous. However, my friends and I did not come to swoon over the paintbrushes but rather a rare, elusive orchid that haunts the adjacent woodlands.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnM5ujRJ7aUD45tU-SjjplIl6TltNGeehGL7sWiBoawjBUhlL7ObXElEP3b9bgZ96PfM-S6qeO9UnalIwHk5F3ceIr0PCNJC1HKQ2nkCCLLJ9r2dns6ShXJ8jOgq2u6bb7IvDklXvTio/s1600/D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnM5ujRJ7aUD45tU-SjjplIl6TltNGeehGL7sWiBoawjBUhlL7ObXElEP3b9bgZ96PfM-S6qeO9UnalIwHk5F3ceIr0PCNJC1HKQ2nkCCLLJ9r2dns6ShXJ8jOgq2u6bb7IvDklXvTio/s640/D.jpg" width="430" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ram's Head Lady's Slipper (<i>Cypripedium arietinum</i>)</td></tr>
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During my initial foray on the Bruce back in 2011, I was just a bit too late to see the ram's head lady's slippers (<i>Cypripedium arietinum</i>) in their prime. It was a bittersweet thing to be so close and yet too late for the plant you came so far to see. So this time around I made sure to adjust our arrival to coincide with their brief peak bloom schedule.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHW5yXhngXCzZQ6QigPpvukjVPowI0s9ooSl4Whm4NdddBaPK7yh0yVeTNDgMh495czT0g585vrMAAaNlZz3E8WcBEYYDqpBx4vMqh4W4BzL68W3OFkxvHAB0E9pnhbIUBoYDRFHt16HQ/s1600/E1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHW5yXhngXCzZQ6QigPpvukjVPowI0s9ooSl4Whm4NdddBaPK7yh0yVeTNDgMh495czT0g585vrMAAaNlZz3E8WcBEYYDqpBx4vMqh4W4BzL68W3OFkxvHAB0E9pnhbIUBoYDRFHt16HQ/s640/E1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ram's Head Lady's Slipper (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cypripedium arietinum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgK-70mbkX-_9ml-mg-Ur42wiCVqGo4EUfJOnVM0HXZVD1Tkif_dLGYcftEm1a8w8ghJtGKa1G1YW6t_a14pka7ICYF-cqrGu35JzWeh7Mt0Kscsk5yOFkyJQRkiswk51ouOeOV-L1Vy8/s1600/E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgK-70mbkX-_9ml-mg-Ur42wiCVqGo4EUfJOnVM0HXZVD1Tkif_dLGYcftEm1a8w8ghJtGKa1G1YW6t_a14pka7ICYF-cqrGu35JzWeh7Mt0Kscsk5yOFkyJQRkiswk51ouOeOV-L1Vy8/s640/E2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ram's Head Lady's Slipper (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cypripedium arietinum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Perfection! I dare say Dorcas Bay could not have put on a nicer show of these miniscule orchid wonders if it tried! Literally hundreds of them peppered the ground in the best spots and brought a literal tear to this orchid nut's eye. Ram's heads are a globally rare species largely restricted to sandy upland conifer woods characterized by hemlock, cedar, and pine with an association of limestone beach cobble. That's some habitat specificity right there and the Singing Sands has it in spades. It's little wonder then the Bruce is one of the continent's last strongholds for this disappearing orchid. Climate change is not doing this northern boreal species any favors.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRL-EmDOjBVXmbFnweMKVgTDE8wigWwB4wiuJ1k13xkGnUrbYeFlNCt_YiWVrF5CKtFSnVLnGKaWHaG5GB538k4VwUr7FGV9pULo_9I7-L8LICo7s-LEz4SWcilRjpudY5qUxyrpKRqi8/s1600/F1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRL-EmDOjBVXmbFnweMKVgTDE8wigWwB4wiuJ1k13xkGnUrbYeFlNCt_YiWVrF5CKtFSnVLnGKaWHaG5GB538k4VwUr7FGV9pULo_9I7-L8LICo7s-LEz4SWcilRjpudY5qUxyrpKRqi8/s640/F1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ram's Head Lady's Slipper (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cypripedium arietinum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FZWqoiCYPQ-QQD65LQP6BN6pE8OLa_trRe1S3mGHbooCx90yvbhY7NZ8oTAPtJbGydpVG1hKrFUT2FoPC2-D7HgRLCmkH_jkVZB1u0sFoWCaClB_WuIh0nOQxljAC90zbxJRgY6aEaU/s1600/F2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0FZWqoiCYPQ-QQD65LQP6BN6pE8OLa_trRe1S3mGHbooCx90yvbhY7NZ8oTAPtJbGydpVG1hKrFUT2FoPC2-D7HgRLCmkH_jkVZB1u0sFoWCaClB_WuIh0nOQxljAC90zbxJRgY6aEaU/s640/F2.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ram's Head Lady's Slipper (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Cypripedium arietinum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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The spectacular snow white labellum of this lady's slipper is marked with a rich purplish-crimson reticulate venation that jumps out at you from the surrounding emerald vegetation. Its striking color and architecture is equally matched by its diminutive size. None of the other eastern Cypripediums are this small and a large specimen can fit on your thumbnail. It really takes seeing them in person to understand how truly tiny they are!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3i5PzJaaFLZfpB_x4B-VaauDbx9Z7dyEtCfWZQrxQUWMMdwZwytR__r0MLf6xwKT5jbR3zV9rDVae16IFPPYpShtxWbFcjPISjA2N1MvSnGwnngKAYSUEiQ4dtorI5oYlibXvagp3uk/s1600/G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3i5PzJaaFLZfpB_x4B-VaauDbx9Z7dyEtCfWZQrxQUWMMdwZwytR__r0MLf6xwKT5jbR3zV9rDVae16IFPPYpShtxWbFcjPISjA2N1MvSnGwnngKAYSUEiQ4dtorI5oYlibXvagp3uk/s640/G.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large Yellow Lady's Slipper (<i>Cypripedium pubescens</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Speaking of lady's slippers, I'd be remiss if I didn't throw a shout out to the Bruce's 'weed' of an orchid in the large yellow lady's slipper (<i>Cypripedium pubescens</i>). Yes, I did in fact say weed and you'll see and read what I mean in posts to come. As pretty as the pair is in the photo above, I'm much more interested in the colony of familiar looking leaves at their feet...<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9moQKUzbLATzuFaKS-XE1MiXExUvCjVkbTeexkx-fojs0lI0_MyBp6bme9oUNAoMBvf124aK__70_DbN9oYFBXONpskadW-OAAbyKbPKOWaKjEaENmZGZihd014vEugukwtZPi68Gic/s1600/H2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE9moQKUzbLATzuFaKS-XE1MiXExUvCjVkbTeexkx-fojs0lI0_MyBp6bme9oUNAoMBvf124aK__70_DbN9oYFBXONpskadW-OAAbyKbPKOWaKjEaENmZGZihd014vEugukwtZPi68Gic/s640/H2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Federally threatened dwarf lake iris (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Iris lacustris</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aBarqKtgfOa9Igz-LSCwcnxqw8jvdxV6PGaFyD5Ia61bwS-lkTC1hbjw5ktVz0Rgm4P6mZ-zCudZIs4BTxSY1nQ7RcoTT2dalGVoHt9MnmgkE3yCuhvSOlPj4HUNX66M716s5riWhmE/s1600/H1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2aBarqKtgfOa9Igz-LSCwcnxqw8jvdxV6PGaFyD5Ia61bwS-lkTC1hbjw5ktVz0Rgm4P6mZ-zCudZIs4BTxSY1nQ7RcoTT2dalGVoHt9MnmgkE3yCuhvSOlPj4HUNX66M716s5riWhmE/s640/H1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Federally threatened dwarf lake iris (<i>Iris lacustris</i>)</td></tr>
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At first glance any Ohioan might see this majestic little iris and scribble the name dwarf crested iris (<i>Iris cristata</i>) into their notes but remember we're not in Ohio anymore. This iris is much, much more special and another of the Bruce's most rare specialists. The dwarf lake iris (<i>I. lacustris</i>) is so rare that it's listed as federally threatened in both the United States and Canada. It's endemic to the limestone shorelines of northern Lake Huron and Lake Michigan along the Niagara Escarpment and found nowhere else on the planet. Although, in certain spots such as Singing Sands you'd never know it was so globally scarce. The Bruce is one Canada's best strongholds for the dwarf lake iris and easy to spot, especially when in bloom. The photos do nothing for scale but the word dwarf is very accurate in this plant's case as the flowers are only the size of a silver dollar!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAWmaVC0jG40FS4m2yW9gbprwZAJrAW6oDuij8XYO3gTzG9JPuB7109oPhLZUmWZWPKvf3tR23m8uw7VvDMo-vA4DEyx1cAB-GKI5OiZQSgvrIeRjVWTmZSmOpU1F74hnDZ9NR0r7Ofw/s1600/I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKAWmaVC0jG40FS4m2yW9gbprwZAJrAW6oDuij8XYO3gTzG9JPuB7109oPhLZUmWZWPKvf3tR23m8uw7VvDMo-vA4DEyx1cAB-GKI5OiZQSgvrIeRjVWTmZSmOpU1F74hnDZ9NR0r7Ofw/s640/I.jpg" width="486" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoreline flora awakening as summer appears on the horizon</td></tr>
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Not to be outdone by its aforementioned brethren, the blue flag iris (<i>I. brevicaulis</i>) was beginning to unfurl its purple tepals in the marshy areas between the lake and wooded dunes. Notice the pink flower buds of the tuberous Indian-plantain (<i>Arnoglossum plantagineum</i>) among the iris, too. It's a rarity back in Ohio and even more rare further north in Canada where it's restricted to high-quality fen complexes as well.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxOWj_UPWxRRIP9K9KrUgkQy979F5ljideziC1B0MlI46p3iJQnIXIld2gKsmBez9kCChhy5J43lAfdU67mMY78XxgjA5oEqF_mK7f7oLw5CQQkbGu_K4jF0_0LkCLFYowF383CRawfs/s1600/J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxOWj_UPWxRRIP9K9KrUgkQy979F5ljideziC1B0MlI46p3iJQnIXIld2gKsmBez9kCChhy5J43lAfdU67mMY78XxgjA5oEqF_mK7f7oLw5CQQkbGu_K4jF0_0LkCLFYowF383CRawfs/s640/J.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That gang exploring the cobble shorelines of Dorcas Bay</td></tr>
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When I say that Dorcas Bay may be one of the most magnificent beaches I've yet experienced it's truly through the eyes of a botanist and ecologist. I'm not sure many beach goers would agree after looking out across a landscape of bare rock, muck, and vegetation. They prefer their sand and palm trees with towering concrete behind and I say they can keep it!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBaAHGnVsUaDfO2VU6Q7PcuYUYGrh7a22NdCIG48GJAm3h_oz3vvUHUfqZgyTK1pFuOL47iSIhysdBiAWC7zGMXJ4_WngrF8xLbZ2tLUJk7vxqqWQHqY95FQh8Hl9O7p04Bc1zbYeEvc/s1600/K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxBaAHGnVsUaDfO2VU6Q7PcuYUYGrh7a22NdCIG48GJAm3h_oz3vvUHUfqZgyTK1pFuOL47iSIhysdBiAWC7zGMXJ4_WngrF8xLbZ2tLUJk7vxqqWQHqY95FQh8Hl9O7p04Bc1zbYeEvc/s640/K.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Butterwort (<i>Pinguicula vulgaris</i>) </td></tr>
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Perhaps the neatest plant to call the rocky shorelines of Dorcas Bay home was the peculiar and always exciting northern butterwort (<i>Pinguicula vulgaris</i>). This oddball of an insectivorous plant thrived in a seemingly sterile environment in specialized areas where water seeped out from the bedrock and formed mucky pools along the forest's edge. The butterworts are much more diverse along the coastal plains of the Atlantic and Gulf states with this lone species making due in the north.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWE1uXxgYHrLUjdZBpWtYJK8QYAE_bzDrPoiJ-b9135qH3AMQvqi2FGH9zEhAQs4Kb8hOQhtrnNznlf0vsjah3gGmU1U2boXbb1X4IqcpCz20KlTPZ4PE5HfmeHkdgENzWWzdyAU5foXI/s1600/L1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWE1uXxgYHrLUjdZBpWtYJK8QYAE_bzDrPoiJ-b9135qH3AMQvqi2FGH9zEhAQs4Kb8hOQhtrnNznlf0vsjah3gGmU1U2boXbb1X4IqcpCz20KlTPZ4PE5HfmeHkdgENzWWzdyAU5foXI/s640/L1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Butterwort (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Pinguicula vulgaris</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaf1XISFwf5pnos_sUfZYSJ-pWg35XKH4sJNcw1Z1KRbnQljAw0fMfY-i_UUC_tInadlrGRr1GMANJM2UoaM8aRA2OSQQm3ueWSR93VTgQXg5sUWUahAynXEOjrBz51-W5f9Of9w9FJjI/s1600/L2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaf1XISFwf5pnos_sUfZYSJ-pWg35XKH4sJNcw1Z1KRbnQljAw0fMfY-i_UUC_tInadlrGRr1GMANJM2UoaM8aRA2OSQQm3ueWSR93VTgQXg5sUWUahAynXEOjrBz51-W5f9Of9w9FJjI/s640/L2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Butterwort (<i style="font-size: 12.8px;">Pinguicula vulgaris</i><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">)</span></td></tr>
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There's certainly no mistaking this plant for anything else with its insidious highlighter yellow leaves. While greasy and slick to our touch, these conspicuous leaves are the things of insect nightmares. Each leaf produces two types of glands: one that secretes a sticky substance for nabbing its prey; and another that secretes a digestive enzyme that helps break down the helpless insects into a more usable form. The butterworts were in full bloom during our visit and are adorned with blue-purple flowers quite reminiscent of a violet in my opinion.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsaE1ShGdAT5OJtNa83gr0hyphenhyphenffMRIoHNN15j26fKxpedWtXegd5UeDLOX8C9m9rInodVNT2Vp8k0U3TT7j02TzZQ9IEQvsSe_dd9o2t39tXzCnSfXrHTtdPJ6voJAIUZgo59-jeA4tQ8/s1600/M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOsaE1ShGdAT5OJtNa83gr0hyphenhyphenffMRIoHNN15j26fKxpedWtXegd5UeDLOX8C9m9rInodVNT2Vp8k0U3TT7j02TzZQ9IEQvsSe_dd9o2t39tXzCnSfXrHTtdPJ6voJAIUZgo59-jeA4tQ8/s640/M.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Lakes Bulrush Sedge (<i>Carex scirpoidea subsp. convoluta</i>)</td></tr>
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If you've been a follower of this blog and my botanical adventures for a while you know without a doubt I'm head-over-heals for sedges. A self-diagnosed sedgehead and I'd have it no other way. The Bruce is well known for its diversity of photogenic plants like ferns and orchids but it's a sedgehead's dream, too! Honestly, I could do a whole post on sedges but I'll let you off the hook with a handful of photos of my favorite species. The one featured above, the Great Lakes bulrush sedge (<i>Carex scirpoidea subsp. convoluta</i>) gets special mention as a globally rare endemic of the Great Lakes limestone shorelines and alvars; it's other more common subspecies spread throughout the western states.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBy6GsMiqxoVj3L5NWsr3ARwRixJrQ3bD30Ju6M5ejEGC7OqWjoewptXaZKZHNoMi0UEKzOjR3r55Y6zlcYt-XR-kHc-6XDIiQti_ZzBDaKd72uZPfW0n_p1rVrD1mqCaDWitKSlOhow/s1600/N1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBy6GsMiqxoVj3L5NWsr3ARwRixJrQ3bD30Ju6M5ejEGC7OqWjoewptXaZKZHNoMi0UEKzOjR3r55Y6zlcYt-XR-kHc-6XDIiQti_ZzBDaKd72uZPfW0n_p1rVrD1mqCaDWitKSlOhow/s640/N1.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buxbaum's Sedge (<i>Carex buxbaumii</i>)</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJSQdeLe-B5EzAkWisYckr_h8LDqI9fRrP9B-8ihlfMUBiDMPFT9efAR5Gfg4q_Gx5MwDnV4zP-bjhpsx8gJ6awjmw9lqvP_jjw4M4_kZk0SlmxhyphenhyphenHIXQO57zfx1BduNiL9KCbvZMWyM/s1600/N2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJSQdeLe-B5EzAkWisYckr_h8LDqI9fRrP9B-8ihlfMUBiDMPFT9efAR5Gfg4q_Gx5MwDnV4zP-bjhpsx8gJ6awjmw9lqvP_jjw4M4_kZk0SlmxhyphenhyphenHIXQO57zfx1BduNiL9KCbvZMWyM/s640/N2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mud Sedge (<i>Carex limosa</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpFfL6Y31g_u-PjaB1Ol33xmZjB03JWHfPmtfCsFMHvS1zYsnNkM_YWo1pnoDbc-S_rbqQf8oFRDu-ZResY0Nw72HZ5gr-QfqGhRuTeEYKNzE8urTwqmswpRa6c3TJ1S2ka_DpMXghOE/s1600/O1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxpFfL6Y31g_u-PjaB1Ol33xmZjB03JWHfPmtfCsFMHvS1zYsnNkM_YWo1pnoDbc-S_rbqQf8oFRDu-ZResY0Nw72HZ5gr-QfqGhRuTeEYKNzE8urTwqmswpRa6c3TJ1S2ka_DpMXghOE/s640/O1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hair-like Sedge (<i>Carex capillaris</i>)</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qkC5ly8riA_buE7Qn__SzCleIVmzdcfLr2KHOA6jOQJN_HlJB9sd4bkqADVvVg2Wgkmc7jjmM5G4S-075NAkxldtUAe476-WT3P0G2XY1aHqbA0BknQVgP5dQ31MoWy8xnMcTrZLIaQ/s1600/O2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9qkC5ly8riA_buE7Qn__SzCleIVmzdcfLr2KHOA6jOQJN_HlJB9sd4bkqADVvVg2Wgkmc7jjmM5G4S-075NAkxldtUAe476-WT3P0G2XY1aHqbA0BknQVgP5dQ31MoWy8xnMcTrZLIaQ/s640/O2.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pale Sedge (<i>Carex livida)</i></td></tr>
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Sedges come in so many different shapes, colors, sizes, patterns etc. that it makes them hard to not love and appreciate when you realize just how wonderful they are. The Bruce is home to over 150 different species from the sedge family (<i>Cyperaceae</i>) and during my group's week we saw nigh on 30 different taxa.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0_b-NFRxDXIdqZ4xhkwPj5WoivhW82EbO8B_sufMXuQzCcO6ke1ZpIgjj9ceFO1IerXt44PjVLzzWxzxGDwQJJgi2lO-70wGf0N7fUpdR-V2XFkX5hVlFwbd54ahr-97jloUwxYUP8s/s1600/P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG0_b-NFRxDXIdqZ4xhkwPj5WoivhW82EbO8B_sufMXuQzCcO6ke1ZpIgjj9ceFO1IerXt44PjVLzzWxzxGDwQJJgi2lO-70wGf0N7fUpdR-V2XFkX5hVlFwbd54ahr-97jloUwxYUP8s/s640/P.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A cool, foggy mist blowing off Lake Huron</td></tr>
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Singing Sands attempted to somewhat live up to its name during our time there when Lake Huron blew in a bank of cool fog. It was awesome to watch it race across the waters, up onto the beach and envelope us all in a very refreshing wave of mist. It went as quickly as it came and I have no idea what caused it to develop but it certainly made for a unique experience that I won't forget anytime soon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCTHG6gpzC62OqvdzudYHoBgxi5k2XXkCwFnIO-rcrUGvePW78s0gr8sEkulILdENkx_Xaw5tAxt9z0eRyE_l1IO8TDcnWvDvx9_-2y2au0RIWfgO3ZN6X2B8ZmHfw0bU9v1igOvES9o/s1600/Q2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCTHG6gpzC62OqvdzudYHoBgxi5k2XXkCwFnIO-rcrUGvePW78s0gr8sEkulILdENkx_Xaw5tAxt9z0eRyE_l1IO8TDcnWvDvx9_-2y2au0RIWfgO3ZN6X2B8ZmHfw0bU9v1igOvES9o/s640/Q2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Lakes Sand Cherry (<i>Prunus pumila var. pumila</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Scattered about Dorcas Bay's rocky shorelines was scads of the regional endemic Great Lakes sand cherry (<i>Prunus pumila var. pumila</i>) in picture-perfect bloom. This straggly shrub never attains much size and is happy to grow in tangles about its prime beachfront property. Its confined to the beaches and dunes of the northern Great Lakes with its narrow leaves and glabrous twigs excellent ID characters. Unfortunately, this species has long been extirpated from Ohio's extremely limited lake shore habitats, so I always take immense pleasure in seeing it while up north.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLp-fnfiF2l4Z9Hnp6E62Rc5ejZ791C3k2x8-D8bymOlZplFPKufMws8s1j2283XlP6jL4bopdmwicEu9qAYcu59UNShueHm3NtRYMbgE5z_Cw6Pg8Tc5nJoVrl4cu0koimYZ_3nZBQZU/s1600/R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLp-fnfiF2l4Z9Hnp6E62Rc5ejZ791C3k2x8-D8bymOlZplFPKufMws8s1j2283XlP6jL4bopdmwicEu9qAYcu59UNShueHm3NtRYMbgE5z_Cw6Pg8Tc5nJoVrl4cu0koimYZ_3nZBQZU/s640/R.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Immense expanse of shoreline fen at Dorcas Bay's Singing Sands</td></tr>
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I'll wrap up this marathon of a post with another of Singing Sands signature rare habitats it protects in the immense expanses of shoreline fen meadow. Unlike the small, isolated fens that pocket west-central and northeast Ohio, the Bruce's can stretch for as far as the eye can see and contain hundreds upon hundreds of acres of graminoid-dominated goodness. Their species assemblages and associations are quite similar but their hydrology differs in adjacent Lake Huron's water levels playing a key role.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEvw7J3zZwF1bU2b2Npw5yGpA42rFpDmyHmJ2wrmFrNifpiqDy9VRhp2BI0Bw8lEHeSi7C-3ByLo6mnM2RpGROeGjV-pLC9ueWD-JpJ1MrSEzS65RvNDcuCnKIqI7OjB0fvICruG27_0/s1600/S1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbEvw7J3zZwF1bU2b2Npw5yGpA42rFpDmyHmJ2wrmFrNifpiqDy9VRhp2BI0Bw8lEHeSi7C-3ByLo6mnM2RpGROeGjV-pLC9ueWD-JpJ1MrSEzS65RvNDcuCnKIqI7OjB0fvICruG27_0/s640/S1.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Pitcher Plant (<i>Sarracenia purpurea var. purpurea</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KkwnaUqdBtvQ88NC_jUhoyIWE_iYGR6nHk4mqC6snMtHyWj5IvPlFbDMb_dZ15travNNYZl8eYYZZBraZCQ5qI2BUoWH3Id4ZoQQfXiP507MS_WOsKqUlQrYzU_k6EKkZVAJdvIApe0/s1600/S2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7KkwnaUqdBtvQ88NC_jUhoyIWE_iYGR6nHk4mqC6snMtHyWj5IvPlFbDMb_dZ15travNNYZl8eYYZZBraZCQ5qI2BUoWH3Id4ZoQQfXiP507MS_WOsKqUlQrYzU_k6EKkZVAJdvIApe0/s640/S2.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slender-leaved Sundew (<i>Drosera linearis</i>)</td></tr>
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One of the first things you'll notice when exploring these shoreline fen complexes is the overwhelming abundance of insectivorous plants. This habitat is naturally low in nutrients and plants have evolved to combat that by attaining these much-needed items by outside means. Literally thousands upon thousands of northern pitcher plants (<i>Sarracenia purpurea var. purpurea</i>) dot the fens, which happened to be just a week or so away from flowering during our visit. At their bases in the saturated muck is thousands more of the alien-like slender-leaved sundew (<i>Drosera linearis</i>) waiting for a passing insect to meet its sticky demise.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1_lNG24GOWi1mNQVdAlU9hhlvyiK-jGuE4ftSZ4T6kjJG0s4Pj-RCpNO61Hr4sda5oh-bcknqvZzOIyuOGU4UFXL8lbJVpr4I_CSVXX93q-hW9Avx-VkwaNf-hZJroBAWHswOTaM948/s1600/T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb1_lNG24GOWi1mNQVdAlU9hhlvyiK-jGuE4ftSZ4T6kjJG0s4Pj-RCpNO61Hr4sda5oh-bcknqvZzOIyuOGU4UFXL8lbJVpr4I_CSVXX93q-hW9Avx-VkwaNf-hZJroBAWHswOTaM948/s640/T.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green-keeled Cotton Sedge (<i>Eriophorum viridicarinatum</i>)</td></tr>
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I can't help but go back to the world of sedges in order to share one of the fen's most iconic and beautiful of scenes. Hundreds of green-keeled cotton sedge (<i>Eriophorum viridicarinatum</i>) plants waving their namesake cotton-like perianth bristles in the cool breeze never fails to put me at peace and in a mood of tranquility. A sapphire blue sky above can only make it better, eh?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59GnaSIIaCdF9zy-xxhVm4t_xwDrAhQ6PIE6qeqteKCHkxx5qjLhyphenhyphen2PzFohATR3ACQ_y7rrhz4uOj4pNSGMy2uw06J7vrLb5Vuvb-_AUMbJoaEZcREHO71xNVaIadltXFvvlW-OsrabM/s1600/U1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh59GnaSIIaCdF9zy-xxhVm4t_xwDrAhQ6PIE6qeqteKCHkxx5qjLhyphenhyphen2PzFohATR3ACQ_y7rrhz4uOj4pNSGMy2uw06J7vrLb5Vuvb-_AUMbJoaEZcREHO71xNVaIadltXFvvlW-OsrabM/s640/U1.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bog Rosemary (<i>Andromeda polifolia</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWc8kV5m-ZZtBTV3oaAXYT6X6-DpOW_UaL6PufX8CXwCg0Qrp32NgJqtOCbu1oLJlt9sEpWY4NqJNlD3mjIrmtfe6MUYu1ibqqc1EwFiucVi8jax74-cAXzp5WQ54Qo07b4lE2k_3rUVw/s1600/U2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWc8kV5m-ZZtBTV3oaAXYT6X6-DpOW_UaL6PufX8CXwCg0Qrp32NgJqtOCbu1oLJlt9sEpWY4NqJNlD3mjIrmtfe6MUYu1ibqqc1EwFiucVi8jax74-cAXzp5WQ54Qo07b4lE2k_3rUVw/s640/U2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Labrador Tea (<i>Rhododendron groenlandicum</i>)</td></tr>
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Of all the things I love about the northern woods its plethora of woody wetland shrubs may take the cake. Dozens of species occur throughout the region's diversity of habitat and the two featured above are arguably the best, at least in my opinion. Both the bog rosemary (<i>Andromeda polifolia</i>) and labrador tea (<i>Rhododendron groenlandicum</i>) are extirpated from Ohio and more commonly found in acidic boggy habitats, but select areas of fen meadow can have peat accumulations that turn the pH low enough for these gorgeous Ericaceous shrubs to occur and persist. Bliss!<br />
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With that I do believe I'll give my keyboard a rest and continue my series on the ever-fascinating Bruce peninsula at a later time. I certainly have the desire to get to it much sooner than later but I've learned it's best to not make any hard promises. I hope you've enjoyed this look at the Singing Sands and its incredible wealth of plant life and look forward to more. Please leave your thoughts and comments below and I thank you for your time!<br />
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- ALG -<br />
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Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-1464216313940973802016-11-07T01:46:00.000-05:002018-01-18T19:37:05.966-05:00Top Ten Life Plants of 2016<div>
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It's hard to believe yet another growing season has come and gone. Spring and summer flew by in a blur your narrator can hardly comprehend with autumn currently in its own hurry as well. I really don't know where the time goes and find it going by at an ever increasing rate. With the end of the growing season comes the annual updating of my botanical life list. As time goes on and I become more and more acquainted with my local and regional flora, the frequencies of making new floral friends decreases. This makes each additional life species marked off the list feel perhaps just a bit more gratifying than the last. 2016 had its fair share of exciting and unbelievable discoveries as the forthcoming ten different plants are sure to show. This is a personal list of sorts and one of the more fun pieces of reminiscing I get to do each year. My activity on here has really waned the last two years as life gets more busy and I find less free time and energy to put into the blog but I definitely try to make time for this specific topic.<br />
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This past year I had the opportunity to do some traveling across the nation and made acquaintances with a striking number of new plants. Week long trips out to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Adirondacks of New York were the biggies, along with some weekend trips out of state. While I made plenty of new botanical friends here in Ohio, none managed to make the top ten list. There were just too many to choose from from out-of-state travel. All ten plants were species I'd never had the pleasure of seeing in the flesh before; many only dreamily through a computer monitor or from the pages of my extensive botanical library. Some I specifically set out to see, others I came across by complete chance. Each one aroused emotions of excitement and disbelief, often erasing years of anxious desire. </div>
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All that being said, let's begin the countdown of my favorite life plants from an unforgettable spring, summer and fall of botanizing throughout North America...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPW5i2mNoWkorrGVZ3QwHYYoSYy63uXX86CTUPaePwdLo9UC-uoOyND7-BI_hTVMeXzx7CyMhJKyZoMBDiIV8tNbjbyt0ltHFCJaJc1_MdiwzIkQeElfT0AbXKY5uJZTjPByzzTSOaMF0/s1600/A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPW5i2mNoWkorrGVZ3QwHYYoSYy63uXX86CTUPaePwdLo9UC-uoOyND7-BI_hTVMeXzx7CyMhJKyZoMBDiIV8tNbjbyt0ltHFCJaJc1_MdiwzIkQeElfT0AbXKY5uJZTjPByzzTSOaMF0/s640/A.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alpine Clover (<i>Trifolium dasyphyllum</i>)</td></tr>
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Starting off the countdown at number ten is the aptly named alpine clover (<i>Trifolium dasyphyllum</i>). This attractive legume was one of a handful of native clovers seen during my partner Kara and I's vacation out to the Rocky Mountain National Park region of Colorado this past June and July. The alpine meadows at 12,000'+ were out of this world with dozens of different wildflowers in spectacular bloom but these strawberry and cream looking wonders were among my favorites. I'm already beyond behind sharing this trip and those before/after it in blog form but fingers crossed I get to them one of these days.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIbR6SCX4Wyr1J6s3sHfJYg5KuUsBPQsmcFxRQw3DHyMhwiGDJIly2hUalKXgaGSy9e4QnFmK1P3mSKs23HsRwaoDNgrjdPftlnqoPSisY35MqyLVQJRRnI13iSCI105R6Fy08gfl-yM/s1600/B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIbR6SCX4Wyr1J6s3sHfJYg5KuUsBPQsmcFxRQw3DHyMhwiGDJIly2hUalKXgaGSy9e4QnFmK1P3mSKs23HsRwaoDNgrjdPftlnqoPSisY35MqyLVQJRRnI13iSCI105R6Fy08gfl-yM/s640/B.jpg" width="440" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Creeping Snowberry (<i>Gaultheria hispidula</i>)</td></tr>
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Life plant number nine was easily one of the most exciting of all the plant sightings while immersed in the boggy peatlands of the Adirondacks, as well as one of the daintiest. The evergreen vining stems of the creeping snowberry (<i>Gaultheria hispidula</i>) is a plant long gone from Ohio's landscape but thankfully common in the Northeast and northern Great Lakes region. I'll admit I've come across this species before in my travels but only as an undistinguished vegetative plant, so seeing it adorned with its adorable snow white fruit was like truly seeing it for the first time. The white fruits are actually edible and have a wintergreen taste to them, essentially making it Nature's tic-tac like breath mints. The shaded mossy hummocks at the margins of a black spruce and tamarack bog were covered in a dense tangle of this plant and a perfect opportunity to soak in its charming demeanor.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUN6kJMlG1AhG7kGtL7eajBTzxIXpqtOWEh1ykXmtTaMKATS82JjfoiXc4onYqMuSUmkvJDViZLspolpF5x0dvoDZQBZEkkSo5eqXqPaw6IXveK4Ysx-qQ9nV29MnxdXAYmFjyn8Z0GuM/s1600/C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="352" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUN6kJMlG1AhG7kGtL7eajBTzxIXpqtOWEh1ykXmtTaMKATS82JjfoiXc4onYqMuSUmkvJDViZLspolpF5x0dvoDZQBZEkkSo5eqXqPaw6IXveK4Ysx-qQ9nV29MnxdXAYmFjyn8Z0GuM/s640/C.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From L to R: Michaux's Sedge (<i>Carex michauxiana</i>), Toothed Flatsedge (<i>Cyperus dentatus</i>), Bog Sedge (<i>Carex. magellanica</i>)</td></tr>
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As a self-admitted and diagnosed sedge-head, I don't think I'd be living up to the title if I didn't share some of my favorite sedge lifers. So number eight on this countdown of 2016's best life plants are three species from my time in the plethora of wetlands in the Adirondacks. I came across nearly 50 species of <i>Cyperaceae</i> while up there and Michaux's sedge (<i>Carex michauxiana</i>), toothed flatsedge (<i>Cyperus dentatus</i>), and bog sedge (<i>Carex magellanica</i>) were my favorites. None of the three are known to occur in Ohio and all are more or less restricted to higher quality fens/shorelines/bogs in the northern latitudes of the continent. The bog sedge (on the far right in the photo) was an especially invigorating find as it's been on my 'most wanted sedges' list for many years and evaded me time and time again. I'll never forget exploring a small pocket of open bog meadow and finding its sphagnum hummocks covered with them, their chocolate brown ripened perigynia shattering at the slightest touch.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOgMowLfFGa-lmDK2bHhzPcnjsFqZ3QpSWzR-3cYuhqBJ3bv0zO2UlJQHEcRLoj1XtbZVuvUktoBEEQDGRy91n4Osh_6efO-QgvPCAAJ3GKm8BuRhXWQ73H4t7rGbn6zAaQFmjDIdvj0/s1600/D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzOgMowLfFGa-lmDK2bHhzPcnjsFqZ3QpSWzR-3cYuhqBJ3bv0zO2UlJQHEcRLoj1XtbZVuvUktoBEEQDGRy91n4Osh_6efO-QgvPCAAJ3GKm8BuRhXWQ73H4t7rGbn6zAaQFmjDIdvj0/s640/D.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Bleeding Hearts (<i>Dicentra eximia</i>)</td></tr>
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Number seven on this countdown has the distinction of being the only plant on this list not from Colorado or New York. Instead, the gorgeous wild bleeding hearts (<i>Dicentra eximia</i>) is from Kara and I's weekend backpacking trip this past spring to the stunning landscape of West Virginia's Dolly Sods region. Many may recognize this plant as something you see in the garden and/or landscape setting but it's actually a species indigenous to the Appalachians. It's rather uncommon throughout its limited range and most prevalent in the Virginias. I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the important detail that it was my partner Kara who actually found this wildflower and not me! She called me over to see a "really neat pink flower we hadn't seen yet" while exploring Bear Rock's heath barrens, which made me ponder what it could be as this wasn't on my radar for this trip. It was nestled in a mossy crevice between boulders and an impressive spot by her. I think she's developing quite the sharp eye for plants!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsHy4RK2-mNwMY9M_qQzlf2B3brpgRDpCnoM2I_T7p1BB7BphhTXR83bx-taj-d-I7wr9OYGKW4XF7WHWNqxiFAPC6A-y1h2qHt82kSBW5_0Vz97RXptLRqxRR5grhDCjKQAIP8RsXSw/s1600/E1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsHy4RK2-mNwMY9M_qQzlf2B3brpgRDpCnoM2I_T7p1BB7BphhTXR83bx-taj-d-I7wr9OYGKW4XF7WHWNqxiFAPC6A-y1h2qHt82kSBW5_0Vz97RXptLRqxRR5grhDCjKQAIP8RsXSw/s640/E1.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock Spike-moss (<i>Selaginella rupestris</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hKu9ERd-uNWhMYapmCJckkT7qx1rGO7Z4dTtKtmm6NxjqmfprBT50lxXQ-OdWmRwIRLPaRYW-xJZOQixSPUOk_D2nmE-OqePDGzkxEdaY0pGOrMnlapRf1tyjcrStOwXNPw23RX0Xgs/s1600/E2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5hKu9ERd-uNWhMYapmCJckkT7qx1rGO7Z4dTtKtmm6NxjqmfprBT50lxXQ-OdWmRwIRLPaRYW-xJZOQixSPUOk_D2nmE-OqePDGzkxEdaY0pGOrMnlapRf1tyjcrStOwXNPw23RX0Xgs/s640/E2.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock Spike-moss (<i>Selaginella rupestris</i>)</td></tr>
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The criteria for how a plant species makes it on my annual list of best life plants goes much deeper than just physical beauty. If that was the lone requirement I have my doubts that plant number six would have made the final cut. Rock spike-moss (<i>Selaginella rupestris</i>) is another one of the those oddities that I've had the botanical hots for for many years. Despite what its name may suggest, this plant is not really a moss but rather a fern ally related to the quillworts (<i>Isoetes</i>) and lycopods (<i>Lycopodiopsida</i>). It's an ancient and impressive little species with its sporangia (spore-bearing structure) tucked singly at the base of its fertile leaves, or sporophylls. One thing rock spike-moss does have in common with true bryophytes is being poikilohydric, meaning it come withstand severe bouts with drought/water loss and appear dead as a door nail, only to bounce right back to green, lush life after a rain. This primitive little spore producer is widespread throughout North America but unfortunately long extirpated from Ohio and a plant I've searched out for years in its historic haunts. The patch photographed here was found clinging to a rocky bluff overlooking the Hudson River while out in upstate New York.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Devil's Head Lookout in Colorado's Pike National Forest</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBn5rKGahno36MtjlZh6eLbY-jRlWYFq70tXCjRJPR2hhYszpU9MEffXDBaozf8L01Pu7ngXZEKbqe8av4iMsYOR0DGLXqncS9ooRJsUQyWSfISVCz9EJYXrCATCDaZWopr-0Q1v8LnC0/s1600/F2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBn5rKGahno36MtjlZh6eLbY-jRlWYFq70tXCjRJPR2hhYszpU9MEffXDBaozf8L01Pu7ngXZEKbqe8av4iMsYOR0DGLXqncS9ooRJsUQyWSfISVCz9EJYXrCATCDaZWopr-0Q1v8LnC0/s640/F2.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Spleenwort (<i>Asplenium septentrionale</i>)</td></tr>
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Coming in at number five on this countdown is a plant I took more of a risk to see than I really care to admit. While out in Colorado, Kara and I did the well-known Devil's Head Lookout hike in Pike National Forest. It's a three mile jaunt gaining over 1,000 feet in elevation to a mountain top's fire tower with unbelievable views. While at the top of the narrow ridge, I noticed some tufts of green emerging from a crevice that I suspected could be the rare northern spleenwort (<i>Asplenium septentrionale</i>), a fern I desperately hoped to come across while out west. The fern looks very frustratingly similar to a simple tuft of grass and requires a close look to see its 'leaves' contain the characteristic small forks at their ends. My problem was the crevice was too far away to see clearly or photograph, so I slid out onto the ledge and scooted as close to the edge as I could with a several hundred foot fall to my assured death just a few feet and quick slip in front of me. I thoroughly scared Kara half to death and truthfully myself as well. I'd been pretty upset had a worthless clump of grass tricked me into taking such a risk. My palms are a bit sweaty just thinking back on my stupidity BUT it was indeed the northern fern and worth the risk to me! It was the only time I ever saw any and walked away with my life and a good story. I've already accepted that botany could very well end up being the end of me...</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water Marigold (<i>Bidens beckii</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkz6xa2_j17Jp99lDAYttmMPOiFshyD925rspm0X6FNJeefYIRug38aJPlgkewbajZV1DukRITr5TbM0evMmnv70U9DwlORnH43-b5qcEK4_Ox6NQTZWxpu-DoUeIpbbmVd7CCfLoMQ8s/s1600/G2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkz6xa2_j17Jp99lDAYttmMPOiFshyD925rspm0X6FNJeefYIRug38aJPlgkewbajZV1DukRITr5TbM0evMmnv70U9DwlORnH43-b5qcEK4_Ox6NQTZWxpu-DoUeIpbbmVd7CCfLoMQ8s/s640/G2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water Marigold (<i>Bidens beckii</i>)</td></tr>
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Shifting back to the the Adirondacks of New York finds us at life plant number four on our countdown. My early August visit to New York produced many life plants but few meant more than finally coming face to face with the golden blossoms of water marigold (<i>Bidens beckii</i>). Like some of the other plants listed above, this unique wildflower has been extirpated from Ohio's borders for over a century and was a delightful sight in the calm shallows of a bay in the Hudson River during a paddle with friends. It's a hard plant to miss when flowering with its single terminal flower suddenly emerging from the water's surface. The simple, stalkless emergent leaves are a stark contrast to the water marigold's finely filiform, fan-like submerged leaves that run the length of the underwater stem, sometimes nearly ten feet to the substrate. Looking at the whole thing makes it seem like two completely different plants merged together in an experiment gone awry. It also reminds me of an iceberg with so little of the plant visible and the bulk of it unseen below. Water marigold was once widespread and common in the Northeast and Great Lakes region but is becoming increasingly more rare throughout its range due to the negative impacts on its aquatic habitats.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kTt7056nKY3vhwvr7rxCQJIPzHbr0n89917BjGxyGxvx1WUUpiO6_Bw8S4MKSPoxXuvFu0_P2pu55Ac5v0PctxAPP7gTcH2p-Vx14XfAkJP_1yD6ALZiHJNg0tRo0Vm0T8YVJfJjNfo/s1600/H1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5kTt7056nKY3vhwvr7rxCQJIPzHbr0n89917BjGxyGxvx1WUUpiO6_Bw8S4MKSPoxXuvFu0_P2pu55Ac5v0PctxAPP7gTcH2p-Vx14XfAkJP_1yD6ALZiHJNg0tRo0Vm0T8YVJfJjNfo/s640/H1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gunnison's Mariposa Lily (<i>Calochortus gunnisonii</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIjRTY5sjo5LYAcYi3PBWeCIVsYd-sABeoE5TNufTYVEZQ_kHGsuOv7FEVl_OSg34Kx2rAZ-EqGgIY4U1O_S8B22-2OBcBpUJBMumzWih7OvRHNBkPXnPaSfcPScbn_auWurPZafXu1Q/s1600/H2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnIjRTY5sjo5LYAcYi3PBWeCIVsYd-sABeoE5TNufTYVEZQ_kHGsuOv7FEVl_OSg34Kx2rAZ-EqGgIY4U1O_S8B22-2OBcBpUJBMumzWih7OvRHNBkPXnPaSfcPScbn_auWurPZafXu1Q/s640/H2.jpg" width="433" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gunnison's Mariposa Lily (<i>Calochortus gunnsonii</i>)</td></tr>
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Before heading out to Colorado this past summer, I spent many weeks leading up to our trip daydreaming and researching what members of its diverse flora I wanted to see. I came up with far more than I ever reasonably imagined I'd find but the mariposa lilies (<i>Calochortus</i>) were an instant must-meet. As luck would have it I'm able to happily list life plant number three on this countdown as the Gunnison's mariposa lily (<i>C. gunnsonii</i>). During the long, remote drive to the Devil's Head Lookout trail head, I spotted a tall flash of white in my peripheral vision that caused me to slam on the brakes and put the Subaru into reverse. Good thing I did as that curiosity turned out to be the only mariposa lily I'd see the entire trip. It was in perfect condition and speckled with water droplets from the ever-present rainstorms we dodged most of the week. I've marveled at this genus' beauty for years and to finally see one's floral perfection in person was pure botanical bliss!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE7HOHH_E7NAQvSuDYtMENUVttcEpGaR3BCHBdmXMbqxDO8edS8LOG3mmaDVzJTnlF4mx_aUflsjAM72tedOYjt8zCQfjNxPvEygI739wgcHzvzKyCUqti7FgoV89TM8Iby6_fjd5gnc/s1600/I1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQE7HOHH_E7NAQvSuDYtMENUVttcEpGaR3BCHBdmXMbqxDO8edS8LOG3mmaDVzJTnlF4mx_aUflsjAM72tedOYjt8zCQfjNxPvEygI739wgcHzvzKyCUqti7FgoV89TM8Iby6_fjd5gnc/s640/I1.jpg" width="409" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine (<i>Pinus aristata</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3oKXiojsNnsqdNcx7JlkIeVWsekyIe_12RYNsVDw-ZV0qJYcWhyphenhyphenXAjMyT0w2I24HRz3Qcn5x9y-LmkxtkTpm29sKrQ_3FJInruIwspkbiqH6bSCq50y1vXwuLJuW6v2IviCWM120ORg/s1600/I2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU3oKXiojsNnsqdNcx7JlkIeVWsekyIe_12RYNsVDw-ZV0qJYcWhyphenhyphenXAjMyT0w2I24HRz3Qcn5x9y-LmkxtkTpm29sKrQ_3FJInruIwspkbiqH6bSCq50y1vXwuLJuW6v2IviCWM120ORg/s640/I2.jpg" width="435" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocky Mountain Bristlecone Pine (<i>Pinus aristata</i>)</td></tr>
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Those that know me personally or have followed this blog from the beginning know that trees were my first botanical love and remain a passionate favorite to this day. So it shouldn't come as much of a surprise that number two would end up being one of, if not the coolest tree species this tree hugger has yet seen in the Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine (<i>Pinus aristata</i>). Their ancient, gnarled form made each individual tree a work of art and unlike anything I'd seen before. Some trees from this grove in the Mount Goliath Natural Area at about 11,500' have been dated to over 1,600 years old and definitely looked the part! It's hard to fathom thriving, let alone surviving for over a millennium at the tree line in the cold, harsh and windswept climate of the subalpine that few other trees can tolerate. My time among these primal trees was an emotional experience and I came away with a newfound respect and fascination for my beloved woody plants. Even Kara completely understood and grasped the impressive nature and importance of these trees and loved every second among them as well. I'll make a genuine tree hugger of her yet! It's worth mentioning that another species of bristlecone pine (<i>P. longaeva</i>) found further to the west in California, Nevada, and Utah is known as the oldest living individual organism on Earth with some specimens confirmed to be over 5,000 years old! Incredible...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirX7vrDsbkScd0TC_YGOgmLZwkdf3Lcx9oHcsUdkLx9Bi9yNYcj_tbeYudB9B-Lo35XlF3GH34vrlqMzO3zkT5rdcqqdIqfr_kL_ZJCwPW710E0b_CPakGG_9s7xR-QeOcfKq69F-cwc/s1600/J1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirX7vrDsbkScd0TC_YGOgmLZwkdf3Lcx9oHcsUdkLx9Bi9yNYcj_tbeYudB9B-Lo35XlF3GH34vrlqMzO3zkT5rdcqqdIqfr_kL_ZJCwPW710E0b_CPakGG_9s7xR-QeOcfKq69F-cwc/s640/J1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clustered Lady's Slipper Orchid (<i>Cypripedium fasciculatum</i>)</td></tr>
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If you've been following along on this countdown and been wondering, or perhaps even worried about when the first orchid would make its appearance fear no more! It took awhile but I naturally saved the best for last and present to you the number one life plant from 2016. The clustered lady's slipper orchid (<i>Cypripedium fasciculatum</i>) was easily my most wanted botanical item during Kara and I's week long trek out to Colorado. I didn't have much in the way of solid leads or ideas on where to look for this elusive orchid other than its affinity for cool, shaded fir/spruce forests around 9,000-11,000' in elevation. I figured my chances were slim-to-none and wasn't holding my breath on coming across any, especially in prime blooming condition. Little did I know how lucky I would get!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZewech0FfVz5ISzGVj9SrnmZrboN8kWnduX3Go68SWWggiyadiQOpzpZCu7Fs-InDFwYBiaL5uqLDz-oEjGqcHDCWjX_VOJAFNZ_Kj1hFihWExR9uc2P6zlG530AQeb1kf9mqX2tuOI/s1600/J2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZewech0FfVz5ISzGVj9SrnmZrboN8kWnduX3Go68SWWggiyadiQOpzpZCu7Fs-InDFwYBiaL5uqLDz-oEjGqcHDCWjX_VOJAFNZ_Kj1hFihWExR9uc2P6zlG530AQeb1kf9mqX2tuOI/s640/J2.jpg" width="419" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clustered Lady's Slipper Orchid (<i>Cypripedium fasciculatum</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mGefrD9S4SPVxBjiJurknejtT_HQu2htrgaXVMJ2DT3oqClDCU_FGT5BxIUflSYi2Gt4ftO0N1HpThD_38hPb1VoDKC6ElqULLkhB4WMsUC7Ff4XXa77OBlR4fHUMlFU3_617L5SomM/s1600/J3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-mGefrD9S4SPVxBjiJurknejtT_HQu2htrgaXVMJ2DT3oqClDCU_FGT5BxIUflSYi2Gt4ftO0N1HpThD_38hPb1VoDKC6ElqULLkhB4WMsUC7Ff4XXa77OBlR4fHUMlFU3_617L5SomM/s640/J3.jpg" width="403" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clustered Lady's Slipper Orchid (<i>Cypripedium fasciculatum</i>)</td></tr>
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Everyone know's my obsession and addiction with wild orchids and after seeing so much of the east's wonderful diversity, I was really excited at my chance to gain a few new life species while out west at a favorable time of the year. I ended up seeing a half dozen or so species of orchid but none had the same inebriating effect as the clustered lady's slippers. Kara and I were on a long hike in the depths of Rocky Mountain National Park when I caught a glimpse of them blooming in the sparsely vegetated spruce needle duff along the trail and could barely contain my shock or keep my heart in my chest. I ended up finding a lot of them spread throughout the area in a range of colors, from deep maroon to a more yellowish orange-green. The flowers were smaller than I'd imagined and distinctly clustered as the name would suggest. One might argue they aren't all that aesthetically pleasing, especially compared to other members of its genus but they were ineffably gorgeous to me. My time with them was too short and the drizzly conditions didn't make photographing them easy but in the end it didn't really matter to a beggar like me. Just reminiscing on such an incredible experience has me on cloud nine all over again. I can't wait to get back out to the mountain west and hunt down the rest of the continent's lady's slipper orchids.<br />
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I hope you've enjoyed this look back on my favorite finds and life plants of 2016. I'll be curious to hear from you, my readers if any of these are on your life lists or plants you've had the honor of coming into contact with before. If anything I hope I've warmed your spirits even a wee bit as the reality of another wildflower season come and gone sinks in. If 2017 is anything like my 2016, it will be full of fantastic finds, exciting discoveries and more memories made soaking in the natural world's beauty and diversity. I certainly hope to find some time this winter to look back on my trips out to Colorado and New York in greater detail. I'd certainly like to and know the few dedicated readers still hanging around for new posts would too.<br />
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- ALG -<br />
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Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-12887177991963387532016-06-07T23:34:00.002-04:002017-05-28T00:28:41.287-04:00The Bruce Peninsula Part I: Intro *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-wild-and-wonderful-bruce-peninsula.html">Part I</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-bruce-peninsula-singing-sands-of.html">Part II</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/03/the-bruce-peninsula-part-iii-rugged.html">Part III</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-iv-roadside.html">Part IV</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-v-rare-ferns.html">Part V</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-bruce-peninsula-part-vi-alvar.html">Part VI</a>* *<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2017/05/the-bruce-peninsula-part-vii-majestic.html">Part VII</a>*<br />
As mentioned in my recent posts since coming back from the blogging dead, I have more than enough topics to catch up on. The biggest one of all is my sensational week long trip up to Ontario's Bruce peninsula last early June. In fact, I was up there at exactly this time last year and figured what better time to reminisce than now? I have tons to share and have decided to break them up into a series of posts that will make them easier to digest and enjoy. I'll be sure to link each and every one at the top and bottom of each post for easy movement between them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from atop Cave Point on the Bruce's rugged eastern shoreline. </td></tr>
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This first post will set the table for the rest of the series and serve as a nice introduction. I first discovered the beauty of the Bruce peninsula, or 'the Bruce' as I'll come to call it from here on out, back in mid June 2011. I had an incredible time that only whetted my appetite for more with a promise to return sooner than later. I missed out on a number of plants I had the highest hopes of seeing and resolved to arrive earlier in the month to catch them all this time around. I certainly achieved that and so much more!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGYobF5iK1QYHe-xv_Z8md0ZydcL0GtggdJDgkGlV3FsiZzREPAXql6OMDNJ0aNH8gaVB4vVKMG0H1fv-JQNd6J9TDrFQYadvVtyiafhj7a1luVNMFXKXRcJSKnfI7vbvC_yxjHFBZuQ/s1600/B.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="604" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSGYobF5iK1QYHe-xv_Z8md0ZydcL0GtggdJDgkGlV3FsiZzREPAXql6OMDNJ0aNH8gaVB4vVKMG0H1fv-JQNd6J9TDrFQYadvVtyiafhj7a1luVNMFXKXRcJSKnfI7vbvC_yxjHFBZuQ/s640/B.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Location of the Bruce peninsula within the Great Lakes region (courtesy Google Maps)</td></tr>
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When I mention the Bruce to most folks, their first question is usually where in the world is this place? The Bruce is an extension of the geologically significant Niagara Escarpment that helps separate Lake Huron's main body and the Georgian Bay on its southern end, as seen in the map above. The peninsula's southern end is comprised of a mostly flat landscape with some rolling hills and dominated by pasture and agriculture, while the more wild northern end is dominated by forest and countless wetlands. The Bruce provides southern Ontario with its largest remaining tracts of forest and natural habitat and contains two national parks and numerous nature reserves protecting priceless globally rare habitat.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closer look at the Bruce and major areas of exploration during my trip marked on the map (Courtesy Google Maps)</td></tr>
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The aforementioned Niagara Escarpment is a major geological player in the Great Lakes basin and forms the backbone of the peninsula. The escarpment's bedrock strata is comprised of dolomite limestone, much like my beloved Adams County, Ohio's prairie barrens, that is of Silurian Age in origin and laid down over 400 million years ago. Despite being thoroughly scraped and carved flat by glaciers over the millennia, the Niagara Escarpment has provided the Bruce with some stunning topography in its dramatic lakeside cliffs/bluffs, rugged shorelines, alvars, and waterfalls as you'll come to see.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9afx6dzHHf7ZdRLw6sYMl9VuVtTeLgnKQdg5zKFeoWuTkE22QN2dfFIKB-3lD0einmkWDMN2dkv18PlRe5kXk7zb47_8EEaNGAb7tnVDP3QvWb2XEj77yOKPVyp7Hl4eYNbskaW3CHY/s1600/C1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9afx6dzHHf7ZdRLw6sYMl9VuVtTeLgnKQdg5zKFeoWuTkE22QN2dfFIKB-3lD0einmkWDMN2dkv18PlRe5kXk7zb47_8EEaNGAb7tnVDP3QvWb2XEj77yOKPVyp7Hl4eYNbskaW3CHY/s640/C1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pit stop at a bog in SE Michigan to see the Dragon's Mouth orchid (<i>Arethusa bulbosa</i>)</td></tr>
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The trip started with your narrator making the initial drive up to Detroit, Michigan to pick up good friend and fellow botanist/trip member, John Manion at the airport. John lives/works in Alabama and had it planned to join me for the rest of the drive up to the Bruce after flying in most of the way. It was a good thing he did, as our quick, albeit out of the way pit stop at a wonderful sphagnum bog near Ann Arbor produced a life plant for John in the mesmerizing dragon's mouth orchid (<i>Arethusa bulbosa</i>). It was a harbinger of amazing plants, places and things to come!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTnofSREydzPghsOt2hJu7OIloPYc8ybh2-h73SYxvnGD7P451HiEhOHVf3-5F7Aygg4zEOVWjGKeK8bnyfFqwKsdSgmt_a-PM_9vNrUxaPzv1YBSwZtf0UCRJEc204UmoeDCoV23UcE/s1600/D.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyTnofSREydzPghsOt2hJu7OIloPYc8ybh2-h73SYxvnGD7P451HiEhOHVf3-5F7Aygg4zEOVWjGKeK8bnyfFqwKsdSgmt_a-PM_9vNrUxaPzv1YBSwZtf0UCRJEc204UmoeDCoV23UcE/s640/D.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bruce Crew! L to R: Stefan Weber, Drew Monthie, Rob Routledge, John Manion, and your narrator</td></tr>
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The rest of the crew met up at our lakeside cabin we'd rented for the week. All four other gentlemen were exceptional field botanists/naturalists and even better human beings! I can honestly say having the pleasure of experiencing the Bruce's splendor with all of them and the memories, laughter and camaraderie shared was second to none. Each one of us brought something unique and valuable to the table, but I must single out John's penchant for cooking as perhaps the best of all. We ate like royalty while up there and all pitched in to take his dish and meal ideas from paper to plate. I can't recall a better week of eating before or since. John, I'll never forget those honey drizzled, prosciutto-wrapped stuffed figs. Bliss!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfYX144oex5xKwPDd3JOWi01J5j2iKuVGyjNIK_BRSUXnDOm3dKTxmrZeBeFWwf-boxJMVrVSHH9c6uAdFgArMM1Chrcg-8wlaGx2aXpGnnvqKXmmYiBkoxCvPAJQ6UCDWHZTZOWOWwI/s1600/G.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyfYX144oex5xKwPDd3JOWi01J5j2iKuVGyjNIK_BRSUXnDOm3dKTxmrZeBeFWwf-boxJMVrVSHH9c6uAdFgArMM1Chrcg-8wlaGx2aXpGnnvqKXmmYiBkoxCvPAJQ6UCDWHZTZOWOWwI/s640/G.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of our daily tributes to Jackie for being unable to join our trip due to a sudden knee injury</td></tr>
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The only dark cloud to hang over our trip was the loss of our friend, Jackie. She was originally part of the Bruce Crew but suffered a fall and shattered her knee cap shortly before our departure that required surgery and lots of rest. Jackie is a dear, dear friend of mine whom you may recall has her own splendid blog,<a href="http://saratogawoodswaters.blogspot.com/"> Saratoga Woods and Waterways</a>. She's also graciously opened her home and favorite areas of upstate New York to me on two trips that I often still think about years later. Jackie was never far from our mind and we made sure she knew that by arranging her name in a variety of different items each day and sending her a get well email. My favorite was the one pictured above made of forget-me-not blossoms that abounded outside the cabin (no worries, it's a non-native species, so no harm done picking the plants!).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our secluded cabin right on the Lake Huron shoreline nestled among the cedars, pine and spruce</td></tr>
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I'd be remiss if I didn't take a moment to show off the location of our dreamy rented cabin. It resided in a secluded area on the western shorelines of the peninsula's northern end near Dorcas Bay. The interior was nicely furnished, comfy and quite spacious but nothing could beat the huge back deck and its phenomenal view. The surrounding coniferous woods and cobble shoreline was full of exciting flora and the morning serenade of warblers galore singing their hearts out outside my window is an alarm clock I'll never best or forget.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keying out plants while drinking a beer was a favorite evening activity of mine</td></tr>
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That gorgeous back deck saw lots of action with several nights of expert grilling by Rob; plenty of beer drinking and cigar smoking (at least for Rob and I); and provided a scenic spot to work out the day's unknown plants we collected/came across.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bruce Crew's combined naturalist library</td></tr>
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Speaking of figuring unknown things out, our group was hardly in short supply of relevant literature and/or resources while up on the Bruce. Between the five of us, our combined library was impressive and came in handy. If anything, it provided a hands on chance to check out books I've yet to add to my naturalist bookshelf. In many cases, at least one of us already knew what most anything was others drew a blank on but with so many books it seemed like a lock we'd be able to nail down an ID on any mystery organism, no matter its place on the tree of life.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The adult sand hill crane is an obvious spot but can you find its little chick too?</td></tr>
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The Bruce isn't just a botanist's dreamland but a birder's, too! I'm a casual birder at best most of the time with my attention usually fixated on the ground. It's easier to focus on plants and merely pay attention to the songs and calls filtering down from the canopy than actively seeking birds out with my binoculars. But I'd been a fool to not take advantage of the returned neo-tropical migrants and northern species rarely seen/heard in Ohio while up in Ontario. The highlight for me was stopping along a grassy meadow to observe a pair of sand hill cranes, only to realize they had two chicks with them! That was a new experience for me! Can you find the chick in the photo above?<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROuWRCTv4c9EtPSnQYswmNtnxlvXZSgzRzg0NGrH7CZeV2_xh3PIAKFuvr3vihSHRCIHyRRiL-tOpSYrehud4KfKbeVTkUElI6t3Cv47MdhYHQZOtrzQ39aD5cKbZ_8rCInGSTVP_G9o/s1600/K.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhROuWRCTv4c9EtPSnQYswmNtnxlvXZSgzRzg0NGrH7CZeV2_xh3PIAKFuvr3vihSHRCIHyRRiL-tOpSYrehud4KfKbeVTkUElI6t3Cv47MdhYHQZOtrzQ39aD5cKbZ_8rCInGSTVP_G9o/s640/K.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lake Huron sunset from the back deck of our cabin. Not too shabby, eh?</td></tr>
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I know this wasn't the most exciting or captivating of posts but rest assured the next half dozen or so to follow will more than show just how unique and majestic a place the Bruce genuinely is. It's one of eastern North America's best kept secrets but certainly famous and popular with those who know and experienced its beauty. I hope you'll stay tuned and come back as I reminisce on one of the most fun and rewarding weeks of my life. Thanks for stopping by!<br />
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- ALG -Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-5613258053639774712016-06-01T20:00:00.000-04:002016-10-17T18:50:42.944-04:00Flashback to Fall in the Dolly Sods WildernessDolly Sods is so nice why not visit it twice? As promised, I'm back to share some photos from my backpacking trip to eastern West Virginia's Dolly Sods Wilderness and Spruce Knob-Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area last fall. Your narrator had every intention of getting this out last October but it just never happened. So as I usually say on here: better late than never! I hope you enjoyed following along with Kara and I's trip to the same spots this past Memorial Day weekend in my previous post. If you missed it, I encourage you to <a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2016/05/memorial-day-weekend-in-wild-and.html">go back and check it out</a> for a depth of detail and history on this fascinating landscape. This time around I'll let my photos do most of the talking and just caption each one with a brief description. With that being said, I hope you enjoy this photo gallery of one of the eastern United States' most stunning locations to see autumn's glory at its peak.<br />
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* Remember to click on each photo to see it larger and in higher resolution! *</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLkYwvC8HIZMjyfFHgPmL0syhsmaJsOhAYzhQki2xMsJb4R1QMVZ_BUSVin6O_npaXOHdEQicJAAcfoGu4_b7bCabUzZK_LjPdMx-Gq2Tx3bJIzqCqjUBUAIS5ljiBJZ09MFqmOzi7vM/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuLkYwvC8HIZMjyfFHgPmL0syhsmaJsOhAYzhQki2xMsJb4R1QMVZ_BUSVin6O_npaXOHdEQicJAAcfoGu4_b7bCabUzZK_LjPdMx-Gq2Tx3bJIzqCqjUBUAIS5ljiBJZ09MFqmOzi7vM/s640/001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wind-swept heath barrens and boulder fields of Dolly Sods' high plateau come alive in the most vivid of ways <br />
come autumn when the chokeberry, blueberries and huckleberries are at their most scarlet!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCAhErD2-qHlkHifpDWXO9J0rN0E-RN5tLQfcaY-un3xGzMvUKakuygrZJGgsTTS6IwUwVpFmt66elhwVvhUH3EDG5VexigmOvwu1ZU04mmGrDD7Cb3WB_G5liDI2Wj4qDObbiLaHpoY/s1600/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDCAhErD2-qHlkHifpDWXO9J0rN0E-RN5tLQfcaY-un3xGzMvUKakuygrZJGgsTTS6IwUwVpFmt66elhwVvhUH3EDG5VexigmOvwu1ZU04mmGrDD7Cb3WB_G5liDI2Wj4qDObbiLaHpoY/s640/002.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackwater Falls State Park is an absolute must when in the area regardless of the time of year. <br />
However, fall is especially nice when the gorge is spotted with the orange and gold colors<br />
of changing maples and birch trees.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3NFzSU6bPk1CfPCg_Dy8i0WeONm7y0TS-ujdw5WQPAddQ2OIl4tfzOVcHGIi8SAnBGYGOWafQc0k_LjNjAEmEi6ZRgxs4ejof_L3xsUbjJ6sScTJx_2mYpZ_mdYYJl-8dt-2Afox5ug/s1600/003A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-3NFzSU6bPk1CfPCg_Dy8i0WeONm7y0TS-ujdw5WQPAddQ2OIl4tfzOVcHGIi8SAnBGYGOWafQc0k_LjNjAEmEi6ZRgxs4ejof_L3xsUbjJ6sScTJx_2mYpZ_mdYYJl-8dt-2Afox5ug/s640/003A.jpg" width="419" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackwater Falls from the other side of the gorge. The red maple at<br />
peak autumn glory was an especially awesome touch!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwAt-rqTxn7AmMLvzIttBflFsHRKsVlruPQO2oBN87lsNMl3STl2PSdImmsgztrUD9Oan0jtFFEAzKOb81sOpJQWHdirYVnY85t0NCpQNeMJKebDa6xPr2HwfGcl3YZdq0HNyzQIPMbw/s1600/003B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwAt-rqTxn7AmMLvzIttBflFsHRKsVlruPQO2oBN87lsNMl3STl2PSdImmsgztrUD9Oan0jtFFEAzKOb81sOpJQWHdirYVnY85t0NCpQNeMJKebDa6xPr2HwfGcl3YZdq0HNyzQIPMbw/s640/003B.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closer look at Blackwater Falls and its red maple. Definitely<br />
one of the more stunning views of the entire trip!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBOKQUPsLL2d_xVqsP4TbJmV2VtA2ScatCRghE_fAz-1Lf2sRwZ51hoJpngctLuwaXPCLJjHLEJToo73TY_heX5knpbvE-LYzwKeJl7ZLZa3EzWfCYlUCBtiCmAYn5V2pwClZ4MbhE9g/s1600/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcBOKQUPsLL2d_xVqsP4TbJmV2VtA2ScatCRghE_fAz-1Lf2sRwZ51hoJpngctLuwaXPCLJjHLEJToo73TY_heX5knpbvE-LYzwKeJl7ZLZa3EzWfCYlUCBtiCmAYn5V2pwClZ4MbhE9g/s640/004.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Rolling forested mountains in peak fall foliage that go on and on and on.....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrC4eWLRU9INObYnMaJNoqLmEh0hVQxBO_TLrwsyI0cSjxd2vS_CiVILYwjTEz_TBW3HjsjPodF3acASg_WL9owCUfhOBTj2BYPn4utEpF84Hk7G0BDB2aInmGvLp6bBha2-0st1RSskE/s1600/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrC4eWLRU9INObYnMaJNoqLmEh0hVQxBO_TLrwsyI0cSjxd2vS_CiVILYwjTEz_TBW3HjsjPodF3acASg_WL9owCUfhOBTj2BYPn4utEpF84Hk7G0BDB2aInmGvLp6bBha2-0st1RSskE/s640/005.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a special color of blue reserved for the autumn skies. I assume it's a matter of the sun's angle in<br />
the sky combined with low humidity but whatever it is, it's always spectacular. Especially when above<br />
such a setting as Dolly Sod's heath barrens.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqih0xS5-ATaPF1oFMVhYLyspUtxgZG3pGzTvKXbYpP7NNvwT2ZjdB58AXOm-letLiYAswVJmCURI9jXXggG6QSq1E4yAEa3-sCHLEqiSrM5paZyxBY-Zt0W63SCv_CVKTbbuHkO5__1o/s1600/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqih0xS5-ATaPF1oFMVhYLyspUtxgZG3pGzTvKXbYpP7NNvwT2ZjdB58AXOm-letLiYAswVJmCURI9jXXggG6QSq1E4yAEa3-sCHLEqiSrM5paZyxBY-Zt0W63SCv_CVKTbbuHkO5__1o/s640/006.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I could never get tired of this landscape and its ephemeral beauty this time of the year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCcuaeNwQJHeVTAH-Ehyphenhyphenl4yAdzDFtEBxHck7z9EwyDBGS30g9CJAq2cAXxTfmNOBnU69o0K_zdDe6SavB0AmicGSRFAIYUn52lfTTTzySsyndcojLVTzBF-hGnY1ylGgTcWUpSdOrUl4/s1600/006A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCcuaeNwQJHeVTAH-Ehyphenhyphenl4yAdzDFtEBxHck7z9EwyDBGS30g9CJAq2cAXxTfmNOBnU69o0K_zdDe6SavB0AmicGSRFAIYUn52lfTTTzySsyndcojLVTzBF-hGnY1ylGgTcWUpSdOrUl4/s640/006A.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ripened cranberries (<i>Oxycoccus sp.</i>) abound in the boggy muskegs.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxl9upjENlPo44On29XgRxUy4pYhNQpyF0RhQCfdW67I8OTNP6C7EFjpnIIK9-_c8qUeAC9yupaDwG_Xmlo8RlVJJqK3ZcKDqai4ko-PVtItyuSGb9MSS7AVq6n3LSmfiWzheKhf11YnU/s1600/006B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxl9upjENlPo44On29XgRxUy4pYhNQpyF0RhQCfdW67I8OTNP6C7EFjpnIIK9-_c8qUeAC9yupaDwG_Xmlo8RlVJJqK3ZcKDqai4ko-PVtItyuSGb9MSS7AVq6n3LSmfiWzheKhf11YnU/s640/006B.jpg" width="436" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stiff clubmoss (<i>Spinulum annotinum</i>) and its spore-bearing strobili. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_dOmibC9OiI-zhL0Zm-VCEkrzKTLrQP5mfnW8ePLzquSMl99rynE7TJGLZOTrqQVK8GYMxuHW76VYrHYQ0W_fnT-zsbfrD3fYCl6Upp2muUPhDEOiijOzNKGU8u73ea8eZHtWvuq0OU/s1600/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji_dOmibC9OiI-zhL0Zm-VCEkrzKTLrQP5mfnW8ePLzquSMl99rynE7TJGLZOTrqQVK8GYMxuHW76VYrHYQ0W_fnT-zsbfrD3fYCl6Upp2muUPhDEOiijOzNKGU8u73ea8eZHtWvuq0OU/s640/007.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sods' tundra-like plateau is covered in boggy wetlands known as muskegs that harbor a whole wealth<br />
of disjunct northern flora. Most everything had bloomed and set to seed long ago with only the white tuffs of<br />
tawny cotton-sedge (<i>Eriophorum virginicum</i>) and ruby red pockets of sphagnum moss adding much to the scene.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfB18ZckVnkpqJe17rEQ_CSiepLjx4k2uHFdB4mHjDEcfqJKAvVqF5CD3wDse1ah9tk9IUtTPFE32zp0VeZNMGXoBQ0WVmToEfZelyHNQh9MBwTxWta_hEnNTPBCKegU5BZI0m7yChNI/s1600/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQfB18ZckVnkpqJe17rEQ_CSiepLjx4k2uHFdB4mHjDEcfqJKAvVqF5CD3wDse1ah9tk9IUtTPFE32zp0VeZNMGXoBQ0WVmToEfZelyHNQh9MBwTxWta_hEnNTPBCKegU5BZI0m7yChNI/s640/008.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">However, with some careful searching there was still some of the conspicuous<br />
narrow-leaved gentian (<i>Gentiana linearis</i>) blooming out in the muskeg meadows.<br />
This was a life plant for me and one I was extremely satisfied to find still blooming!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PJRjYqR6KIgPVhlfaOTQrm3r8iF58EvXKxdLObandxgZKLwMwJpgsSIP-hNNyb_Wa0G_c2rCQus9LBU_7pXzMu_1fbTlxoNTEd6BeRQBJ5vNixlheflWLWZ-KjTqjZ-F14rwDZugJ1c/s1600/009A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1PJRjYqR6KIgPVhlfaOTQrm3r8iF58EvXKxdLObandxgZKLwMwJpgsSIP-hNNyb_Wa0G_c2rCQus9LBU_7pXzMu_1fbTlxoNTEd6BeRQBJ5vNixlheflWLWZ-KjTqjZ-F14rwDZugJ1c/s640/009A.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern bog clubmoss (<i>Lycopodiella inundata</i>)<br />
spore-bearing strobili hanging above its<br />
sphagnum mat home.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2RuD4yDE5ZmmpZSUPPyMtl-bI40W60VykTn6gVknm7hUKOMA-IVUrt7K9GFO03b4cMy1gsrvc7qLInzdsyCX5kBbgi-g7ykMt2xdM6d2cWMiMhPHrFXGBP0sd-6l9Y07einb1TmutqY/s1600/009B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2RuD4yDE5ZmmpZSUPPyMtl-bI40W60VykTn6gVknm7hUKOMA-IVUrt7K9GFO03b4cMy1gsrvc7qLInzdsyCX5kBbgi-g7ykMt2xdM6d2cWMiMhPHrFXGBP0sd-6l9Y07einb1TmutqY/s640/009B.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zoomed out view of the bog clubmoss and its<br />
trailing vegetative stems with vertical strobili.<br />
Such neat plants!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqEZmL3HSQDNKusUtQlxlS96egNlzLgoYQd7jM9kaTLxnnVnuoiAnDFIda6BQuGfZSOx4w5UByAh9fl-FOIgKNgp4_SZqqdoPAgKDRyv8FK5Ze_T_L15rg2XqmrD6KcF6nrRi4NwfWjI/s1600/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdqEZmL3HSQDNKusUtQlxlS96egNlzLgoYQd7jM9kaTLxnnVnuoiAnDFIda6BQuGfZSOx4w5UByAh9fl-FOIgKNgp4_SZqqdoPAgKDRyv8FK5Ze_T_L15rg2XqmrD6KcF6nrRi4NwfWjI/s640/010.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phenomenal peak foliage under a perfect blue sky on the eastern edge of the Dolly Sods plateau. This view faces north<br />
towards famed Bear Rocks of the wilderness area.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PYtfasb2bkLPIj3SJUgHvj-_JcudWr5rG2RTjQ6iqss1X-BUkisaDUaF-hBWbFBz4EOfktjRfUCAuscmGWScizPpv1irKabiVaOJ_bU_O-fIaktBhXoTONLezLGv5n2iI65WHkyIh-o/s1600/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7PYtfasb2bkLPIj3SJUgHvj-_JcudWr5rG2RTjQ6iqss1X-BUkisaDUaF-hBWbFBz4EOfktjRfUCAuscmGWScizPpv1irKabiVaOJ_bU_O-fIaktBhXoTONLezLGv5n2iI65WHkyIh-o/s640/011.jpg" width="442" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dolly Sods showing off as if it were the Fourth of July.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrZOO0UJIeIoY3bOOV87ZP7aQyJmAIPXrh08W_-lmcPjCADifYbMT1QBG6Vo2LGk6OktayKJGcTfP3tzJK_vx43kfmtdLJ40yRrBIKRztL52DrfBsREtEIr8CeVNPfCHusbyUcQSpSmc/s1600/012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFrZOO0UJIeIoY3bOOV87ZP7aQyJmAIPXrh08W_-lmcPjCADifYbMT1QBG6Vo2LGk6OktayKJGcTfP3tzJK_vx43kfmtdLJ40yRrBIKRztL52DrfBsREtEIr8CeVNPfCHusbyUcQSpSmc/s640/012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The upper reaches of Red Creek on the northern end of the plateau. This small stream quickly grows in size as it <br />
drains the entire Dolly Sods plateau and flows into a deep gorge at the southern end. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8GqK7oPxKrc0ccPpTzbCxPdSy-HeG0-GSiTfAvSsK0P-tRkOcaXreT46Jd7oaKydLeuZt6FRmMPsvCgjM2vDerQ3DeNuDieMvpq9NzSC4K-tPk050UBzIXzvDPlmhhlu4mca4QpALdM/s1600/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF8GqK7oPxKrc0ccPpTzbCxPdSy-HeG0-GSiTfAvSsK0P-tRkOcaXreT46Jd7oaKydLeuZt6FRmMPsvCgjM2vDerQ3DeNuDieMvpq9NzSC4K-tPk050UBzIXzvDPlmhhlu4mca4QpALdM/s640/013.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking southeast over the mountain ridges and their corresponding valleys from the Bear Rocks area in the<br />
golden light of early evening. Sort of makes you feel like you're on top of the world.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6i00QPMkejZP6CpA7_eADTbo_kVO9xf8cg0uYyiu1zux7EjnH_HoWBzHMy1kjRjikX1llR-UrDoLbVxf1is-Eluc9Q8y8gES2oM9rt36qM9MJD3rojOLYcwFlaomX2EaXTypeLV9W7U/s1600/014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-6i00QPMkejZP6CpA7_eADTbo_kVO9xf8cg0uYyiu1zux7EjnH_HoWBzHMy1kjRjikX1llR-UrDoLbVxf1is-Eluc9Q8y8gES2oM9rt36qM9MJD3rojOLYcwFlaomX2EaXTypeLV9W7U/s640/014.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The golden light of the evening soon turned into a spectacular sunset with low light bouncing off the mountains.<br />
This was easily one of my favorite captures of the entire weekend. Such incredible scenery.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABUmhX63e3SrHGtXknRR6qzLahtq3wZr9KtPj2iM_q2IXNRnhLu32KCMUo3vSskZhSsfRkhtZMTrD_PcCVr_jGcaSiI7wLen3uksOtwmugY6NaEpD3sN42rG-dxjaOEG1OFb00anW-MQ/s1600/015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="372" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABUmhX63e3SrHGtXknRR6qzLahtq3wZr9KtPj2iM_q2IXNRnhLu32KCMUo3vSskZhSsfRkhtZMTrD_PcCVr_jGcaSiI7wLen3uksOtwmugY6NaEpD3sN42rG-dxjaOEG1OFb00anW-MQ/s640/015.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A classic Dolly Sods sunset behind a pair of red spruce out on the heath barrens and boulder fields of Bear Rocks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWDtnQ6xR9tFb2b67soYF6_yvoUOrYg6mCJIxUReEcxxtEw6Rq_RJKEOs1gknlWjmUDTOLk1MQL-9d2CJ9BEBC22BDfq-4g7XSjmNQxR0vRuOVIaEBNZCLFuNkAZhjjmVaTWifnwe0iQ/s1600/016A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZWDtnQ6xR9tFb2b67soYF6_yvoUOrYg6mCJIxUReEcxxtEw6Rq_RJKEOs1gknlWjmUDTOLk1MQL-9d2CJ9BEBC22BDfq-4g7XSjmNQxR0vRuOVIaEBNZCLFuNkAZhjjmVaTWifnwe0iQ/s640/016A.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clear cold nights and no light pollution made for some spectacular<br />
star watching. The streaks of the Milky Way were easily visible as well.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcW-1V87TjqmbFuS_4c7cQwvvC1MuQB_GdSNsMVhxvc_MQoHqWRICZYgAdihXiAeRvqGAqI0HuMlXObbwEPzBlZhpHqWqsTUF_3X96R-BAa8RLfaiGlu-n2yR9ttiqVzfqd8LJRZJjlM/s1600/016B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcW-1V87TjqmbFuS_4c7cQwvvC1MuQB_GdSNsMVhxvc_MQoHqWRICZYgAdihXiAeRvqGAqI0HuMlXObbwEPzBlZhpHqWqsTUF_3X96R-BAa8RLfaiGlu-n2yR9ttiqVzfqd8LJRZJjlM/s640/016B.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you click on these night time exposures and view them in a larger format<br />
you <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">can see the Milky Way even better and in higher resolution.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLMfyf-9i6BQXWOHGjPd3ZXuB9zePDTX6AHRbaCO2SJCq8X_bOQuCNdDTZpMM3d5QXuJaAbW2M1PT7x00ua4LNp6ikqq_bkhVzvAtueZN7iqlvAnQOmLwZ43AjxUA0xrG81J2RYmrDnU/s1600/018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="346" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLMfyf-9i6BQXWOHGjPd3ZXuB9zePDTX6AHRbaCO2SJCq8X_bOQuCNdDTZpMM3d5QXuJaAbW2M1PT7x00ua4LNp6ikqq_bkhVzvAtueZN7iqlvAnQOmLwZ43AjxUA0xrG81J2RYmrDnU/s640/018.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My friend, Tanner and I awoke early our last morning there to watch the sun rise above the Virginia mountains from<br />
atop Bear Rocks. It was windy and freezing cold but nothing could keep us from enjoying one of the most<br />
spectacular views in my entire life!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdiaqKTlopqez1kKXPwics6o4GEy8Mbit7MTdbjjK8-tDq7huw8ZQG2dXHT9FCNytZlA6Kbcc2lZe49VRu8Q00TKtKrGsJj4P6tAL_Vlbu-WC05fBBVZINTBrCS-1gixJi68-JogKYTI/s1600/017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTdiaqKTlopqez1kKXPwics6o4GEy8Mbit7MTdbjjK8-tDq7huw8ZQG2dXHT9FCNytZlA6Kbcc2lZe49VRu8Q00TKtKrGsJj4P6tAL_Vlbu-WC05fBBVZINTBrCS-1gixJi68-JogKYTI/s640/017.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fog-filled valleys and intense colors were awe-inspiring to say the least. I'll never forget this experience.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QMLH-0WdXml6SHxk3wPomy5ybuFmF_P7JMb3K6Cu4x2SE-wWv0rYAKS_vVLDJWbitxGaq-5Qilk1Pn4RdyLqsWnKbAPN9LPCAxDv-C06H5I1DLsNyJHVSfvhcptYHr-jHJQx7j8e1RM/s1600/022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QMLH-0WdXml6SHxk3wPomy5ybuFmF_P7JMb3K6Cu4x2SE-wWv0rYAKS_vVLDJWbitxGaq-5Qilk1Pn4RdyLqsWnKbAPN9LPCAxDv-C06H5I1DLsNyJHVSfvhcptYHr-jHJQx7j8e1RM/s640/022.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Champe Rocks emerging from the fog and mist, ensconced in autumn's finest.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIsaByJKLIsmjf5PSwep101272BUct_5PUrZGaaDsOsr-mluujyfaHHhtOv4QYXNXJsUHFze_fw0nC9K2vY8ujCOKTXUDTX3dVFVhwLgnv9vakzCORKaWV2YkydVD0lFP4HEjlRenCoc/s1600/024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIsaByJKLIsmjf5PSwep101272BUct_5PUrZGaaDsOsr-mluujyfaHHhtOv4QYXNXJsUHFze_fw0nC9K2vY8ujCOKTXUDTX3dVFVhwLgnv9vakzCORKaWV2YkydVD0lFP4HEjlRenCoc/s640/024.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Famed Seneca Rocks rocketing nearly 900 feet above the valley floor. The previous Champe Rocks photo and<br />
this and the <span style="font-size: 12.8px;">next </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">ones of Seneca Rocks were taken in 2014 but deserve their place in this post since we</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;"> drove past these very </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">places </span><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">in the same foliage conditions but with intense light in the wrong places, </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12.8px;">making for poor photography conditions.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVZgDJUQynPX7ILl4HZKHSv9oE-21eBI4XD0EOrV8Ndz8ukiKK7DBYRh9LvABvi7dYpvP6I40rfjvkBOLElRYti7DGl_72StEnoaZkAXPN2-AhXwplw5E0tIruTzRE-ATmlgGj8yjyQA/s1600/023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsVZgDJUQynPX7ILl4HZKHSv9oE-21eBI4XD0EOrV8Ndz8ukiKK7DBYRh9LvABvi7dYpvP6I40rfjvkBOLElRYti7DGl_72StEnoaZkAXPN2-AhXwplw5E0tIruTzRE-ATmlgGj8yjyQA/s640/023.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The entrance to another world through which a small stream flows at Seneca Rocks.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2V23wGmbj9LAUyE2omRdm2yTJ7oOlw3cChRYUIx4kjraHiNyZzlTjpzMAkrG5fOPa9fudJoHmPV9C8FpRNRk7enQbkvSPEScQU_EdjuXbPJhtgxqgdID8-EAojXOnVbOgcDjeZuszTD8/s1600/019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2V23wGmbj9LAUyE2omRdm2yTJ7oOlw3cChRYUIx4kjraHiNyZzlTjpzMAkrG5fOPa9fudJoHmPV9C8FpRNRk7enQbkvSPEScQU_EdjuXbPJhtgxqgdID8-EAojXOnVbOgcDjeZuszTD8/s640/019.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tawny cotton-sedge (<i>Eriophorum virginicum</i>) filled bog meadow along the margins of Spruce Knob Lake.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijziUKMNU9u_IggjwOABY_q9dDQJ6lNfVtuJFVjzyNf06JB5GlyOd03XisTGjxEVZZyq9DwM9PBbxi_ti9HLsgbrPI4DOkRUuD7DIp3zfPNCvKFx0wFe1to3U-KzJiF-4dknPGbyQe3Og/s1600/020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijziUKMNU9u_IggjwOABY_q9dDQJ6lNfVtuJFVjzyNf06JB5GlyOd03XisTGjxEVZZyq9DwM9PBbxi_ti9HLsgbrPI4DOkRUuD7DIp3zfPNCvKFx0wFe1to3U-KzJiF-4dknPGbyQe3Og/s640/020.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I know I used this photo and view in my last post but I had to use it again from the actual trip it occurred on. <br />
This view from atop Spruce Knob, West Virginia's tallest peak at nearly 4,900' was taken October 11th and while <br />
the rest of the region was at peak foliage, here already looked like winter.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3S6bmzYf3rHsqbOx56ZfSOH2X1s6yAJmTbZAnS5sTkYjo2W_IGClz_WyAcuiQMEOR3RJAS-XVNnisaACh011Bvog-lW5Vt2gh4Fvs62wsVvZTi8pV_9T6WjKnebvsNQu5eK2j2ie7VJ0/s1600/021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3S6bmzYf3rHsqbOx56ZfSOH2X1s6yAJmTbZAnS5sTkYjo2W_IGClz_WyAcuiQMEOR3RJAS-XVNnisaACh011Bvog-lW5Vt2gh4Fvs62wsVvZTi8pV_9T6WjKnebvsNQu5eK2j2ie7VJ0/s640/021.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our trip ended as it began with perfect fall foliage and clear blue skies. We took<br />
the long way home through the Gandy Creek valley on the backside of Spruce Knob and<br />
could not have enjoyed the bumpy gravel road drive more.</td></tr>
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Needless to say, the foliage and weather cooperated perfectly for last fall's trip. It was easily one of the most photogenic weekend's of my life and I'd put even more photos in this post if it wasn't packed with them already. If you haven't taken the hint yet and need to have it spelled out for you: go visit Dolly Sods already! I don't know what else could be holding you back if you live within a day's drive. Hopefully these last two posts have proven just how special and magical a place it genuinely is. Spring, summer, fall or winter, you have to experience the Sods!<br />
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- ALG -Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-80664744294925328752016-05-31T01:26:00.003-04:002016-05-31T18:36:03.720-04:00Memorial Day Weekend in Wild and Wonderful West VirginiaThe Buckeye Botanist lives! It's been an absurd amount of time since I was last active on here and for that I apologize. I could go into any number of reasons or excuses but suffice it to say life gets hectic and busy. As usual, I have more than enough topics and adventures to share on here and have a long back log going all the way back to this time last year to catch up on. But there's no better time than the present and with a phenomenal long Memorial Day weekend in the rear view mirror, I find it best to go ahead and reminisce on it now with the details fresh in my memory.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMxr2XgA6ZBdl13jOQdGDBDVSB16N_q9S-vbZqhrMl0FoWGoFQsO4-IPA8RXBB8jC017sj_Sh3Py5K_Kett7w_qErXWa3Uoqx-ELjMKcyl34_6hSQRCcegXjmVK7eIY1ccylmSv-wGoM/s1600/A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="442" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpMxr2XgA6ZBdl13jOQdGDBDVSB16N_q9S-vbZqhrMl0FoWGoFQsO4-IPA8RXBB8jC017sj_Sh3Py5K_Kett7w_qErXWa3Uoqx-ELjMKcyl34_6hSQRCcegXjmVK7eIY1ccylmSv-wGoM/s640/A.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flame azalea in full, spectacular bloom in rural West Virginia </td></tr>
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My partner Kara and I have different work schedules and don't have weekends that coincide entirely with one another very often. Memorial Day weekend is the rare one that allows us to get out together and we took full advantage this year with an adventure to the wonderment that is the Dolly Sods Wilderness in eastern West Virginia. If it sounds familiar, I posted on its fall splendor a couple years ago. In fact, I loved it so much I went back with a good friend of mine last fall and still need to do a post on that trip some time in the future, but one thing at a time.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DSehp_S3amJtcZ3xT8hlCX2codjLOUKzsFgCU06YvBwePmZ6pw0CK7P4eH2UC3FqHUricTGR8m77gtSl4k3nby-D1Go2eYVOgBunefhmeGgQ4VZ5zUhabdXnlPrpx-dyaDoatEFdNbk/s1600/B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4DSehp_S3amJtcZ3xT8hlCX2codjLOUKzsFgCU06YvBwePmZ6pw0CK7P4eH2UC3FqHUricTGR8m77gtSl4k3nby-D1Go2eYVOgBunefhmeGgQ4VZ5zUhabdXnlPrpx-dyaDoatEFdNbk/s640/B.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Misty mountains in the Dry Fork of the Cheat River valley</td></tr>
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Kara had never been to Dolly Sods before but heard me gush over its beauty countless times so it was an easy sell as a destination. We couldn't have had more fun even if the weather didn't fully cooperate. We saw a lot of the region's other natural attractions and highlights, too as you'll see coming up. Kara came away more than impressed and excited to return to dive even deeper into the region's splendor and wonder.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTALaBUhWwvxsZhMvjrb_gegD4pRRy70UOBl47LUzXpJ9ae72j6vHdYN3DPAfXIyF0rGDiLfpA8l6Y1bfZBCODg2tiM_u0KFJreYhwFGcbYpyOjV6OK2lIgF93clIvNjodsQQsYZenL_Q/s1600/C1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTALaBUhWwvxsZhMvjrb_gegD4pRRy70UOBl47LUzXpJ9ae72j6vHdYN3DPAfXIyF0rGDiLfpA8l6Y1bfZBCODg2tiM_u0KFJreYhwFGcbYpyOjV6OK2lIgF93clIvNjodsQQsYZenL_Q/s640/C1.jpg" width="424" /></a></div>
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The nearly four hour drive down was more than scenic on its own with spectacular mountain and valley views, along with fantastic spring wildflowers still hanging on at higher elevations. It was especially nice to see favorites like rose-shell azalea (<i>Rhododendron prinophyllum</i>) and umbrella magnolia (<i>Magnolia tripetala</i>) doing their thing along rural forested roadsides.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWvf5POlc-hxOKzVIbBrk6V7FJqEaXdaHpD_KqVEtAdNNk4UrCG3ZDu_R71vEhZXai_4XUYwR8TzUEDKf6jDolqULtrBdV_ekUqSyiNZHa2I31Z9PnqmirKhrALSifdKP3wNZPRvZYI4/s1600/D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="470" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWvf5POlc-hxOKzVIbBrk6V7FJqEaXdaHpD_KqVEtAdNNk4UrCG3ZDu_R71vEhZXai_4XUYwR8TzUEDKf6jDolqULtrBdV_ekUqSyiNZHa2I31Z9PnqmirKhrALSifdKP3wNZPRvZYI4/s640/D.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackwater Falls, a scenic waterfall outside the small village of Davis and the Canaan Valley</td></tr>
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Not far from Dolly Sods is famed Blackwater Falls State Park, and a must-visit when in the area. The falls was easily audible from the parking lot and had a much higher volume of water than my previous viewing last fall. Between Blackwater Falls and Dolly is Canaan Valley: the largest high-elevation valley in the eastern United States. The valley itself is covered in extensive wetlands and streams, and all come together as the Blackwater River that drains the valley through this falls.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFqJtXPwpmqL9zEFkAMWbTrSuLxSxzcfqM2lS3RB27bc27L0CrYB05YCBCJDvNB_fqNK2fLUB2YT_gBbeIbBcfw2DVgh5g9L2NyQQXhTq5r1KN4mgZz-TP5_GpqvCDNaRNLJoLywiTL8/s1600/E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFqJtXPwpmqL9zEFkAMWbTrSuLxSxzcfqM2lS3RB27bc27L0CrYB05YCBCJDvNB_fqNK2fLUB2YT_gBbeIbBcfw2DVgh5g9L2NyQQXhTq5r1KN4mgZz-TP5_GpqvCDNaRNLJoLywiTL8/s640/E.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lindy Point overlooking the dramatic Blackwater River gorge downstream from the falls</td></tr>
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After flowing over the falls, the Blackwater River cuts an ancient course through a dramatic gorge with some incredible views from the rim. This particular view from the Lindy Point overlook is exceptionally popular for its sunsets and unbeatable view west down the valley. A handful of miles downstream from Lindy Point the Blackwater River empties into the Cheat River, which flows north as a major tributary to the Monongahela. This of course combines with the Allegheny at Pittsburgh to create the Ohio River. It's fun to think that the same water flowing over Blackwater Falls eventually flows past me as I look out across the Ohio River from my beloved Adams County in Ohio.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUso4MVb8Tk3aYfMMPCaudtX-Xfp-szpe_R9K1UgAjCHxHynQosFZ-aWJam579xT1x_5CjxcZPlLGViMhbBCOafLLtG1WN4fXpSZ5U06cAAOpNHd5ahgQf5cCOrSL28aG0ROw_R6MO4M/s1600/F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="416" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCUso4MVb8Tk3aYfMMPCaudtX-Xfp-szpe_R9K1UgAjCHxHynQosFZ-aWJam579xT1x_5CjxcZPlLGViMhbBCOafLLtG1WN4fXpSZ5U06cAAOpNHd5ahgQf5cCOrSL28aG0ROw_R6MO4M/s640/F.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Creek as it flows down from Dolly Sods high plateau</td></tr>
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The Dolly Sods plateau is likewise drained by a single watershed in Red Creek. Red Creek quickly cuts itself into its own deep, impressive gorge on the south end of Dolly Sods before flowing into the Dry Fork of the Cheat River. I love seeing waterways in their wild form; rocky and swift. No dams or taming oxbows when this high up in the mountains and away from their lazy lower stretches.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYt9-vFm7aQ6oR74iwKo8yvvPui3NFD8rHMgB7YSPREasGVK09DwkoxrtcwC_Ktf1oD0H2VPLgk6l-1IJGDd5DU5AMhcmmS2F9GVvvuI0tEutolomjHw_vx87BbyLhymT-qxUTRXCofY/s1600/G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuYt9-vFm7aQ6oR74iwKo8yvvPui3NFD8rHMgB7YSPREasGVK09DwkoxrtcwC_Ktf1oD0H2VPLgk6l-1IJGDd5DU5AMhcmmS2F9GVvvuI0tEutolomjHw_vx87BbyLhymT-qxUTRXCofY/s640/G.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View across the Allegheny Mountains from Bear Rocks atop Dolly Sods' high plateau</td></tr>
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Dolly Sods Wilderness is located within the immense Monongahela National Forest and is one of the state's most iconic and well-known natural treasures. It sits atop a high plateau on an escarpment known as the Allegheny Front, which acts to separate the Appalachian Plateau and the Ridge and Valley physiographic regions. The plateau rises some 2,700 to 4,000 feet above sea level in the Dolly Sods area and creates some of the most charismatic landscapes in the state. Wind-swept boulder fields, heath barrens, stunted trees, ancient sphagnum bogs and an association of disjunct northern flora and fauna all merge together to make Dolly Sods as diverse as it is distinct.<br />
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Residing at a high elevation combined with sitting on an exposed escarpment, Dolly Sods gets more than its fair share of intense and inclement weather. Rain, sunshine, snow and fog can all happen at a moment's notice and often in fast-shifting combinations. The wind adds another layer of atmospheric complexity to the landscape and never, ever seems to stop blowing. In fact, the Allegheny Front is said to be one of the most consistently windy places east of the Mississippi.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7ZJlYMExjUu6ceFs88nXxUk6EzVroPkQix3gxaA9maK-t9Z0wLyYdbcBguHERuGoj8_EojMcmziXSNkJPN703Noemdvs8KCK-feyaRJC89rG1hbUUUOozCt1YCK6iPADTTXCaKUbeIw/s1600/H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7ZJlYMExjUu6ceFs88nXxUk6EzVroPkQix3gxaA9maK-t9Z0wLyYdbcBguHERuGoj8_EojMcmziXSNkJPN703Noemdvs8KCK-feyaRJC89rG1hbUUUOozCt1YCK6iPADTTXCaKUbeIw/s640/H.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kara enjoying the view east across the rolling mountains ridges and deep valleys</td></tr>
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Spring is late to arrive at such a high elevation and harsh climate. The landscape still looked somewhat winter-like in the Bear Rocks boulder fields and heath barrens but for the deciduous trees beginning to leaf out and early blooming shrubs just putting forth their first flowers. Kara was instantly dazzled by the view out across the Allegheny Mountains towards Virginia from atop the plateau's eastern edge. I told her to wait until she visited during peak fall foliage; it's on a whole other level!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkRGdAmf5zZFyJr6v86HRVCwp92k6Ec-9X3XLAByz3VVYub-G33tvLbYfCVbee34neKUsKVirswhb_JGhqJMtdZEAi7koDWGOy9rO-6fwNqUc7TqtNFhtS6w5RtnXDwqoUlOeQFQOuqk/s1600/I1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjkRGdAmf5zZFyJr6v86HRVCwp92k6Ec-9X3XLAByz3VVYub-G33tvLbYfCVbee34neKUsKVirswhb_JGhqJMtdZEAi7koDWGOy9rO-6fwNqUc7TqtNFhtS6w5RtnXDwqoUlOeQFQOuqk/s640/I1.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lowbush Blueberry (<i>Vaccinium angustifolium</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhad6Ly3-TW7-eJN4BTXo8cNFGKUqCd_meS1lL2ASzlog5kzErJNfMyj1yMsdBjURe89rzK6TaQA3Lx_H76xNJAmqCaLjJxSYWWp1wPwFFrId6jQgkIjrsHUex2UqiRnGdPB9U2Kkms6kU/s1600/I2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhad6Ly3-TW7-eJN4BTXo8cNFGKUqCd_meS1lL2ASzlog5kzErJNfMyj1yMsdBjURe89rzK6TaQA3Lx_H76xNJAmqCaLjJxSYWWp1wPwFFrId6jQgkIjrsHUex2UqiRnGdPB9U2Kkms6kU/s640/I2.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Minnie-bush (<i>Menziesia pilosa</i>)</td></tr>
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The harsh, highly acidic nature of the plateau's landscape makes it a haven for hardy, cold-tolerant shrubs from the heath family (<i>Ericaceae</i>). A quick five minute walk around can reward the astute observer with well over a dozen ericaceous species such as lowbush blueberry (<i>Vaccinium angustifolium</i>), velvet-leaved blueberry (<i>V. myrtilloides</i>), azaleas (<i>Rhododendron spp.</i>), mountain laurel (<i>Kalmia latifolia</i>), black huckleberry (<i>Gaylussacia baccata</i>) and cranberries (<i>Oxycoccus spp.</i>). The most exciting denizen of the heath barrens for this botanist is the Appalachian endemic minnie-bush (<i>Menziesia pilosa</i>). Its foliage is reminiscent of the deciduous azaleas but its flowers a unique yellowish-orange bell like that of a blueberry.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7KH_StZ9XVSZKAu2D4tzXhJ0ICVZCfgjnoT_3ogWyHAEJ9pf6gf9HD2E_YhdoHdmPyThRvMV2y8n0_j3y0sWxd5MhP41V0L347PI7ViyVZBMwqA3Ng4G5Zgz5Nwg7rakZoWiusEtF1U/s1600/J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW7KH_StZ9XVSZKAu2D4tzXhJ0ICVZCfgjnoT_3ogWyHAEJ9pf6gf9HD2E_YhdoHdmPyThRvMV2y8n0_j3y0sWxd5MhP41V0L347PI7ViyVZBMwqA3Ng4G5Zgz5Nwg7rakZoWiusEtF1U/s640/J.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Open rocky heath barrens and pockets of spruce forest atop Dolly Sods' plateau</td></tr>
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Dolly Sod's plateau was formally an extensive old-growth red spruce forest dotted with cranberry sphagnum bogs, heath barrens and rhododendron/laurel thickets rather than the much more open landscape it is today. Intense logging through the 19th and into the early 20th century removed just about all of the spruce forest and burning practices kept the newly-opened areas as grassy meadows used for grazing. Over the decades much of the northern hardwoods forest has returned with species like red oak, beech, sugar maple, basswood, yellow and black birch, cucumber magnolia, and hemlock prevalent throughout. Red spruce has come back in scattered spots but not even close to its former grandeur. I can only imagine what that magnificent spruce forest must have been like with specimens five plus feet in diameter and nearing 100 feet tall. It's been said the primeval red spruce forest of the upper Red Creek valley (modern-day Dolly Sods) was the finest of its kind in the world. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIueH1qahU-fLzoLYpZj86PNjus-PYabgPxp8EoaEGjifR7CQDAzjZ9nutRT35sdt5esLSf_YT0ZH8MFQDyXahrHVoW_YC6vpWdS8PXOOK4wG52PXvq33pyH6zMNbU15bwjsY3rnOCbgg/s1600/K1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIueH1qahU-fLzoLYpZj86PNjus-PYabgPxp8EoaEGjifR7CQDAzjZ9nutRT35sdt5esLSf_YT0ZH8MFQDyXahrHVoW_YC6vpWdS8PXOOK4wG52PXvq33pyH6zMNbU15bwjsY3rnOCbgg/s640/K1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted Trillium (<i>Trillium undulatum</i>)</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1XogeUcOwv8kvPCc-fhJoBB0CGnN19KSXHOdUinSG6zoXtQtucoujP2101I4nPv_WFdVyCOkTM-2uD4_KpehKJsxbfvLmkAIbs6_SMi5SrKMffHdhTR6FcdnLizM7EZGEUxi9PFnomc/s1600/K2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1XogeUcOwv8kvPCc-fhJoBB0CGnN19KSXHOdUinSG6zoXtQtucoujP2101I4nPv_WFdVyCOkTM-2uD4_KpehKJsxbfvLmkAIbs6_SMi5SrKMffHdhTR6FcdnLizM7EZGEUxi9PFnomc/s640/K2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted Trillium (<i>Trillium undulatum</i>)</td></tr>
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Before heading out for our weekend of camping and exploration, I held onto the slimmest of hopes some of the elusive painted trillium (<i>Trillium undulatum</i>) would still be in good shape. While the vast majority I found had already replaced their flowers for a maturing fruit capsule, a few were in prime photogenic shape and the best botanical find of the weekend. This species is excruciatingly rare in Ohio and one I've laid eyes on precious few times, so every encounter is met with ineffable joy. Kara can attest I practically skipped the whole way back after discovering these treasured beauties.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_51uEAc20fI3XhrfrOJNCLfzz6pXMCfEsErF3N-CwxA3NzyXGaXgs3gPipAfmKGmSMUb9xRpYKJZiBO4Obn1BjFLIMcR66WaUrLPoC2ywFqHaLDwmVb-mCk7ePDhjXGAzS2WAXT08Yuw/s1600/L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="428" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_51uEAc20fI3XhrfrOJNCLfzz6pXMCfEsErF3N-CwxA3NzyXGaXgs3gPipAfmKGmSMUb9xRpYKJZiBO4Obn1BjFLIMcR66WaUrLPoC2ywFqHaLDwmVb-mCk7ePDhjXGAzS2WAXT08Yuw/s640/L.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bunchberry (<i>Cornus canadensis</i>)</td></tr>
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Another Ohio rarity that calls Dolly Sods home is the adorable bunchberry (<i>Cornus canadensis</i>). This creeping woody sub-shrub is predominately a species of the Great Lakes region and Northeast but occurs at high elevations in the Appalachians and sporadically out in the Rockies. Here in West Virginia it's at its southernmost distribution in the east, a relic of the last glacial epoch that brought it this far south.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62Ni3-S02sxUBaPTdWnStrH-U6haCbByWsifVNN_CU82Xln7gr5-lCPqmQdYkhm8_bRmjZWWD29YXMYWnLWW1FgjATsYDeawxqRklRDNDM3aFeOdUFiRozleqVcRDXeYYt10_U0sWo7M/s1600/M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62Ni3-S02sxUBaPTdWnStrH-U6haCbByWsifVNN_CU82Xln7gr5-lCPqmQdYkhm8_bRmjZWWD29YXMYWnLWW1FgjATsYDeawxqRklRDNDM3aFeOdUFiRozleqVcRDXeYYt10_U0sWo7M/s640/M.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The sights from atop Dolly Sods never get old no matter how the season or how many times you see them</td></tr>
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Our weekend started off sunny but was overcast and eventually rainy for the second half. Fortunately, Kara got to see the vista views before the rain and fog set in and shrouded the landscape in mystery. My first time at Dolly was in a steady rain and pea soup fog, making views anything more than a hundred feet or so in front of me non-existent.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGWixsv2E4SfuNobFZiIU_eI00b6sGyGnDRf73TbCFQiOcPIgSZVdsbKAXhaRYs1kVrttqmxccS_d-9H9k3J-OunBg3_jMwqNUbBhsiGgkaH5g1AUZIF2smQwoZzmtxtc0-7YfCWTIQc/s1600/N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYGWixsv2E4SfuNobFZiIU_eI00b6sGyGnDRf73TbCFQiOcPIgSZVdsbKAXhaRYs1kVrttqmxccS_d-9H9k3J-OunBg3_jMwqNUbBhsiGgkaH5g1AUZIF2smQwoZzmtxtc0-7YfCWTIQc/s640/N.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Bleeding Hearts (<i>Dicentra eximia</i>)</td></tr>
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If it weren't for the aforementioned painted trillium, the surprise discovery of wild bleeding hearts (<i>Dicentra eximia</i>) in excellent flower would have taken the botanical cake. Many may recognize this plant as something you see in the garden and/or landscape setting but is actually an indigenous species to the Appalachians. It's rather uncommon throughout its limited range and most prevalent in the Virginias. It was a life plant for me and a beyond exciting find. Best of all is the fact that Kara is the one who saw it! She called me over to see a "really neat pink flower we hadn't seen yet", which made me ponder what it could be, as this wasn't on my radar for this trip. It was nestled in a mossy crevice between boulders and an impressive spot by her. I think she's developing quite the sharp eye for plants!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTr6KaTQ2nojBvgXgNAFQ2H2DSRVtd3x4UC9S6JlJVQKjYVJolxMFDHKCIeuRw3Gjr-4AIC6ClsVJTrEK3LH5j4HA1UBuCQmV-CcwC7ViXq2Znj40fDmeJNG5iJLhAN9QXfm9UiVMsS_A/s1600/O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTr6KaTQ2nojBvgXgNAFQ2H2DSRVtd3x4UC9S6JlJVQKjYVJolxMFDHKCIeuRw3Gjr-4AIC6ClsVJTrEK3LH5j4HA1UBuCQmV-CcwC7ViXq2Znj40fDmeJNG5iJLhAN9QXfm9UiVMsS_A/s640/O.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Lady's Slipper (<i>Cypripedium acaule</i>)</td></tr>
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A short time later it was my turn to point out a thrilling pink flower in the pink lady's slipper (<i>Cypripedium acaule</i>). We ended up seeing quite a few over the weekend and it was quite rewarding to share a beloved orchid of mine with Kara that she'd only seen in my pictures. Her first impression of it was the kind of flower Georgia O'Keeffe would have enjoyed painting. I wouldn't disagree!<br />
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This past winter I got really into the mosses and have only grown to love them more and more. I plan to do a fun post on the topic at some point, sharing the great diversity of species I've come across so far. One that really grabbed my attention while at the Sods this weekend was the scads of knight's plume moss (<i>Ptilium crista-castrensis</i>) all over the pace. It's an extirpated species in Ohio but a common moss in the northern boreal forests and high elevations further south. I'm sure to have seen it before but never knew its name, let alone noticed so this time around I was able to properly make its acquaintance and put it on my life list.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1deQkZXuNtI9Y4lJOyGPgR7cmtkIeW7y1-FvgpSYYgSGhm_yOIUQYU6MWfUlKN5ndvnDHxhkkGA_OvF-d2hJSOaiLpUgGVSW59acMOd_kpNpCsichmOGkWdVsFM-TG_kCAym28nmwaYw/s1600/P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1deQkZXuNtI9Y4lJOyGPgR7cmtkIeW7y1-FvgpSYYgSGhm_yOIUQYU6MWfUlKN5ndvnDHxhkkGA_OvF-d2hJSOaiLpUgGVSW59acMOd_kpNpCsichmOGkWdVsFM-TG_kCAym28nmwaYw/s640/P.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking out over a large expanse of muskeg atop the Dolly Sods plateau</td></tr>
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It wouldn't have been a proper trip to the Sods without a bit of exploring the plateau's extensive muskeg complexes. The bog landscape is even slower to wake up from its winter slumber and still had a deadened look to it. However, it won't be much longer before it greens up and its summer time flora comes alive and paints the saturated sphagnum with color.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5f88vMEA0QjgfuNgqWmJuwFksB-EcdK5LQ5IElZaFkHxPX2l3XcHvmdNQV-36UOdSQrlL3YbCr3OM8q9m7lEcWPD5TiJFkCD_ieW_SqtPXCkX-MDV5NS1TF3yMYlGQCCb49vLRtYqSyY/s1600/Q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5f88vMEA0QjgfuNgqWmJuwFksB-EcdK5LQ5IElZaFkHxPX2l3XcHvmdNQV-36UOdSQrlL3YbCr3OM8q9m7lEcWPD5TiJFkCD_ieW_SqtPXCkX-MDV5NS1TF3yMYlGQCCb49vLRtYqSyY/s640/Q.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Few-flowered Sedge (<i>Carex pauciflora</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqa3nmUDBpWIQWBdH2a8yagXJGzElKHaLRv4mgfinUCmAVyTtdYldFV5IBBnMMSXsKWYT8OwlPU0Evvm8DLGNzNMixvDJPYTPldBCvykrCf9-48H3F2nInhWrQmbiE8mB3WF6niUYXXo8/s1600/R1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqa3nmUDBpWIQWBdH2a8yagXJGzElKHaLRv4mgfinUCmAVyTtdYldFV5IBBnMMSXsKWYT8OwlPU0Evvm8DLGNzNMixvDJPYTPldBCvykrCf9-48H3F2nInhWrQmbiE8mB3WF6niUYXXo8/s640/R1.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sphagnum moss with spore capsules</td></tr>
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The few signs of life within the muskeg were emerging sedges, including the rare and extremely disjunct few-flowered sedge (<i>Carex pauciflora</i>). It's almost solely a species of the northern peat lands but for this small area of eastern West Virginia hundreds of miles to the south. Yet another example of a glacial relic perched atop these special bog-laden mountains. Despite most all the other sedges barely starting to bloom, the few-flowered sedge was already showing maturing perigynia.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNwFD3G6eg7WZqUdy0azWSa8qsrTnl1oAe4b9BvztA9QU2mlh25979qqm6mZJCNYgVwMXuX5w5eSd0gLNXAVwhG0Zi7iXiVi47D2eqrogEOr7VaLV31wGAaZuAFCGk2eDZ8IFxSUJXpc/s1600/S.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXNwFD3G6eg7WZqUdy0azWSa8qsrTnl1oAe4b9BvztA9QU2mlh25979qqm6mZJCNYgVwMXuX5w5eSd0gLNXAVwhG0Zi7iXiVi47D2eqrogEOr7VaLV31wGAaZuAFCGk2eDZ8IFxSUJXpc/s640/S.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The ever famous and impressive Seneca Rocks</td></tr>
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As our weekend at Dolly came to a close, I decided to take a long, scenic way back to catch a few other places I wanted Kara to see and experience. First up was a quick stop at the ever-impressive Seneca Rocks not far to the south from the Sods. Had there not been rain on the horizon or us already exhausted after a long weekend of hiking and exploration, I would have convinced her to make the hike to the top for an unforgettable view. There's always next time!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vdMVi0ghWPj30o8WGoPlYZQxc8P0qHF2mLQTtRHzUy898bQFRME3B2n8BpGnsjJHytPDDfeyU6rj6H8G6UzAcc1kVEqqTeTH6G6KjjnlLdutIExZ76AIWhMZC_BAck3pQCTUdCiUpIw/s1600/T.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7vdMVi0ghWPj30o8WGoPlYZQxc8P0qHF2mLQTtRHzUy898bQFRME3B2n8BpGnsjJHytPDDfeyU6rj6H8G6UzAcc1kVEqqTeTH6G6KjjnlLdutIExZ76AIWhMZC_BAck3pQCTUdCiUpIw/s640/T.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your blogger atop Spruce Knob last fall</td></tr>
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We continued on from Seneca Rocks and made the long, winding trek up to Spruce Knob, West Virginia's highest point at nearly 4,900' above sea level. The weather conspired against us and by the time we reached the summit the clouds, rain and fog had moved in making any extended views impossible. So while we struck out, I'll save face by sharing a photo of your narrator atop Spruce Knob from my visit last autumn. Definitely an alpine feel, at least for being in the East!<br />
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We ended our tour of the region on a misty scenic drive down the backside of the mountain into the Gandy Creek valley, following it 20 some miles on a gravel road back to the main highway. I asked if Kara was impressed and would ever come back with me and she responded with a resounding, "Yes!". Music to my ears as I could come back to this area of eastern West Virginia time after time and never grow tired or weary of its charm and unbelievable scenery. I'm already planning a return trip later this summer and again in the autumn. Speaking of autumn, I'll have to post on that trip sometime in the future. It's well worth my time writing and your time reading! I certainly hope to get back in the spirit of blogging more often and sincerely thank all my valued readers for your patience and understanding!<br />
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- ALG -Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-39291613066043267892015-10-22T22:20:00.001-04:002018-01-18T19:37:24.848-05:00Top Ten Life Plants of 2015<div>
It's hard to believe yet another year has come and gone. Spring and summer flew by in a blur your narrator can hardly comprehend, with autumn currently in its own hurry as well. Despite its rush, the 2015 field season was one to remember. There's never enough time to see and do everything on your list during a calendar year but then that's what makes each and every new experience you do have all the more memorable. For a botanist, or at least this botanist, one of the most rewarding tasks at the conclusion of the growing season is updating the life list. As time goes on and I become more and more acquainted with my local and regional flora, the frequencies of making new floral friends decreases. This makes each additional life species marked off the list feel just a bit more gratifying than the last. All the more reason to travel further outside one's botanical comfort zone, I say.</div>
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With our first frosts already in the past, I'd like to reminisce on my personal top ten favorite "lifers" from 2015's botanical forays. Just about all of them came outside Ohio's borders this year from places like Ontario, Wyoming or West Virginia. All ten plants were species I'd never had the pleasure of seeing in the flesh before; many only dreamily through a computer monitor or from the pages of my extensive botanical library. Some I specifically set out to see, others I came across by complete chance. Each one aroused emotions of excitement and disbelief, often erasing years of anxious desire. Many a tear of joy was shed while looking upon these featured wildflowers, which only served to reaffirm my passion and ambition for seeking out these often-times rare and magnificent wonders.<br />
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All that being said, let's begin the countdown of my favorite life plants from an unforgettable spring, summer and fall of botanizing throughout North America...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLWhgkyF4QhAfzZ61LzLljKBFyOEgVi39W3z-yXq3yi_vJQVGnw83uq2Gc4QQA0w27qJQLWfcotyaCTwfHhK54qvWW1yoTW9Jv9fJalH_caqm_7AgdBuFGvI30UIzlalqhDa7BxKBEG0/s1600/10.+Gentianopsis+thermalis.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhLWhgkyF4QhAfzZ61LzLljKBFyOEgVi39W3z-yXq3yi_vJQVGnw83uq2Gc4QQA0w27qJQLWfcotyaCTwfHhK54qvWW1yoTW9Jv9fJalH_caqm_7AgdBuFGvI30UIzlalqhDa7BxKBEG0/s640/10.+Gentianopsis+thermalis.png" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocky Mountain Fringed Gentian (<i>Gentianopsis thermalis</i>). Wyoming, Early August</td></tr>
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Starting off the countdown at number ten is the Rocky Mountain fringed gentian (<i>Gentianopsis thermalis</i>). Its<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> electric blue petals graced many wet alpine meadows, fen-like stream sides and groundwater seeps during my time out in the Wind River Range of western Wyoming this past August. I've seen two of its closely related and equally stunning brethren (</span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">G. crinita</i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;"> and </span><i style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue Light', HelveticaNeue-Light, helvetica, arial, sans-serif;">G. virgata</i><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue light" , , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif;">, respectively) back in Ohio, but the surrounding scenery for these delicate beauties put them on another level of spectacular.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOFAHFRmNt0-q6UZf9VY88Em8otLhuu7k0iCI-z4fJ_YitW8OGHrIlxuWTh4Zdevf6duCNq2fQBDWZd03Omxyc9uMeQjHFDEal5Db4eetdUdPdVfF3Ny2Gh3z_N8OsDt-5bO2YM8vS8c/s1600/9.2+Geocaulon+lividum.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOFAHFRmNt0-q6UZf9VY88Em8otLhuu7k0iCI-z4fJ_YitW8OGHrIlxuWTh4Zdevf6duCNq2fQBDWZd03Omxyc9uMeQjHFDEal5Db4eetdUdPdVfF3Ny2Gh3z_N8OsDt-5bO2YM8vS8c/s640/9.2+Geocaulon+lividum.png" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Comandra (<i>Geocaulon lividum</i>). Bruce Pen., Ontario, June.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimM9kh9Vq2c9PrdK4DACYkqhXDZ6YxzpIEXfXHQ0hUuRf09LOYfacEsyMAZa4kXhBuZItW8P7hIRdX6wXGv2N0oeqpzDfXGjDjgCxAl3oN9gyGQZb9eP3j_yYjjy4mLCVYLeyx6nx-9ng/s1600/9.1+Geocaulon+lividum.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimM9kh9Vq2c9PrdK4DACYkqhXDZ6YxzpIEXfXHQ0hUuRf09LOYfacEsyMAZa4kXhBuZItW8P7hIRdX6wXGv2N0oeqpzDfXGjDjgCxAl3oN9gyGQZb9eP3j_yYjjy4mLCVYLeyx6nx-9ng/s640/9.1+Geocaulon+lividum.png" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Comandra (<i>Geocaulon lividum</i>). Bruce Pen., Ontario, June.</td></tr>
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The criteria for how a plant species ends up making this most esteemed of lists goes much deeper than physical beauty. If that was the lone requirement, I hesitate to think lifer number nine would have even sniffed the final cut. What <a href="http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Geocaulon%20lividum.png">northern comandra (<i>Geocaulon lividum</i>) </a>may lack in showiness, it more than makes up for in rarity and uniqueness. It's only known to occur sparingly in less than a dozen states; all bordering Canada, where it's much more common. It grows in cold coniferous forests on stabilized dunes and on rare occasions in bogs/fens in the Great Lakes region. It's much more conspicuous in fruit when it trades its small green axillary flowers for a striking orange-red drupe. When I came across this while up on Ontario's Bruce peninsula back in June, I was ecstatic to finally makes its acquaintance. I instantly recognized its unusual appearance and giddily wrote its name down on the day's plant list. Even better was the lush carpet of moss and reindeer lichen it emerged from, often times side-by-side with ram's head lady's slippers (<i>Cypripedium arietinum</i>).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFVtPcyroQ7gB6XOETjPgX7soAHVagqzon6uURxRuDlVd1o9jEH0m2jlOX2Nw5o1QDyRqrr2pp6F8qt88AOwhEl_5YwEl6kf_MbuEAiRb1RLNDh3QiYA8XvvOjsZrqT0U1rZ5ytzEOZM/s1600/7.+Gentiana+linearis.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmFVtPcyroQ7gB6XOETjPgX7soAHVagqzon6uURxRuDlVd1o9jEH0m2jlOX2Nw5o1QDyRqrr2pp6F8qt88AOwhEl_5YwEl6kf_MbuEAiRb1RLNDh3QiYA8XvvOjsZrqT0U1rZ5ytzEOZM/s640/7.+Gentiana+linearis.png" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linear-leaved Gentian (<i>Gentiana linearis</i>). Dolly Sods Wilderness, WV, October.</td></tr>
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The linear-leaved gentian (<i>Gentiana linearis</i>) comes in at number eight on the countdown of 2015's best life plants. It was just a couple weekends ago during an autumn backpacking trip to West Virginia's Dolly Sods Wilderness that I finally got to see this procrastinator of a wildflower. The Sods plateau's boggy meadows and muskegs contained hundreds upon hundreds of these gentians but only a literal few still held corollas exhibiting their sky blue color. The pair photographed above were the best to be seen, glowing like sapphire beacons among a sea of browning vegetation and overcast skies.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKzfL18qzTdPt0FVsO0QoW4eMBjD50eVJrWsT4vjjMRmT-5T2eKwhndkOtygCmSfTsPdFosu2FzOakKSR3zOWlOqH9dZDC0Rk11D8vPa7qRS6XCdbN-Mmpf9veeMqbLvHu4cRJUJXFRQ/s1600/8.1+Asplenium+viride.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheKzfL18qzTdPt0FVsO0QoW4eMBjD50eVJrWsT4vjjMRmT-5T2eKwhndkOtygCmSfTsPdFosu2FzOakKSR3zOWlOqH9dZDC0Rk11D8vPa7qRS6XCdbN-Mmpf9veeMqbLvHu4cRJUJXFRQ/s640/8.1+Asplenium+viride.png" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Spleenwort (<i>Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum</i>). B.P., Ontario, June</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BDvF8TX9XMUT8YgB9cTs6UdYplieF_zKvMpa9CFqzXNjrYrVTMxDQUG60TwzkLxOK4aVstA-OsRkqe48gbVB4h3jiI_DhdJEZxdlh5ZMpCJK2Q0YJzxYBq6ytil6bbfgirNoywjlXJY/s1600/8.2+Gymnocarpium+robertianum.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2BDvF8TX9XMUT8YgB9cTs6UdYplieF_zKvMpa9CFqzXNjrYrVTMxDQUG60TwzkLxOK4aVstA-OsRkqe48gbVB4h3jiI_DhdJEZxdlh5ZMpCJK2Q0YJzxYBq6ytil6bbfgirNoywjlXJY/s640/8.2+Gymnocarpium+robertianum.png" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Limestone Oak Fern (<i>Gymnocarpium robertianum</i>). B.P., Ontario, June</td></tr>
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The decision making process in putting this list together can be as difficult as it is fun. And since I make the rules, I decided to call number seven a tie between two ferns that were growing literally only yards apart. The aforementioned Bruce peninsula in Ontario is a true botanical wonderland known the world around for its plethora of odd and disjunct ferns. The two celebrated spore-producers seen here are the green spleenwort (<i>Asplenium trichomanes-ramosum</i>) and limestone oak fern (<i>Gymnocarpium robertianum</i>). Both are well outside their normal, albeit already limited distributions on the Bruce's narrow spit of limestone. Their high-quality alvar habitat was full of other fascinating plant life but more on that in a future post.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6chI5ND5XUTKCu3kPA3GjD7yvIu427AZbNRPUBK9a-So2T-5AaSTDaOTRT7mf0qz7ij8tTlJK0xiXAf3D6Nwbk61r0bW63569lPcq0U-KoRjLIqk3D2k58k05qnaNn5HUUIZujUjHinA/s1600/6.+Iris+lacustris.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6chI5ND5XUTKCu3kPA3GjD7yvIu427AZbNRPUBK9a-So2T-5AaSTDaOTRT7mf0qz7ij8tTlJK0xiXAf3D6Nwbk61r0bW63569lPcq0U-KoRjLIqk3D2k58k05qnaNn5HUUIZujUjHinA/s640/6.+Iris+lacustris.png" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Lakes Iris (<i>Iris lacustris</i>). Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, June</td></tr>
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Moving onto life plant number six has us staying on the Bruce for one of the most dainty wildflowers I've yet seen. The Great Lakes iris (<i>Iris lacustris</i>) was one I missed during my initial visit to the region four years earlier and managed to catch still in flower upon my return this past June. This tiny iris' size is lost without scale in the photo but each blossom is the size of a silver dollar! They are a globally rare, federally threatened species endemic to northern Lake Michigan and Lake Huron's cobbled, sandy shorelines. These occurred just about everywhere the habitat was suitable along our section of Lake Huron, even blooming just outside the cabin's door.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziZKc1uSyOHMW8KJUEvUC5QFMZMxcI85Ni8fsyH8oF2-BRDxkqFGN2FX0n2ROG2aaA7IhUr9kiBismwHLagkGIyseVpKOKIG597R4KLvoeab0yeidY6gMtiS2vg32Y2AriSZ_pxli864/s1600/5.+Aspelnium+scolopendrium.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhziZKc1uSyOHMW8KJUEvUC5QFMZMxcI85Ni8fsyH8oF2-BRDxkqFGN2FX0n2ROG2aaA7IhUr9kiBismwHLagkGIyseVpKOKIG597R4KLvoeab0yeidY6gMtiS2vg32Y2AriSZ_pxli864/s640/5.+Aspelnium+scolopendrium.png" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hart's Tongue Fern (<i>Asplenium scolopendrium</i>). Bruce Pen., Ontario, June</td></tr>
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If it's not broke, don't fix it. I think that's a good line of advice and since the Bruce isn't broke, let's stick with it for life plant number five. As I mentioned earlier, the Bruce is widely known for its abundance of unusual fern taxa, with perhaps none as sought after as the hart's tongue fern (<i>Asplenium scolopendrium</i>). While somewhat common across the pond in Europe, it only occurs as a local anomaly in a handful of places in the entirety of North America (AL, TN, NY, nMI and Ontario). I made sure to visit the cool, moist, rocky terrain beneath gorgeous Inglin Falls outside Owen Sound for this phenomenal fern and was not disappointed. It was yet another missed lifer during my first stint up on the Bruce I was proud to check off.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqdZZ5ca5uKtaGdASCt78zZ8FpSkcI03iehIiU5HwPjXPgum-C0TFfODndAXyhamoyk0SkWn0_MJsujmmBagYdsXsTiTUIi6axuZLk7ipEF6CQXscsNdZWaIEGA-nt8XjWBsPVlX_DoM/s1600/4.+Aconitum+uncinatum.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqdZZ5ca5uKtaGdASCt78zZ8FpSkcI03iehIiU5HwPjXPgum-C0TFfODndAXyhamoyk0SkWn0_MJsujmmBagYdsXsTiTUIi6axuZLk7ipEF6CQXscsNdZWaIEGA-nt8XjWBsPVlX_DoM/s640/4.+Aconitum+uncinatum.png" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Monkshood (<i>Aconitum uncinatum</i>). Scioto Brush Creek, OH October</td></tr>
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Ohio is only represented once on this year's list but what a plant it is! Number four was one of my most unexpected discoveries, as well as one of the most breathtaking. Southern monkshood (<i>Aconitum uncinatum</i>) is one of the state's most imperiled and endangered of wildflowers; growing only in a select few locations along Scioto Brush Creek, arguably Ohio's finest and most intact waterway. Southern monkshood typically blooms from late August into September, so I wasn't expecting much when I gave one of the known sites a hike through earlier this month. As luck would have it a single plant still bore a few blossoms in superb photogenic shape! A species of the southeastern US, this location marks one of only a handful of known sites north of the Ohio River. Long may it persist along this spectacular stretch of water.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4raluyV8X3jkygzRvFKKEYbp02fjOhHExtHNKTUQS_g_T3LmGTj4RwEyiMC2XzO2xNpw2A4AJWfDtsYMyvb8p3pq8cwYiez3_KQ3qOfcnlzhakBBg5rK_aglHOVlR3rpOMjRhVtivaug/s1600/3.+Cypripedium+parviflorum+var.+parviflorum.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4raluyV8X3jkygzRvFKKEYbp02fjOhHExtHNKTUQS_g_T3LmGTj4RwEyiMC2XzO2xNpw2A4AJWfDtsYMyvb8p3pq8cwYiez3_KQ3qOfcnlzhakBBg5rK_aglHOVlR3rpOMjRhVtivaug/s640/3.+Cypripedium+parviflorum+var.+parviflorum.png" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (<i>Cypripedium parviflorum var. parviflorum</i>).<br />
Lewis Co., Kentucky, May.</td></tr>
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Back in May, I posted on here an account of arguably the most serendipitous orchid find of my life thus far in the southern small yellow lady's slipper (<i>Cypripedium parviflorum var. parviflorum</i>). Myself and good friend and very knowledgeable botanist, Roger Beadles were poking around in northern Kentucky for the rare Kentucky lady's slipper (<i>C. kentuckiense</i>) when we stumbled across this small patch of 2015's life plant number three. It was a complete surprise and the last of eastern North America's lady's slipper orchids I needed to see. <a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2015/05/serendipitously-stumbling-into-southern.html">You can read all about that experience by following this link here</a>. Later in the year, myself and some others came across an intriguing patch of pretty darn small lady's slipper plants on a preserve in Adams Co., Ohio. It was late August and the plants essentially vegetative only but they definitely sparked my interest and have earned a future visit this upcoming May. I have my hopes they could be the first documented occurrence of the southern small yellows on Ohio soil. Adding a new orchid to the state's flora is a dream bucket list item to be sure! Stay tuned...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5rh-cuLu93AyelqKWwkaLqv4-wVgIun5nC-qHHHb2wIIXOI2Y9ATG7Av1KSY0XL5K5xwwEXFNHw4v0YnJS5sjvwQvil-SOBUSHHGTqOdjpjZYabNVM5hixOw4LZt0sqSG8roBGYV_fA/s1600/2.+Spiranthes+romanzoffiana.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV5rh-cuLu93AyelqKWwkaLqv4-wVgIun5nC-qHHHb2wIIXOI2Y9ATG7Av1KSY0XL5K5xwwEXFNHw4v0YnJS5sjvwQvil-SOBUSHHGTqOdjpjZYabNVM5hixOw4LZt0sqSG8roBGYV_fA/s640/2.+Spiranthes+romanzoffiana.png" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooded Ladies'-tresses (<i>Spiranthes romanzoffiana</i>). Green River Lakes, WY, August</td></tr>
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Speaking of orchids and bucket list items, it brings me a lot of pride and joy to have this next wildflower be number two on my countdown of 2015's best lifers. For those that know me personally and/or follow this blog with any regularity assuredly knows I'm obsessed with wild orchids. It's been a major life goal to see and photograph all 47 species indigenous to Ohio, and I've been sitting painfully close at 46 for over a year now. Not any more! The hooded ladies'-tresses (<i>Spiranthes romanzoffiana</i>) was the last to elude me and was a complete and utter surprise find while out in the mountains of western Wyoming this August. Dozens of them lined the banks of pristine rushing mountain streams and their adjacent meadows, glistening like a jewel in the bright sunlight. It's incredible to think I've now seen all 47 species, even if some haven't been within Ohio...yet. Just seeing them regardless of location has been special enough. More on these and this trip later!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8IM6ycFqf1fWisjICFhc_lsJZFLpe0ugqHqfB6jQdx4iEpOsUt5Bgx8LJFDhIzdfRho3KTtgVfYe8oY9MKVreMy-Lbitxo8QEwqv92G6x-5FsuF2KuGp8bxDBy5S741UEzua9A47VdI/s1600/1.+Calypso+bulbosa.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk8IM6ycFqf1fWisjICFhc_lsJZFLpe0ugqHqfB6jQdx4iEpOsUt5Bgx8LJFDhIzdfRho3KTtgVfYe8oY9MKVreMy-Lbitxo8QEwqv92G6x-5FsuF2KuGp8bxDBy5S741UEzua9A47VdI/s640/1.+Calypso+bulbosa.png" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calypso (<i>Calypso bulbosa</i>). Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, June</td></tr>
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If orchids won silver and bronze in this countdown they might as well make it a clean sweep with the gold as well. 2015's most exceptional and emotional life plant was none other than the elusive calypso or fairy slipper (<i>Calypso bulbosa</i>). If I returned to the Bruce to see any one thing, it was this reclusive orchid of the northern woods. I could barely contain my excitement on the hike back to its known location on Flowerpot Island with butterflies in my stomach. Was it still blooming? Would I even find it? What if I was too late like last time? I needn't worry as a dozen or so calypsos were in pristine flower under the dense shade of its coniferous haunt. I spent a long time sitting in front of them in silence and stillness, admiring their miniscule appearance packed with delicate detail and color. It was a moment nearly a decade in the making from the first time I saw this species in one of my first wildflower books. The calypsos were still wet from the previous night's rain, or maybe it was from the tears that fell from finally laying eyes on these most astonishing orchids. Much, much more on this trip and moment in future posts!<br />
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I hope you've enjoyed this look back onto my favorite finds and life plants of 2015. I'll be curious to hear from you, my readers if any of these are on your life lists or plants you've had the honor of coming into contact with before. If anything I hope I've warmed your spirits even a wee bit as the reality of another wildflower season come and gone sinks in. If 2016 is anything like my 2015, it will be full of fantastic finds, exciting discoveries and more memories made soaking in the natural world's beauty and diversity. As I mentioned earlier, many of these plants/moments have their own blog posts forth coming, so I hope you'll look forward to that as winter sets in and we all begin anew the dream of spring.<br />
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- ALG -<br />
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Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-78179465017148657982015-10-14T20:08:00.000-04:002015-10-14T20:08:10.749-04:00Find "The Buckeye Botanist" on Instagram!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxGp_-KCMZDxGgDfqq7jJGLw4uMsGK0bGuo6yk7OfqceUhEhz83ApoP04DMWvzle9klHURPLdJL9ClH8N3DDoyNLKxXWWOv2i3S2rIH1PEYlo8P1faf9DS3dRuLHJl3MQOgwWRxfsoh0/s1600/A.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKxGp_-KCMZDxGgDfqq7jJGLw4uMsGK0bGuo6yk7OfqceUhEhz83ApoP04DMWvzle9klHURPLdJL9ClH8N3DDoyNLKxXWWOv2i3S2rIH1PEYlo8P1faf9DS3dRuLHJl3MQOgwWRxfsoh0/s640/A.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise over Flat Top Mountain and Green River Lake in the Wind River Range, Wyoming. August 2015.</td></tr>
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Hello, everyone! It's been a while since I was last able to post on here but rest assured I'm still among the breathing and with more material and topics than ever to share. It's been an incredibly busy growing season for your narrator. Exciting trips to the Bruce peninsula, Ontario back in early June; Wind River Mountains of western Wyoming in August and the Dolly Sods Wilderness region in West Virginia just last weekend were unforgettable. Rest assured, I will be bringing those tales and more to you in the near future with three photos here to whet your appetite. With winter on the not-so-distant horizon, I expect to have more time at the keyboard.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackwater Falls, Blackwater Falls State Park, West Virginia. October 2015</td></tr>
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All that being said, I'd like to take a quick moment to say I'm now on Instagram! (<b><span style="color: #ffd966;">@The_Buckeye_Botanist</span></b>). The move is long overdue but better late than never. The reason I'm taking the time to share this is it's an extremely easy and fun way to keep up with me in my day-to-day work and travels. I post nearly every day, many of those days with multiple photographs. It takes only a few minutes time out of my day to toss up a photo or two with a short paragraph to accompany it; rather than sit down and write up my notoriously long-winded posts on here. Just envision them as bite-sized blogs you can digest in a matter of seconds.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstzJYAvFiajdqUmTPVAUUg1u5uGacNZT6Cj4jpkC8DRrlDIROYtdvSigOE469ZAuFe8-3ZSvPKqPh3s_SgqWj6WAkaDCK_oohzxnozk31zmbppkMSH-sIUhYKEXdpHM1pePXr0r12iK4/s1600/C.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgstzJYAvFiajdqUmTPVAUUg1u5uGacNZT6Cj4jpkC8DRrlDIROYtdvSigOE469ZAuFe8-3ZSvPKqPh3s_SgqWj6WAkaDCK_oohzxnozk31zmbppkMSH-sIUhYKEXdpHM1pePXr0r12iK4/s640/C.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Limestone shorelines of Flowerpot Island, Fathom Five National Marine Park, Bruce Peninsula, Ontario, Canada. June 2015.</td></tr>
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For those not already following me on Instagram, you can find me on there <b><span style="color: #ffd966;">@The_Buckeye_Botanist</span></b>. If you enjoy my rambling on here, as inconsistent as it can be, you're sure to savor a much more steady diet of the natural wonders of Ohio and beyond on Instagram! I hope to see you on there and feel free to like/comment/share any of my material. Don't be shy to interact with me on there personally either! So be sure to check out and follow <b><span style="color: #ffd966;">@The_Buckeye_Botanist</span></b> on Instagram today!Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-28389453877890364332015-06-01T06:30:00.000-04:002015-10-14T15:45:48.828-04:00It Looks Like Rain...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've been an admirer of Mother Nature's artwork for as long as I can remember and few pieces leave me more breathless than a raucous thunderstorm looming on the horizon...</div>
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Growing up on the glaciated till plains of west-central Ohio, I got my seasonal fill of them every spring and summer. The flat landscape of agriculture country allowed for a straight view west with little to get in the way. You could watch a super cell's anvil-like thunderhead pierce the atmosphere and roll in for miles and miles before having to finally duck for cover.</div>
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Southeastern Ohio has plenty of summer thunderstorms as well but the rugged topography offers little chance at visually enjoying the building anticipation of their arrival. I love living down in the hills and hollers but storm watching is one aspect of my home area I often miss. So while back there this past weekend I was beyond pleased at the opportunity to reacquaint myself with that treasured feeling of awe and calm before the storm. I was mowing the family farm when I saw this storm approaching from the southwest and knew we were in for a doozy. The clouds churned and lightning danced from the bottom of the cell with the reverberating bass of thunder following. The torrent of rain and blowing winds that came with it were equally impressive.<br />
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It felt good to experience my first quality storm of the season and hope there's more to come. We could really use the rain as it is and I'd welcome an all-day steady soaker just as much. It's fascinating to think of the energy that comes together to create these monsters only to dissipate to nothing shortly after. Nature never ceases to amaze me.Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-79017107870116060132015-05-21T02:17:00.002-04:002015-05-21T02:49:55.028-04:00Serendipitously Stumbling into the Southern Small Yellow Lady's SlipperWhen I woke up early last Sunday morning I had a hunch the day's botanical foray would be one to remember. Fellow botanist and friend of mine, Roger Beadles had driven all the way from his rural southeastern Illinois home for a whirlwind tour of southern Ohio. We had a lot planned and I'll be sharing the highlights of what we saw and found in the next installment. However, one particular discovery I thought deserved its own post and story.<br />
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Roger, like myself is a self-described wild orchid addict. So naturally our excursion around the Adams and Scioto county region revolved around seeing as many spring blooming species as possible. One that Roger had long wanted to see was saved for last in the elusive Kentucky lady's slipper (<i>Cypripedium kentuckiense</i>). It was early evening by the time we crossed the Ohio River into northern Kentucky, with the river valley's high rolling hills awash in crisp, bright sunlight. Roger and I found the site with little trouble and the orchids in fabulous shape. I hadn't seen them in bloom for several years and was thrilled to reacquaint myself with them.<br />
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After some camera time with the lady's slippers we decided to walk down the road a bit to explore the banks of the adjacent creek for more when something caught my eye on the steep wooded slope above...<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern small yellow lady's slippers hiding in the woods</td></tr>
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My attention was initially captured by the brilliant red color of some blooming fire pink (<i>Silene virginica</i>) but then focused on a beam of sunlight illuminating a small clump of curiously tiny yellow flowers. It only took a second for their identity to pop in my head and I could barely contain my excitement. Southern small yellow lady's slippers (<i>Cypripedium parviflorum var. parviflorum</i>)!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trio of southern small yellow lady's slippers</td></tr>
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My heart raced as I clamored up the slope to reach their dainty, sweet-smelling blossoms. Your blogger takes pride in having seen over 70 of eastern North America's indigenous orchids, with the southern small yellows a glaring omission from that list. The <i>Cypripediums</i> have long been some of my favorites and I've searched high and low, near and far in an attempt to see them all.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Small Yellow Lady's Slippers (<i>Cypripedium parviflorum var. parviflorum</i>)</td></tr>
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I've had my fair share of experiences randomly stumbling into a previously unknown site/population of orchids (unknown to me at least) but nothing like this before. Never had I fortuned upon such a significant life orchid, let alone one so far off the day's radar. I didn't take the time to search the woods for other plants due to the long drive home still ahead of me but was perfectly pleased with the three prime flowering specimens staring back at me. A fourth plant was present but seemed to have had its stem nipped sometime before anthesis.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roger photographing the small yellow ladies</td></tr>
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Roger took my excitement in stride and certainly got a rare glimpse of your blogger overcome with emotions of excitement and disbelief. He can speak firsthand that I don't fake the love and passion I hold for my beloved wild orchids. The southern small yellows were a lifer for Roger as well and made it a five lady's slipper day for the two of us. In addition to these and the Kentuckys, large yellows (<i>C. pubescens</i>), small whites (<i>C. candidum</i>) and pinks (<i>C. acaule</i>) rounded out the handful.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of the southern small yellow lady's slipper</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (<i>C. parviflorum var. parviflorum</i>)</td></tr>
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In recent times the wide-ranging small yellow lady's slippers had been split into two varieties with Ohio sitting near/on the distribution dividing line. The northern small yellow (<i>var. makasin)</i> is only known from two extant sites in Ohio, while the southern small yellow (<i>var. parviflorum</i>) has never been found and/or confirmed from within our borders. I have my hopes it could be hiding somewhere in the depths of southernmost Ohio.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Southern Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Cypripedium parviflorum var. parviflorum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
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Thankfully, the two small yellow varieties share very little overlap in their ranges, so geographic location is a worthwhile method of separating the two. Taking note of their habitat will remove all doubt. Northern small yellows are a species of wet, sunny, flat locations such as fen sedge meadows, wet prairie and moist coniferous/mixed woodlands. Southern small yellows prefer more dry, shaded and sloped conditions in upland mixed oak/deciduous woodlands. This particular site was under a mature canopy of white oak, red oak, sugar maple, beech, shagbark hickory, basswood and umbrella magnolia. Additionally, the northern variety is richly aromatic with hints of vanilla and almond, while the southerns emit a soft, flowery fragrance.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">iPhone photo of the three blooming orchids</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blogger's thumb and lady's slipper for size comparison</td></tr>
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You might be thinking, "you keep using this word 'small' but I'm not sure what you mean". It's a fair thought and one I can understand without anything to help scale these charming little beauties. In comes the thumb. Small indeed, I'd say. Their labellums aren't even as big as my thumb and very reminiscent of the small white lady's slipper in size. Looking at the photo above left removes any doubts or hesitations this is the real deal. There are instances of small large yellow lady's slippers, which can make a confident identification a hard call to make. I would point out that small yellows tend to bloom/peak a couple weeks after large yellows and typically have noticeably darker dorsal/lateral sepals with a labellum opening densely spotted with red dots. These particular plants didn't exhibit as dark of sepals as I would expect but that feature is quite variable.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Southern Small Yellow Lady's Slipper (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Cypripedium parviflorum var. parviflorum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
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Even as I write this, I still cannot believe my luck that I would bump into such a treasured lifer, especially after a day already rife with excellent finds. Our time with them was short but sweet and I'm already looking forward to seeking them out again next May for more chances at trapping their splendor with my camera. As it would turn out, this freshly discovered site in Lewis County was a new county record for Kentucky, and extra special due to it being listed as a threatened species. It seemed especially fitting that I would come to see this life orchid on May 17, one year to the day of <a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-hunt-for-small-whorled-pogonia-one.html">seeing my last life orchid in the small whorled pogonia (<i>Isotria medeoloides</i>)</a> in the mountains of northern Georgia. <br />
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Now to translate this success to Ohio and find the southern small yellow lady's slipper somewhere within our borders. That would be an excellent addition to our flora, even if it's coming out of this orchid freaks mouth. Stay tuned for more of Roger and I's phenomenal day in botany paradise!<br />
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- ALG -</div>
Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-37390188955551662282015-05-14T23:33:00.001-04:002015-05-14T23:33:26.052-04:00Orchid Hike for the Cincinnati Wildflower Preservation SocietyThis past weekend your blogger had the pleasure of leading a hike for the Cincinnati Wildflower Preservation Society. I've given presentations at their monthly meeting several times before but this was the first time we'd taken to the field together. My talk for the society this past January dealt with Ohio's native orchids so it seemed appropriate to go from the projector to seeing them in person. Over 25 eager and excited participants, including quite a few familiar faces and friends joined me in the Edge of Appalachia and Shawnee State Forest region of extreme southern Ohio for quite the botanical foray.<br />
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I'd like to make specific mention of and say thanks to three special people who made the trek all the way from Ontario, Canada to spend the weekend and especially Saturday botanizing, birding, herping etc. with me. It was a pleasure to meet and spend time with Bob Curry, Glenda Slessor and John Lamey and share the natural treasures of the Edge and Shawnee with them on Friday and Saturday. They had their sights especially set on seeing a particular orchid or two but I'll get to that later. All in all, I think I can speak for them in saying they walked away impressed and mesmerized by southern Ohio's beauty and a strong friendship was kindled between them and myself.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TLTrkzDlZ15ylA-zcYyZBqA1XxNjxhHug9ddLspJGid-X68DsTw3e6tXF15j1oDhwmChx6xhpcM9ysNiGsT4YDO9lpzQvvZ5OcXz1VX-d89cru3f0_2mJJrIKOhZ14RF7IVnwMmEJ2M/s1600/A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6TLTrkzDlZ15ylA-zcYyZBqA1XxNjxhHug9ddLspJGid-X68DsTw3e6tXF15j1oDhwmChx6xhpcM9ysNiGsT4YDO9lpzQvvZ5OcXz1VX-d89cru3f0_2mJJrIKOhZ14RF7IVnwMmEJ2M/s640/A.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo of the hike's participants courtesy CWPS member and treasurer, Randy Johnson</td></tr>
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Someone must have flicked the switch for July because the week leading up to the hike and the day of was a scorcher. Temperatures in the area reached highs near 90 and made the early May date seem like a mistake. Thankfully, the orchids and numerous other plants seemed to take the stress in stride and largely looked great for our eyes and cameras.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQW2n4Qa5texUgb8BfJZetQK7PE5HNliqTHofHZGLYt1ojIabIheSLBsP-5ODTv83-oiNDKACTOXxfceSjTQQ4dfMTNji6MatkFn3csY_jN0uYl-CdXj957IYGrf-rUhyphenhyphen4z13Hl7m5k4/s1600/B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWQW2n4Qa5texUgb8BfJZetQK7PE5HNliqTHofHZGLYt1ojIabIheSLBsP-5ODTv83-oiNDKACTOXxfceSjTQQ4dfMTNji6MatkFn3csY_jN0uYl-CdXj957IYGrf-rUhyphenhyphen4z13Hl7m5k4/s640/B1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dwarf Crested Iris (<i>Iris cristata</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBpSyVZ23RCIQVcmKg8IUh9R3G8xlPWnU1wIwv7Y9g92ZqTAKgqIBRy13URgw6jXoATTbQm7peaGolQaZrOieH29nVlajmJVL1l06Xb2Es1GBYCN7HtDtJUdkKdFc-MplWtqdceXwUhk/s1600/B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZBpSyVZ23RCIQVcmKg8IUh9R3G8xlPWnU1wIwv7Y9g92ZqTAKgqIBRy13URgw6jXoATTbQm7peaGolQaZrOieH29nVlajmJVL1l06Xb2Es1GBYCN7HtDtJUdkKdFc-MplWtqdceXwUhk/s640/B2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Dwarf Crested Iris (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Iris cristata</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
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Davis Memorial state nature preserve in Adams County was our first stop for the day. Its rich forest slopes and dolomite limestone rock features are home to countless spring wildflowers and several species of orchid. The regal looking dwarf crested iris (<i>Iris cristata</i>) was looking especially nice in the dappled shade.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkZgYr0yXGMOvOU9zRWIFIfhPeKToXfift42KCCyk2_7awQrcBrQu-c_Hnk-gMIc-beSI3endO5I4LZCFX8voZX_uXSFOtuQFnO5W-RhCMCHpW52bRlTzoQgB22cjZgCBxlc1wiUAzeI/s1600/C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzkZgYr0yXGMOvOU9zRWIFIfhPeKToXfift42KCCyk2_7awQrcBrQu-c_Hnk-gMIc-beSI3endO5I4LZCFX8voZX_uXSFOtuQFnO5W-RhCMCHpW52bRlTzoQgB22cjZgCBxlc1wiUAzeI/s640/C.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showy Orchis (<i>Galearis spectabilis</i>)</td></tr>
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It wasn't long before we had the first orchid on our day's list with the showy orchis (<i>Galearis spectabilis</i>). Most everyone remembers their important "firsts" and the showy orchis will forever be close to my heart as the first wild orchid I ever saw in bloom. I've seen it countless times since but I never tire of its unique appearance. Davis Memorial proved to be a favorable spot for this species as we came across upwards of a dozen plants of varying aesthetics and stature.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7fG9XcwzPhDdZSiXSs2_PjEteNnh1Jz6xqCG-JRdteSxxj7vYItaog7VPrgiJAUBYcHypySzFNl8SnOxYmbsFE10kz4mHnD5hVts3UXL3ekcJPXAegtOfs5hXYM3e3_b3TcKZbG7mG0/s1600/D1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK7fG9XcwzPhDdZSiXSs2_PjEteNnh1Jz6xqCG-JRdteSxxj7vYItaog7VPrgiJAUBYcHypySzFNl8SnOxYmbsFE10kz4mHnD5hVts3UXL3ekcJPXAegtOfs5hXYM3e3_b3TcKZbG7mG0/s640/D1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild Columbine (<i>Aquilegia canadensis</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmrGlhJgI123kfdOEq8esMm7jrov285wyZOw3aUNQt4QuxkKPkguyYlsrxldJyCMHkdqEEMV_fR1Yu8XfR082lldbvVLoTuV-7zDedz1v79qJOkBX6TpoMct7FGbcmkThgEx8xC1DQNQ/s1600/D2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwmrGlhJgI123kfdOEq8esMm7jrov285wyZOw3aUNQt4QuxkKPkguyYlsrxldJyCMHkdqEEMV_fR1Yu8XfR082lldbvVLoTuV-7zDedz1v79qJOkBX6TpoMct7FGbcmkThgEx8xC1DQNQ/s640/D2.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Wild Columbine (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Aquilegia canadensis</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
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Davis Memorial is of special geological interest as well with its exposed dolomite limestone cliffs and gorge walls. Dolomite contains more magnesium than your average limestone, which allows for a sweeter soil composition upon weathering. Many plants do exceptionally well in said soils and why this region of the county is known for its stupendous spring wildflower displays. Wild columbine (<i>Aquilegia canadensis</i>) is just one species that loves to grow from the rock face's cracks and small soil accumulations.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMaPEflMwfZRtxbjwShFir2194Cyio71j0uKDsHF2SPLWsoxa_Xab4AeCPGNoEGkIHLh0X_2p-X2DRz2KN5f2G7N3E-gKCr8-3Wpb3PojM-oIB2BoLKrL2NQlJd86UI1MHDtnCDj0Uow/s1600/E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcMaPEflMwfZRtxbjwShFir2194Cyio71j0uKDsHF2SPLWsoxa_Xab4AeCPGNoEGkIHLh0X_2p-X2DRz2KN5f2G7N3E-gKCr8-3Wpb3PojM-oIB2BoLKrL2NQlJd86UI1MHDtnCDj0Uow/s640/E.jpg" width="464" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large Yellow Lady's Slipper (<i>Cypripedium pubescens</i>)</td></tr>
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The next orchid on this most orchid-y of days was the large yellow lady's slipper (<i>Cypripedium pubescens</i>). We went on to see it at several more sites but it never failed to be a showstopper, especially when in large, many-flowered clumps.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4o19BNFFEhyphenhyphen2F_wNUScELSPsx9vj12-pGPArL3-nPuUA0-JBzpZJPeMN6cMeTwh0ft25GZICJ-HViPDz7PYwKMuOLrpQv53yWL3PTJ91cQzzi-Ss9IQTAGYiDedqkIaDvnnbF-eh5N-k/s1600/F1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4o19BNFFEhyphenhyphen2F_wNUScELSPsx9vj12-pGPArL3-nPuUA0-JBzpZJPeMN6cMeTwh0ft25GZICJ-HViPDz7PYwKMuOLrpQv53yWL3PTJ91cQzzi-Ss9IQTAGYiDedqkIaDvnnbF-eh5N-k/s640/F1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Large Yellow Lady's Slipper (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Cypripedium pubescens</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWu6soPTxvEqsmkoejm-AInKg1457ZDqBOPkEKkiHNJZ6DFXmFNcpKdQG2xZhP80fVOKsWzXB48_EKSw9HWfHaKonIgyDj9cmXIZMm3ZgEmfYXg67rMgNM1nVq-fx4crJwnJX4taJ2_A/s1600/F2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWWu6soPTxvEqsmkoejm-AInKg1457ZDqBOPkEKkiHNJZ6DFXmFNcpKdQG2xZhP80fVOKsWzXB48_EKSw9HWfHaKonIgyDj9cmXIZMm3ZgEmfYXg67rMgNM1nVq-fx4crJwnJX4taJ2_A/s640/F2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Large Yellow Lady's Slipper (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Cypripedium pubescens</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
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Most of the photos in this post I took during my scouting and personal botanizing time the day before leading the hike. I like to take my time when engaging these remarkable, highly evolved plants and I knew that would be at a minimum during the hike. It's also important to me I give my full attention to the questions, curiosities and concerns of my group. For many this was the first time seeing orchids such as the large yellows, while I've been spoiled with dozens of encounters and hopefully dozens more to come.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJLrVjgSugbdaYxCZ2EVCPvsBSqI3DrZjZcWA0RIN-Ey9__CTcWe9bIUpwZxOr4h19IATd5XCTnV03cBH2gIpXWpbNOZQ0l7_lNZvQhLA6cE5YL8T6CnaG5cXQbfKTScQIFoTenDSnWc/s1600/G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXJLrVjgSugbdaYxCZ2EVCPvsBSqI3DrZjZcWA0RIN-Ey9__CTcWe9bIUpwZxOr4h19IATd5XCTnV03cBH2gIpXWpbNOZQ0l7_lNZvQhLA6cE5YL8T6CnaG5cXQbfKTScQIFoTenDSnWc/s640/G.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring in Shawnee State Forest</td></tr>
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I could honestly spend all day, every day in Shawnee during the spring. There's a feel to its wild depths unlike anything else in the state. Bobcats to cerulean warblers, timber rattlesnakes or the goldenstar lily, Shawnee has it all. There's few places better for orchids in the state either with Shawnee claiming over a dozen species throughout the year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0PLr-wIQXwDi0argvQ5BOFYe6y05vkW0iSxW7k9FSADuiCEvng_wKpSm3C6UIbc-Em_e0W8Mm8hYmeqa6rTiTVKUL_eMo8EXW6azHTwBefzHTFxEahIBRrng3YiF1zu0Oa-by_oZm50/s1600/H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-0PLr-wIQXwDi0argvQ5BOFYe6y05vkW0iSxW7k9FSADuiCEvng_wKpSm3C6UIbc-Em_e0W8Mm8hYmeqa6rTiTVKUL_eMo8EXW6azHTwBefzHTFxEahIBRrng3YiF1zu0Oa-by_oZm50/s640/H.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pollinated and wilting large whorled pogonia (<i>Isotria verticillata</i>)</td></tr>
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As I mentioned at the beginning of this post, Bob, Glenda and John came all the way from Ontario with one specific orchid in mind: the large whorled pogonia (<i>Isotria verticillata</i>). While relatively common in the acidic, upland oak forests of eastern unglaciated Ohio, the large whorled pogonia is excruciatingly rare in Ontario. In fact, it's believed to be extirpated and hasn't been seen above ground in quite some time. Unfortunately, the unseasonably hot temperatures ushered this notoriously short bloomer into flower and quickly out by the time of their arrival. They took Mother Nature's curveball in stride though and were beyond happy to see the plant even in a wilted state.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CNVT08l0MoI79gpTI0r4lNZbXzNMMcRXgaJv4rIybi2uI7fDYqzjl5IwRZU95wlwnJhrgawhLA2WAiQRtQl0mRD7FA7aqrY5Od4N5njMU7RF93-n-ZTj3JIsJpR8icA72jQWj5_Xjhw/s1600/I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_CNVT08l0MoI79gpTI0r4lNZbXzNMMcRXgaJv4rIybi2uI7fDYqzjl5IwRZU95wlwnJhrgawhLA2WAiQRtQl0mRD7FA7aqrY5Od4N5njMU7RF93-n-ZTj3JIsJpR8icA72jQWj5_Xjhw/s640/I.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose Azalea (<i>Rhododendron prinophyllum</i>)</td></tr>
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It wouldn't be the peak of spring in Shawnee without the vibrant blossoms of the rose azalea (<i>Rhododendron prinophyllum</i>). They litter the roadsides on the forest's higher and drier slopes in an assortment of dark and light pinks.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hmY3Wmt0I22Iix6K7b8qYblCATSoAagFeNDvAKuurI4T45YPkrO3npFWOBc8zAlhGNhmHUGG0YY8NIGuFYe57VX1zUykuGrN83wbebedb5NpPjKgDzbOquu2aN-s6_p_UJl-O1EWWhk/s1600/J1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1hmY3Wmt0I22Iix6K7b8qYblCATSoAagFeNDvAKuurI4T45YPkrO3npFWOBc8zAlhGNhmHUGG0YY8NIGuFYe57VX1zUykuGrN83wbebedb5NpPjKgDzbOquu2aN-s6_p_UJl-O1EWWhk/s640/J1.jpg" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Lady's Slipper (<i>Cypripedium acaule</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0FNi9j9KOiT37yHxyF3Hxv7zcy4z0eEB7CHdZ66G7zJ_W8XF-4yKDWKQ6FXvl6xyicCFH_lB1kMb_1cA2jF8Cgs2qDZ6cYJC9MF96RD8uEkQNzU9xnoyuHdtxV_1610JwUNW89Q2f7M/s1600/J2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir0FNi9j9KOiT37yHxyF3Hxv7zcy4z0eEB7CHdZ66G7zJ_W8XF-4yKDWKQ6FXvl6xyicCFH_lB1kMb_1cA2jF8Cgs2qDZ6cYJC9MF96RD8uEkQNzU9xnoyuHdtxV_1610JwUNW89Q2f7M/s640/J2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Pink Lady's Slipper (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Cypripedium acaule</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Speaking of pink colored flowers, I'd be remiss if I didn't make mention of the always exciting pink lady's slippers (<i>Cypripedium acaule</i>). This was a superb year for this orchid as most of my known sites had an exemplary number of flowering plants. Each labellum or slipper looks like a big wad of chewing gum someone deposited atop a green stem to my eyes.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgua3-gPioSxVmzpUzKA-VfRsZdYicXW9LWkzXfjypZ7MXPhLG_m0ZSnB5A131ZgDv0W-xemiGC2TxmrvUsyvHwbsUA7KmTMs-9DUpXDdfKNA8achDfVpp2c3wRPwOyJCAmdpQLhZG6yw/s1600/K1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgua3-gPioSxVmzpUzKA-VfRsZdYicXW9LWkzXfjypZ7MXPhLG_m0ZSnB5A131ZgDv0W-xemiGC2TxmrvUsyvHwbsUA7KmTMs-9DUpXDdfKNA8achDfVpp2c3wRPwOyJCAmdpQLhZG6yw/s640/K1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-colored Pink Lady's Slipper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgk_c8UNGlqot4q5JewQPh16k0vmwk_o0kxll7718M9Dsrdz7c1nzBXA8tV8WSyKjwVg8XNo6pN3dUuX_GF2mXLyoXcUT8BdnBQXe3_hvHKeiktLKo2WqL3aTA8wcC8aIvSWr1RKaSTeU/s1600/K2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgk_c8UNGlqot4q5JewQPh16k0vmwk_o0kxll7718M9Dsrdz7c1nzBXA8tV8WSyKjwVg8XNo6pN3dUuX_GF2mXLyoXcUT8BdnBQXe3_hvHKeiktLKo2WqL3aTA8wcC8aIvSWr1RKaSTeU/s640/K2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">White-colored Pink Lady's Slipper</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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And then there's the case when someone is chewing peppermint flavored gum and leaves a white blob instead. I've observed this white-flowered pink lady's slipper for a handful of years running now and never get tired of its unusual charm. I would hesitate to acknowledge this as a true case of albinism due the the dorsal/lateral sepals and column lacking the typical lime green coloration of an albino. This seems to simply be a case of a white labellum only.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSu-MhZV0v9XTbP5J3tZXyyLWOFyBFEpk-9fPGH8uCiDCCDHhNp5iM6sh2c5m9Ps-lNwl16H__eIT1cZuthbR_6IvjmxfJKrYpd3UyAlAgS8DcWitkUtVuMOLN9xXgLIsOjIfNjM8A72c/s1600/L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSu-MhZV0v9XTbP5J3tZXyyLWOFyBFEpk-9fPGH8uCiDCCDHhNp5iM6sh2c5m9Ps-lNwl16H__eIT1cZuthbR_6IvjmxfJKrYpd3UyAlAgS8DcWitkUtVuMOLN9xXgLIsOjIfNjM8A72c/s640/L.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock Fir Moss (<i>Huperzia porophila</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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With so many pairs of eyes observing the landscape few things of interest are likely to slip past detection. One fun item that stood out was large colonies of rock fir moss (<i>Huperzia porophila</i>) amassed on some steep sandstone slopes. Lycopods to mycology, just about every aspect of our natural world is discussed and/or represented on a hike like this and makes for an educational experience for everyone involved. <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8E-JdS__Jq-LvSCrKo-dxD237a9no6RQ8WNLrf4Qpy-ooC63vZPLwJDu_y8IQ_gl_fPj1dBVqLX7qYF71g9TjbwmSZ0I1tUay00dfPB_3kHP0QTMABeFG4-nTDYCBFif_C7PEe-_QL8/s1600/M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP8E-JdS__Jq-LvSCrKo-dxD237a9no6RQ8WNLrf4Qpy-ooC63vZPLwJDu_y8IQ_gl_fPj1dBVqLX7qYF71g9TjbwmSZ0I1tUay00dfPB_3kHP0QTMABeFG4-nTDYCBFif_C7PEe-_QL8/s640/M.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crossvine (<i>Bignonia capreolata</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglBNy7lbn4-lYq3Re5v8KL8Htj6YDGNG2c_7fchDhciRmYLtugIiSF-HkLNR8mi9FU6Puqn8lzQV9QzvxoIs-yl1QiuU7NfWqLFjlIyGZr_PGYCtnTFbHZprTwX5AiQa_rnwzqbp5eQI/s1600/N.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiglBNy7lbn4-lYq3Re5v8KL8Htj6YDGNG2c_7fchDhciRmYLtugIiSF-HkLNR8mi9FU6Puqn8lzQV9QzvxoIs-yl1QiuU7NfWqLFjlIyGZr_PGYCtnTFbHZprTwX5AiQa_rnwzqbp5eQI/s640/N.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Umbrella Magnolia (<i>Magnolia tripetala</i>)</td></tr>
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Other Shawnee oddities gracing our hike with their floral presence was the rare umbrella magnolia (<i>Magnolia tripetala</i>) and crossvine (<i>Bignonia capreolata</i>). Both are plants much more common further south and just barely make it into southern Ohio. They certainly have a southern or 'tropical' feel/look to them. Just another feather in Shawnee's hat if you ask me!<br />
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Earlier on Friday during my solo foray, I decided to make my annual pilgrimage to a special and treasured site on the Edge of Appalachia preserve. As incredible a site as it is, it's one that's too remote and too sensitive to bring a group of even respectful, well-mannered wildflower admirers to. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlv843np5xg7NxPSu6V4rLcHAKDtK1C50ZLukQZIYDKsqCNm62pJWu11Zrg_Y8FpaqEcy6Ifrd4SpevFLKQAL5uVDmkYTMSOFLGMhPPJD6aFeu2m9TXITySU0SRtLhnCS53wqJXEyqCS8/s1600/O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="348" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlv843np5xg7NxPSu6V4rLcHAKDtK1C50ZLukQZIYDKsqCNm62pJWu11Zrg_Y8FpaqEcy6Ifrd4SpevFLKQAL5uVDmkYTMSOFLGMhPPJD6aFeu2m9TXITySU0SRtLhnCS53wqJXEyqCS8/s640/O.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging prairie on the Edge of Appalachia and one of my favorite views in the entire state</td></tr>
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Of all the impressive views I've gazed out across in the Buckeye state, I'd have to say the one photographed above is on my very short list of the best. This hanging prairie clings to the side of a hill; an island of rare grassland plants overlooking a rolling sea of contiguous forest. No roads, no buildings, no people or anything to break the sounds of nature. It's rare to get that kind of purity with no noise pollution and only adds to the splendor of the place. Within its depths is a slew of prairie plants like scarlet paintbrush (<i>Castilleja coccinea</i>), prairie phlox (<i>Phlox pilosa</i>), hoary puccoon (<i>Lithospermum canescens</i>), heart-leaved golden alexanders (<i>Zizia aptera</i>), yellow star grass (<i>Hypoxis hirsuta</i>), white blue-eyed grass (<i>Sisyrinchium albidum</i>), arrow-leaved violet (<i>Viola sagittata</i>) and one very rare, very stunning orchid: the endangered small white lady's slipper (<i>Cypripedium candidum</i>).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_hPtm7vc4hkC7LU6dfimD8lRgYNncPZGh_xAlp3OO28YZKus6VniwWposqNE1HzbLn9PABXaXhvcK4jN_0en4TmH00VJ4x78u8tKGDVgJ8uRWemsnhOXmc71DpOlACrxm74gAmtWRys/s1600/P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt_hPtm7vc4hkC7LU6dfimD8lRgYNncPZGh_xAlp3OO28YZKus6VniwWposqNE1HzbLn9PABXaXhvcK4jN_0en4TmH00VJ4x78u8tKGDVgJ8uRWemsnhOXmc71DpOlACrxm74gAmtWRys/s640/P.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prairie phlox, scarlet paintbrush, hoary puccoon etc. in full, spectacular bloom</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrRqidNcDVaKkFCeWXAAuStO0_OOoXgHnYtQgdUnYiosIA6oemUML7OVSKCRawVPUY-lylnevGSUMspRqZu9YmcifwQiYjFv11yVefAvsLdabqI5tGQWJeVQfVmC7dI-XIxXsmeBuc04/s1600/Q1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrRqidNcDVaKkFCeWXAAuStO0_OOoXgHnYtQgdUnYiosIA6oemUML7OVSKCRawVPUY-lylnevGSUMspRqZu9YmcifwQiYjFv11yVefAvsLdabqI5tGQWJeVQfVmC7dI-XIxXsmeBuc04/s640/Q1.jpg" width="424" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small White Lady's Slipper (<i>Cypripedium candidum</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlLqTWExa5WmDwRVaefzv7FxJOdJh41713hvcBlYdjY89uT9FqXEOOp6i_9WnLzuZKKj5eR3oOKYuNmSyEi_eLmK3hJrjEAnk2Kfp0vAcZEoizYZIQewy7JQFiisn5_XpqmsvnVQns54/s1600/Q2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlLqTWExa5WmDwRVaefzv7FxJOdJh41713hvcBlYdjY89uT9FqXEOOp6i_9WnLzuZKKj5eR3oOKYuNmSyEi_eLmK3hJrjEAnk2Kfp0vAcZEoizYZIQewy7JQFiisn5_XpqmsvnVQns54/s640/Q2.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Small White Lady's Slipper (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Cypripedium candidum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtj2MYh0AP8pNSJoNe8Z54owcRm-8J1SrtbsqTONGu2dR4mICPJiEXYxHFJ0ojcSCGAai0v4A0K0HnIKom-4Yb3i4oqlL4i07QZfkxAhoeGPjP3EukTC0sqcJuohTMLqIgFwVlAIKAck/s1600/R.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRtj2MYh0AP8pNSJoNe8Z54owcRm-8J1SrtbsqTONGu2dR4mICPJiEXYxHFJ0ojcSCGAai0v4A0K0HnIKom-4Yb3i4oqlL4i07QZfkxAhoeGPjP3EukTC0sqcJuohTMLqIgFwVlAIKAck/s640/R.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption">Scarlet Paintbrush (<i>Castilleja coccinea</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Hanging prairie is a true slice of botanical heaven and one I can't wait to visit each early May. It's never disappointed in the past, it didn't disappoint this time around and I don't dare doubt it will break that streak any time soon. I could dedicate an entire post of this length to the site and perhaps I will one day.<br /><br />Needless to say the hike was a resounding success and everyone involved had a helluva time immersed in southern Ohio's spring bounty of wildflowers, orchids and birds. Leading hikes never fails to leave me physically exhausted by mentally revitalized and freshened. It's such a fun way to share my passion and knowledge for orchids, Ohio and our natural world as a whole. I'll be leading two additional hikes for the Cincinnati Wildflower Preservation Society later this year in August and September, respectively. Take a look on the left side of my blog for my events section for more details. Special thanks to the Christine Hadley for helping me put this together and for asking me to lead this hike! I/we certainly had an amazing time!<br /><br />- ALG -Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-1403167871475931502015-05-04T01:40:00.002-04:002015-05-14T20:18:25.000-04:00Spring's First BloomersThe older I get the faster spring and life in general seems to move. There's just never enough of that precious commodity called time to see and do everything the heart desires each season. So here I am playing catch up but I figured better late than never, right? I originally planned to get this published about a month ago so please excuse its tardiness. With that being said let's travel a few weeks back in time for some early bloomers that have already come and gone.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoFXSM82MHDquTgBdt7mwrw4NpzacZGbi58KzD5Y2xYnMMg-Hpz33fUtCLn_aQVy-X6OirvmCF5PgywlrlEeN964qGiNWdqzypS0TVKgpFhIjcfWdtCuBWyLCK9l0I1fbwxoNrSv_u-0/s1600/A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="430" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAoFXSM82MHDquTgBdt7mwrw4NpzacZGbi58KzD5Y2xYnMMg-Hpz33fUtCLn_aQVy-X6OirvmCF5PgywlrlEeN964qGiNWdqzypS0TVKgpFhIjcfWdtCuBWyLCK9l0I1fbwxoNrSv_u-0/s1600/A.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ohio Brush Creek valley near its confluence with the Ohio River</td></tr>
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Sunny southern Ohio. There's few places I prefer to ring in the new growing season more than the river counties of Adams and Scioto. It's no coincidence they are featured and/or mentioned time and time again on this blog. The enormous blocks of contiguous forest and thousands of acres of preserved land make them a prime region to explore.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTKGI6D1D7Q8NSYdE7kGd2BW2WekKGJa7juhZfqJ2cIcL0oOnOv_WwA7z9hKO-kGtaWYUWJ0yY1HBlbRiF0eXCU_txv55FOe2H-zGn_2RCwU1dXf8VPZN-ydEwbuH26qVGLT-3AakXH0/s1600/B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwTKGI6D1D7Q8NSYdE7kGd2BW2WekKGJa7juhZfqJ2cIcL0oOnOv_WwA7z9hKO-kGtaWYUWJ0yY1HBlbRiF0eXCU_txv55FOe2H-zGn_2RCwU1dXf8VPZN-ydEwbuH26qVGLT-3AakXH0/s1600/B.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Exposed limestone bedrock along a small waterway in Adams county</td></tr>
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I make many annual pilgrimages to see a bevy of different wildflowers but none carry the same anticipation as the year's first. The dolomite limestone exposures and rocky bluffs pictured above may seem stuck in their lifeless winter state but looks can be deceiving.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9puG6U-wQbSXOFTWmef05-qdaU3cCTSuVseVHkVUTRKj9lLlvUyEHSWA40qrokHIxnk0sQUozKNNciH3AHov5-9egJJSz6euWbRZVNB4DxBa0s1vVLl_2taxLXTrBmduQFmsaOeKiYA/s1600/C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk9puG6U-wQbSXOFTWmef05-qdaU3cCTSuVseVHkVUTRKj9lLlvUyEHSWA40qrokHIxnk0sQUozKNNciH3AHov5-9egJJSz6euWbRZVNB4DxBa0s1vVLl_2taxLXTrBmduQFmsaOeKiYA/s1600/C.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow Trillium (<i>Trillium nivale</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XKzOlpw5yvdK5iGnl6CUkJT04NwwWbanCsewnrC7K5y-L1X_nPgdqsn5C-C979cImD9LhCvY3-ihb4wrkHkrm5vySd4CtKfrBVKm1MaeX2_yEvcehZ5V2Bc7JlZCISWe8L6Tsohyphenhyphen0oc/s1600/D1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XKzOlpw5yvdK5iGnl6CUkJT04NwwWbanCsewnrC7K5y-L1X_nPgdqsn5C-C979cImD9LhCvY3-ihb4wrkHkrm5vySd4CtKfrBVKm1MaeX2_yEvcehZ5V2Bc7JlZCISWe8L6Tsohyphenhyphen0oc/s1600/D1.jpg" width="433" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Snow Trillium (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Trillium nivale</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGja17YVg85ja0SDwdMeN7zpkBpNTk19HF7v3h9d5EtaiAoGE4h3Yrxjpj6vVrwfWsMww_P413PXnocZKOINd0cyK66KHpzrJ7lYCeHnbcgFwwU6KdX26hM91uqeAT9W6eiizQ4FnKio/s1600/D2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinGja17YVg85ja0SDwdMeN7zpkBpNTk19HF7v3h9d5EtaiAoGE4h3Yrxjpj6vVrwfWsMww_P413PXnocZKOINd0cyK66KHpzrJ7lYCeHnbcgFwwU6KdX26hM91uqeAT9W6eiizQ4FnKio/s1600/D2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Snow Trillium (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Trillium nivale</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Freshly emerged snow trillium (<i>Trillium nivale</i>)! Spring could wake up in any number of ways but its choice of these beauties in select calcareous areas of the state is perfect to me. Their appearance may seem delicate but snow trillium are tough plants. It's not uncommon for a late snowfall to coincide with their blooming yet they shrug it off as if it were nothing. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8V93_eyXjZW4bUiYVOvsyqNGM37M9vn-FCcfgn2cWTSUwcM5OBK6Zq_lF6ncAICto5VqlamCjdLAhwMZKL4_d6MxED90tOrUqGRtBnla66nrS4spID4lHPt4UriZpb6-6zKyUGldrm8/s1600/E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8V93_eyXjZW4bUiYVOvsyqNGM37M9vn-FCcfgn2cWTSUwcM5OBK6Zq_lF6ncAICto5VqlamCjdLAhwMZKL4_d6MxED90tOrUqGRtBnla66nrS4spID4lHPt4UriZpb6-6zKyUGldrm8/s1600/E.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rare white cedar trees clinging to the limestone rock faces along Scioto Brush Creek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The evergreen glow of the rare northern white cedars (<i>Thuja occidentalis</i>) that line the limestone rock faces are not to be lost in the excitement of the site's snow trillium. Speaking of tough plants, it's hard to find something with more gravitas or tenacity than these trees. They can live for centuries in these situations, growing millimeter by millimeter and attaining gnarled, bonsai-like forms.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNPu_taNai4hDou1tbUahrE_DDp_m-8Es6yeTROzb1VUIjaPUpYCZRWn5kN4WwXUZXKNnsXyrSOgt_hqXMUqdyP_vX8ZtuG_KVRRpMBM964eT25Gmr3eGgXNqqzDMv2nX3SjAAF471Ac/s1600/F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpNPu_taNai4hDou1tbUahrE_DDp_m-8Es6yeTROzb1VUIjaPUpYCZRWn5kN4WwXUZXKNnsXyrSOgt_hqXMUqdyP_vX8ZtuG_KVRRpMBM964eT25Gmr3eGgXNqqzDMv2nX3SjAAF471Ac/s1600/F.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harbinger-of-Spring (<i>Erigenia bulbosa</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Harbinger-of-spring (<i>Erigena bulbosa</i>) may be in fruit and disappearing until next spring as I type this but they were in their prime during this particular foray. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RGLhfBPSJPtiP63zssKOWOwtz-YVkrXNBGwioMjlBNq4W7AiSQnX90SzvtDfnJ176I3bS2Loh6MffVhezFVxVHIuJC_MMxgVwP6olUP9zzWadW2jrChlJU23X0svSDveFtb3Z6xNH4Q/s1600/G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9RGLhfBPSJPtiP63zssKOWOwtz-YVkrXNBGwioMjlBNq4W7AiSQnX90SzvtDfnJ176I3bS2Loh6MffVhezFVxVHIuJC_MMxgVwP6olUP9zzWadW2jrChlJU23X0svSDveFtb3Z6xNH4Q/s1600/G.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharp-lobed Hepatica (<i>Anenome acutiloba</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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As were the sharp-lobed hepatica (<i>Anenome acutiloba</i>) in their various shades of whites, creams, lavenders and blue. I'm curious to know what causes such a wide range of expressed phenotypes in this species. Genetics, soil/nutrients, age or perhaps a combination of the three?<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03Q33fRisoC8zylci68KkDGDnQTup5oHRKzu6s1UEIlpfYCxVQqoGNGBmbBd68b-VwjfLqmV237RjlZIsGRBwITNBuznCVUTtsIrP4thNqZszuFbphMjT05yyKnUFHGcAtvPG4a1WO38/s1600/I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh03Q33fRisoC8zylci68KkDGDnQTup5oHRKzu6s1UEIlpfYCxVQqoGNGBmbBd68b-VwjfLqmV237RjlZIsGRBwITNBuznCVUTtsIrP4thNqZszuFbphMjT05yyKnUFHGcAtvPG4a1WO38/s1600/I.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Whitlow-grass (<i>Draba brachycarpa</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5ReQ0Am2gTL6m-rqTgtLbBFm0A4nDMuSybyKyjI_qARFidERG3gRDKG89dZQ_sJn2WSek2mriVCzIlWcjqzZR_lEtTK29NUQUhKq0DRmjGM86hsJSAz8NPHpNoNY9-mrrUo-bmwX2t0/s1600/J1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia5ReQ0Am2gTL6m-rqTgtLbBFm0A4nDMuSybyKyjI_qARFidERG3gRDKG89dZQ_sJn2WSek2mriVCzIlWcjqzZR_lEtTK29NUQUhKq0DRmjGM86hsJSAz8NPHpNoNY9-mrrUo-bmwX2t0/s1600/J1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Little Whitlow-grass (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Draba brachycarpa</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQhDghisRVfpYwIn-Kt79ityR9O6iGk7TOsGHo56oELAXEaMW_cmu05VMSwa3p7jpZc5lV9C0DwAuon93C3fOgSIWS1PFdCZoa4LcRiRw5RtXbNuvtYAmGQJQ8qfnOt5G7ShqilgskTc/s1600/J2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQhDghisRVfpYwIn-Kt79ityR9O6iGk7TOsGHo56oELAXEaMW_cmu05VMSwa3p7jpZc5lV9C0DwAuon93C3fOgSIWS1PFdCZoa4LcRiRw5RtXbNuvtYAmGQJQ8qfnOt5G7ShqilgskTc/s1600/J2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Little Whitlow-grass (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Draba brachycarpa</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The rare and unusual is always of interest to me. I can and do appreciate the common day-to-day things but the out of the ordinary is a spice I crave. The little whitlow-grass (<i>Draba brachycarpa</i>) is as rare as it is unusual here in Ohio. It only grows in a couple sites along the Ohio River; both old cemeteries on perched sand ridges. It's a charming little flower when viewed at high magnification; many plants only end up measuring an inch or two tall.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SZXx-9PX1_jtEBlh_efURGvTMaKzmsCP-9ZxPPvq2gtaehtUk0mZEM9mUjQGGbBIgKMioNPVnCs2gg9ntK0jGeBznWwFHHlhUa9k-IdaQVwDkcoVEX_v5O96sy51wZmd4DsjHZDnEec/s1600/K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0SZXx-9PX1_jtEBlh_efURGvTMaKzmsCP-9ZxPPvq2gtaehtUk0mZEM9mUjQGGbBIgKMioNPVnCs2gg9ntK0jGeBznWwFHHlhUa9k-IdaQVwDkcoVEX_v5O96sy51wZmd4DsjHZDnEec/s1600/K.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prickly Pear Cactus (<i>Opuntia humifusa</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Growing in the same sandy soil as the little whitlow-grass is Ohio's very own native cactus, the eastern prickly pear (<i>Opuntia humifusa</i>). Their pads were looking a bit beat up from the harsh winter but come June they'll dazzle the eyes with large, honey yellow flowers. The reaction of folks hearing for the first time we do indeed have an indigenous species of cactus is one of my favorites.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4-ZOtc7Uhcy8TyFgkgqhYXF8pTxoVqZolRP2XDGbmLCsls5zqAbfKD6IyKXkUyKVzsitl93e4NMjI4HySxmcCePSVi-7AmvdW1Q4pDxbFz0fz4U7UueMJqCGVaokDEUmEFUd9gfn4eA/s1600/L2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf4-ZOtc7Uhcy8TyFgkgqhYXF8pTxoVqZolRP2XDGbmLCsls5zqAbfKD6IyKXkUyKVzsitl93e4NMjI4HySxmcCePSVi-7AmvdW1Q4pDxbFz0fz4U7UueMJqCGVaokDEUmEFUd9gfn4eA/s1600/L2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Trout-lily (<i>Erythronium albidum</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdD9_dz5VtaG0z-5-qYYwYEAvOYxpL57Wqtaui176jEssjBZCrkt2tU7g_mgoYiafOnqucJ4nMmO1zBs7ggKDRF9t7OWvSwn11qbwomCFtQHBIh41Spx_sOaz1bOVFKK0b-3YyWSGFXxk/s1600/L1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdD9_dz5VtaG0z-5-qYYwYEAvOYxpL57Wqtaui176jEssjBZCrkt2tU7g_mgoYiafOnqucJ4nMmO1zBs7ggKDRF9t7OWvSwn11qbwomCFtQHBIh41Spx_sOaz1bOVFKK0b-3YyWSGFXxk/s1600/L1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">White Trout-lily (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Erythronium albidum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Trout-lilies were one of the first wildflowers I fell for during my early years. They always seem to need a self-esteem boost with their shy, drooping flowers. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9nLC8tf49ivdc72BPgVhJtdKuOmCt_GheytydkFpy_GkizBXRHhA2LOIqggaxkRs2u_8W-3s8i1x2UAfZUqlm6bhS1syV1dZhPkwnsg1JDzd4ZeM_lRb3QHw2LipI2KlK3KjLjP1dng/s1600/M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB9nLC8tf49ivdc72BPgVhJtdKuOmCt_GheytydkFpy_GkizBXRHhA2LOIqggaxkRs2u_8W-3s8i1x2UAfZUqlm6bhS1syV1dZhPkwnsg1JDzd4ZeM_lRb3QHw2LipI2KlK3KjLjP1dng/s1600/M.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bloodroot (<i>Sanguinaria canadensis</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OfaIenD0QT8jyBqfZTWj4YKA421iLcLIEKNRfP72mPhJFkKEihm8grPLpF1MYXaayveItXh47S3Cblj3UKL97jkC8A3Mkgjm-Gm4ksb5Wb4ZfjaYQy3eXNaY4U37PtXkFSIP5rwJrmA/s1600/N1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_OfaIenD0QT8jyBqfZTWj4YKA421iLcLIEKNRfP72mPhJFkKEihm8grPLpF1MYXaayveItXh47S3Cblj3UKL97jkC8A3Mkgjm-Gm4ksb5Wb4ZfjaYQy3eXNaY4U37PtXkFSIP5rwJrmA/s1600/N1.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Bloodroot (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Sanguinaria canadensis</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhVQcE47o7g8c6E2LmDzWTyrQwiEzOgWgV4DreKUzQx96ZvtUKLn5lWsP7CtnAYcY7rd5nTVRx0cSZDC1tmBimT1bvh7D3Escfv84YBo4MMMFtNErVpRKnmV0JH5V_M2OcOxy3RBZx1o/s1600/N2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUhVQcE47o7g8c6E2LmDzWTyrQwiEzOgWgV4DreKUzQx96ZvtUKLn5lWsP7CtnAYcY7rd5nTVRx0cSZDC1tmBimT1bvh7D3Escfv84YBo4MMMFtNErVpRKnmV0JH5V_M2OcOxy3RBZx1o/s1600/N2.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Bloodroot (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Sanguinaria canadensis</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The beauty of spring is one fleeting moment after another and few moments seem to pass faster than the bloodroot (<i>Sanguinaria canadensis</i>). Each flower's whorl of snow-white petals only last for a day or two before dropping at the slightest touch or breeze. Their underground rhizomes can spread in favorable conditions, creating impressive colonies of delicate flowers and their unique leaves.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7Ako7iJZeKjqI4Os2oh4RWUsfo8ySdJG6FOqM-suP4Akeck_77q9Uj8xmg3R-w1SpUO32gkSInKLRWgRGtihajG-B7bq09U9EqslP2iJLzj8UZnrSrRAErQGHND1hYEiZK1fT4omgCU/s1600/O.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha7Ako7iJZeKjqI4Os2oh4RWUsfo8ySdJG6FOqM-suP4Akeck_77q9Uj8xmg3R-w1SpUO32gkSInKLRWgRGtihajG-B7bq09U9EqslP2iJLzj8UZnrSrRAErQGHND1hYEiZK1fT4omgCU/s1600/O.jpg" width="427" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Goldenstar-lily (<i>Erythronium rostratum</i>)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheL6mK7kLNjlIdelXCnS9RGYqrlzQdcki7MWmmubKyXm_t58lKP8vTWJOyHE75vcccB101crBKmVzZarfk6xPQMlLTUiDyxQu2wgcRIZywI5eX_v3oXwhok5OncPPHxqIUKwy1h9f0sDY/s1600/P.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheL6mK7kLNjlIdelXCnS9RGYqrlzQdcki7MWmmubKyXm_t58lKP8vTWJOyHE75vcccB101crBKmVzZarfk6xPQMlLTUiDyxQu2wgcRIZywI5eX_v3oXwhok5OncPPHxqIUKwy1h9f0sDY/s1600/P.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Goldenstar-lily (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Erythronium rostratum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">)</span></td></tr>
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It's not just the white trout-lilies from earlier on that have such demure personalities but just about every other North American <i>Erythronium </i>species too. Only the goldenstar-lily (<i>E. rostratum</i>) exhibits unwavering confidence and shows off their flowers for all the world to see. Their golden blooms are held erect on the stem and only unfurl their stunning tepals in the sunniest of conditions.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQJOg3t2FaYDHGY0kuevC7mSxVkQeVfRlsiuK0B1KMs4G49ICUqriCBNkVxQYAiF8ava__WXP4eTgd7EYYr_PKT_3yMK_swEP1lLcegiOqlQK8fzdILHEUcW2An6nFoOFm5ULYmJO7uA/s1600/Q1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQJOg3t2FaYDHGY0kuevC7mSxVkQeVfRlsiuK0B1KMs4G49ICUqriCBNkVxQYAiF8ava__WXP4eTgd7EYYr_PKT_3yMK_swEP1lLcegiOqlQK8fzdILHEUcW2An6nFoOFm5ULYmJO7uA/s640/Q1.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Goldenstar-lily (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Erythronium rostratum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">) with eight tepals instead of six</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Goldenstar-lily (</span><i style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Erythronium rostratum</i><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">) just about to wake up</span></td></tr>
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Goldenstar-lilies also happen to be one of our most rare wildflowers in Ohio and are currently listed as endangered within the state. They are only known to occur in select areas of Adams and Scioto counties; all within the watershed of Rocky Fork Creek too.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer Tick</td></tr>
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While photographing the goldenstar-lilies under a brilliant sapphire sky, I happened to notice a small black speck slowly making its way up my pant's leg. I knew it was a tick but which of the three species one can find in southern Ohio would it be? Unfortunately, the orange "butt" of this particular one gave it away as the dreaded deer tick or black-legged tick (<i>Ixodes scapularis</i>). Unlike the dog tick (<i>Dermacentor variabilis</i>) or the lone star tick (<i>Amblyomma americanum</i>), deer ticks are a carrier/transmitter of Lyme disease among a host of other nasty diseases. Just a few years ago I almost never picked deer ticks off me but nowadays them seem to be outnumbering dog and lone stars more and more. All the more reason to keep an eye out and be ever-vigilant!</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A trio of goldenstar-lilies in all their early spring glory</td></tr>
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It's hard to believe these wonderful wildflowers have already done their duties and been replaced with maturing seed pods. Another spring already well underway with many aspects left to wait nearly another year to see once again. I hope to catch up on more of spring's activity as I find the time but even so I could never adequately represent what spring coming to southern Ohio entails. Some things are best left to speak for themselves and Mother Nature is definitively that.<br />
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- ALG - </div>
Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-72753496269904402762015-04-29T00:29:00.001-04:002015-04-29T09:47:28.719-04:00A Weekend of Birds & Botany in Shawnee State ForestWhew. It's been a hectic last few weeks and months for your blogger. The necessary combination of precious free time and energy to put into new posts just hasn't materialized and is reason for the lack of activity. I hope to rectify this going forward but for now let's catch up on a few items I'd like to make mention of.<br>
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First off, I'd like to take time to honor the life and legacy of an educator, mentor and good friend of mine whom the Ohio naturalist community recently lost. Dennis Profant, author and publisher of the famed <a href="http://fieldbioinohio.blogspot.com/">Field Biology of Southeastern Ohio</a> blog and my former professor at Hocking College, unexpectedly passed away on April 15th. He was one of the most influential professors I ever had and is a large contributor to who, what and where I am as a botanist, naturalist and human being today. From birds and bugs, to wildflowers and trees, Dennis made learning fun with his unique wit and way of teaching things. His mind was a walking encyclopedia on our natural world and his passion infectious. I will always fondly remember our times in the field together or just kicking it in his office discussing everything from jazz to moths. I'm beyond thankful to have gotten close to him in the years following my time at Hocking College and am greatly saddened to know our time together is done. What I wouldn't do for one more foray into the woods with him...<br>
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On a more positive note, I'd like to personally thank all the kind people who took the time to say hello at the recent Ohio Botanical Symposium back in late March. Meeting and talking to readers/fans of this website and the gracious words you have to say mean the world to me. This blog would have slid into oblivion long ago if it wasn't for the compliments, encouragement and confirmation of interest from you all over the years. I hope you'll continue to read and share my love for everything botanical and beyond. And Ron G., I promise you'll have your <i>Helianthus</i> themed post to read and use in the next few months!<br>
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It's spring! Taking a glance at my most recent post has this site locked in the depths of winter's chill but rest assured the wildflowers and trees have progressed anyways and thankfully so. The last two weekends have had your blogger fulfill speaking gigs and lead field trips for the Arc of Appalachia's annual wildflower pilgrimage and Ohio Ornithological Society's annual conference, respectively. Both events were packed full of excited, eager naturalists ready to fully embrace spring's blossoming and an amazing time was had by all. I would like to recap both events in blog form, starting with this past weekend and the OOS' invasion of Shawnee state forest.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvK5me29NTspF_y6gUQbN9B6r2Fsh257_gnnPZ8vIMmH8mko4pW3jyDezNrVsmoznfCyUsS3kHq3ykhKw2LbCu4iVe8htEkFyJVbcGFODR3mQdMs9IXnsfiEJ9PttNXpzHdJPC7Z1vQc/s1600/A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvK5me29NTspF_y6gUQbN9B6r2Fsh257_gnnPZ8vIMmH8mko4pW3jyDezNrVsmoznfCyUsS3kHq3ykhKw2LbCu4iVe8htEkFyJVbcGFODR3mQdMs9IXnsfiEJ9PttNXpzHdJPC7Z1vQc/s1600/A.jpg" height="426" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise over Turkey Creek Lake in Shawnee State Forest</td></tr>
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You might recall my post <a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2014/04/oos-invades-shawnee-state-forest.html">detailing last year's OOS event in Shawnee</a>. We had exquisite weather and phenomenal birding despite the botany being a bit behind. This time around the tables were turned with excellent botany and mediocre birding. Unseasonably cool temperatures and a steady all day rain on Saturday into Sunday kept the birds and their food sources from moving much. A number of the usual migratory suspects seemed to be late and/or absent from this weekend but that doesn't mean it was a total washout. The rare chance to see and catch up with old friends is one of the biggest draws for these kinds of events and in that this weekend did not disappoint in the slightest.<br>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Winding dirt road leading through the beauty of Shawnee state forest</td></tr>
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The cooler temperatures and rain might have quieted the birds but they did wonders for my floral friends. Flowering dogwood, redbud, wild plums and serviceberry painted Shawnee's roadsides with their respective shades of cream, white and pink. There's just something about the isolated, remote feeling of the forest's winding dirt roads as they take you along the ridge tops and down into the hollers.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOTc2rlUFzA4cFCrAMLTUDhNzx2F4ieP0zNdGtIor13MESF7OWO0S1ycWtgo1NFosppKx8QTdelaInkWpXDxI5Vm0XPjyXI2fQ0H2-WJZmeiKH-pW9V0sm5G06N3NawImYpTU970xxqs/s1600/C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOTc2rlUFzA4cFCrAMLTUDhNzx2F4ieP0zNdGtIor13MESF7OWO0S1ycWtgo1NFosppKx8QTdelaInkWpXDxI5Vm0XPjyXI2fQ0H2-WJZmeiKH-pW9V0sm5G06N3NawImYpTU970xxqs/s1600/C.jpg" height="640" width="426"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scarlet paintbrush (<i>Castilleja coccinea</i>) blooming in an Adams Co. cedar barrens</td></tr>
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I arrived to the region early in the afternoon on Friday to do a bit of personal botanizing and birding before I was needed at the lodge. I couldn't resist the temptation of hitting a few choice spots in Adams County for their rare and unusual inhabitants. The globally rare dolomite cedar barrens were ablaze with scarlet paintbrush (<i>Castilleja coccinea</i>) in all their seasonal glory.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr7xm7gbUMmZ8yM5gyb5XEK_AY-rgpG-pOPD3TcuI_rwS9CzSssS50GTRiBRBXnKL-13MGiHC4HY6Tn2FbNFmycbpGdY7w4OKOIbjahN2RGwSek3stkfUpJ-q1GUPnoTx7ahq6qxH_Yo/s1600/D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFr7xm7gbUMmZ8yM5gyb5XEK_AY-rgpG-pOPD3TcuI_rwS9CzSssS50GTRiBRBXnKL-13MGiHC4HY6Tn2FbNFmycbpGdY7w4OKOIbjahN2RGwSek3stkfUpJ-q1GUPnoTx7ahq6qxH_Yo/s1600/D.jpg" height="444" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowering dogwood back dropped by the rolling hills of Shawnee</td></tr>
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Don't let me fool you into thinking the birds were a complete and total bust. Both my Saturday and Sunday field trips were rewarded with some great species and moments. The best had to be a woman on Saturday wishing with all her might she'd get to see even a fleeting glimpse of the elusive Kentucky warbler; a long-awaited life bird for her. Not more than five minutes later a male that had been singing from deep in the brush and tangle of the woods came out and perched himself in clear view for the entire group. Needless to say, the aforementioned woman was breathless in wonderment afterwards. That's a sight any guide loves to see!<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6BFXTP3bM8Eq_x3vIIfLkrRPAYgKCV4zNBfGzJZ_zaA7qWgnvLQzN1RyAuOvQeF-JH4Z8ZLvBvxAs9GZ2-kG46M-Up0TmhR88G4BVw06lWabEeXIpbZ3MFM-pzuzOxlZQPrDJXKN4gE/s1600/E.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI6BFXTP3bM8Eq_x3vIIfLkrRPAYgKCV4zNBfGzJZ_zaA7qWgnvLQzN1RyAuOvQeF-JH4Z8ZLvBvxAs9GZ2-kG46M-Up0TmhR88G4BVw06lWabEeXIpbZ3MFM-pzuzOxlZQPrDJXKN4gE/s1600/E.jpg" height="430" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The rare vernal iris (<i>Iris verna</i>) blooming profusely along the forest's roadsides</td></tr>
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One of the area's quintessential spring wildflowers was just starting to come online during the conference in the rare vernal iris (<i>Iris verna</i>). Many folks think of summer and wetlands when irises are mentioned but this particular species loves the rocky, dry soil of Shawnee's sun-drenched ridge tops and roadsides.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqS5uwyXgfWYROBX1A31RQ8YwaCHUkAJVn8PZIeXZj9F-a5E6oAZnpiFoxVAgrdc18mxyXx6q4hq5Jc5nlbAO5Nm8HuRPOyImRuFe4-q9QUyo0dQczZWuLfvaiWtevKA7WjGWOLqIIy0/s1600/G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqS5uwyXgfWYROBX1A31RQ8YwaCHUkAJVn8PZIeXZj9F-a5E6oAZnpiFoxVAgrdc18mxyXx6q4hq5Jc5nlbAO5Nm8HuRPOyImRuFe4-q9QUyo0dQczZWuLfvaiWtevKA7WjGWOLqIIy0/s1600/G.jpg" height="640" width="462"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Tiger Swallowtail nectaring on the ephemeral blooms of wild plum (<i>Prunus spp.</i>)</td></tr>
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While cruising Shawnee's back roads during Friday's warm, sunny conditions, I came across numerous wild plums (<i>Prunus spp.</i>) in perfect flowering shape. The air was heavy with their sweet scent and could be detected from hundreds of feet away with the nose alone. I wasn't their only admirer as the plums were abuzz with dozens of bees and butterflies all looking for a taste of nectar.<br>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MPqJcP3ScYREZ1mnz6AOmVMqhU8uH0rsDYnuJIIhxo2at_ewqPtG27Zc33K_H2mMBRAJKmI-z4bvlhhyphenhyphenznME7nPIRtRiCDy8NHCy9lr6ZiDlj7e8FuSmn4BkVDmYJiMceiV8TUbysF4/s1600/F1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4MPqJcP3ScYREZ1mnz6AOmVMqhU8uH0rsDYnuJIIhxo2at_ewqPtG27Zc33K_H2mMBRAJKmI-z4bvlhhyphenhyphenznME7nPIRtRiCDy8NHCy9lr6ZiDlj7e8FuSmn4BkVDmYJiMceiV8TUbysF4/s1600/F1.jpg" height="400" width="282"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted Mandarin (<i>Prosartes maculata</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMk2u805L6pBntDwJI0tlKpBvJ4IpLWPe2_0lMwex33bc3q3bFWhwsPVs8GJTg1Gl8fOB3cCuDg63oPxF7fQCRh2L8QDtt6aPNgo0zSXFeDI6fnM-wccV4cFeakwIFFovfZDFJL-Jjvg/s1600/F2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPMk2u805L6pBntDwJI0tlKpBvJ4IpLWPe2_0lMwex33bc3q3bFWhwsPVs8GJTg1Gl8fOB3cCuDg63oPxF7fQCRh2L8QDtt6aPNgo0zSXFeDI6fnM-wccV4cFeakwIFFovfZDFJL-Jjvg/s1600/F2.jpg" height="400" width="276"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted Mandarin (<i>Prosartes maculata</i>)</td></tr>
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Another of Shawnee's threatened floral denizens in full bloom was the delicate spotted mandarin (<i>Prosartes maculata</i>). Their creamy white flowers hang like little lanterns under an emerald green umbrella. A close look at the inside surface of their petals reveals a gorgeous smattering of magenta polka dots unlike anything else in Ohio's flora.<br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJctpURQP-EA2aDXFxp3JKMwwpHfoNY7aVF4Qy0eP3pzmdHiOyDarFEsEP5yHlYW6kVZfCBVksGSa35ZEScX40acUqx-OVIS9pPtdZ1WjJmHWTiFYoynpjm_5RxjmLqOry-z1clYeLD8/s1600/G.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJctpURQP-EA2aDXFxp3JKMwwpHfoNY7aVF4Qy0eP3pzmdHiOyDarFEsEP5yHlYW6kVZfCBVksGSa35ZEScX40acUqx-OVIS9pPtdZ1WjJmHWTiFYoynpjm_5RxjmLqOry-z1clYeLD8/s1600/G.jpg" height="640" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pink Lady's Slipper (<i>Cypripedium acaule</i>)</td></tr>
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As if the spotted mandarins and vernal irises weren't enough to wow my groups during breaks from our binoculars, Mother Nature had one more wildflower surprise up her sleeve in some pink lady's slippers (<i>Cypripedium acaule</i>). I didn't expect to find any in this good of shape just yet, especially considering the last week's cooler weather but there this trio was in all their orchid splendor. The program I gave this weekend was about Ohio's native orchids (fathom that one), so it was rewarding to be able to share these in the flesh with my group.<br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEVg9GbhG_Ve0JZDUroy6-gvO7Ni55Y8NyYpoUuwjF3X8PBCuKCbPMihb09_uVg5pQtPuo0EUitapYgdG6kma5WxfGQAkGDGMFd_du_77RMxvcOWPlkq8-fLvVn9axO7jx2zLHG4YSsg/s1600/H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuEVg9GbhG_Ve0JZDUroy6-gvO7Ni55Y8NyYpoUuwjF3X8PBCuKCbPMihb09_uVg5pQtPuo0EUitapYgdG6kma5WxfGQAkGDGMFd_du_77RMxvcOWPlkq8-fLvVn9axO7jx2zLHG4YSsg/s1600/H.jpg" height="480" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunday's group with their binoculars peeled along the forested ridge top roads of Shawnee</td></tr>
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Sunday eventually cleared and warmed into a fine specimen of a spring day. I had the added pleasure of close friends and phenomenal naturalists, Bob Scott Placier and Daniel Boone join me in leading this troop through Shawnee. The birds responded accordingly to the improved conditions with better movements and vocalizations as the day waned. Feathered highlights from the weekend included: scarlet tanager, wood thrush, purple finch, yellow-throated vireo, blue-headed vireo, sharp-shinned hawk and warblers (yellow-throated, yellow-rumped, black-throated green, cerulean, Kentucky, worm-eating, black-and-white, ovenbird, hooded, prairie, blue-winged, pine and redstart).<br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAULLLdNXyp8c9RYQsZxYTt4iQGohpn5cYOr4mYLe-1FR14Y4L36tkzmiToxbyadiMvdwQtBvV5bn2zt7HHk7GrOj-42ExPTwTw_MKyZHV11gw0vXaMv7T9iHNjWu2Dmh0piToy2MO6Y/s1600/I.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAULLLdNXyp8c9RYQsZxYTt4iQGohpn5cYOr4mYLe-1FR14Y4L36tkzmiToxbyadiMvdwQtBvV5bn2zt7HHk7GrOj-42ExPTwTw_MKyZHV11gw0vXaMv7T9iHNjWu2Dmh0piToy2MO6Y/s1600/I.jpg" height="640" width="426"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birds Foot Violet (<i>Viola pedata</i>)</td></tr>
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The theme of my hikes for the weekend was "Birds & Botany", so what could be better than getting the proverbial two birds with one stone in the birds foot violet (<i>Viola pedata</i>). This state threatened species is arguably the most aesthetically exciting of Ohio's nearly 30 species of violet and they could not have looked better during our romp through Shawnee.<br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oROBawg1aTzNgQ10ncScoIZ65OVi0wmdxfcdCovMdd64AJ6eQpcWsSgzZZrBu4nvZHoH12Cc4TQ1v0e42ixyppw72RM-xTE1Uemhq7FNKLH0uMN0_86xCcGHuS-tIVI8O-ElncEqB0I/s1600/J.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-oROBawg1aTzNgQ10ncScoIZ65OVi0wmdxfcdCovMdd64AJ6eQpcWsSgzZZrBu4nvZHoH12Cc4TQ1v0e42ixyppw72RM-xTE1Uemhq7FNKLH0uMN0_86xCcGHuS-tIVI8O-ElncEqB0I/s1600/J.jpg" height="432" width="640"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shawnee enveloped in a steady rain</td></tr>
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Fortunately, the rain didn't really hit and stick with us until towards the end of our time in the field on Saturday. Regardless, I don't think I can really ever curse the rain this time of the year. Without its life-giving powers there wouldn't be any wildflowers or birds to admire and spend the weekend chasing. Rain is just fine by me and even gives the landscape a beauty all its own.<br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5cNgp6rBvGGzLb-gWCGTXxdgO0ZDWHQKm5y2xEWVBe04620j32qE5dSyE3sHSK_w2h-8hPvtf-dkCJ8UkgDueNxoFlestg32GrrOE2PqQipdwb8QpV-DCTgmtC7hV4GRtup8EjPpWzw/s1600/K.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ5cNgp6rBvGGzLb-gWCGTXxdgO0ZDWHQKm5y2xEWVBe04620j32qE5dSyE3sHSK_w2h-8hPvtf-dkCJ8UkgDueNxoFlestg32GrrOE2PqQipdwb8QpV-DCTgmtC7hV4GRtup8EjPpWzw/s1600/K.jpg" height="640" width="450"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female (L) and male (R) cones of the eastern hemlock</td></tr>
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Even the minutiae of spring returning is something to behold. Shawnee's eastern hemlocks (<i>Tsuga canadensis</i>) were doing their thing during our visit with their ephemeral yellow male pollen cones and adorable little female cones. The male cones will quickly waste away after releasing their pollen, while the female cones will hang around for several years post maturity. An interesting fact on gymnosperms is the very long temporal separation of pollination and fertilization. It can take months for the sperm cells from the deposited pollen to reach the female cone's ovules and months more to mature into a seed. Nature truly is all a matter of patience.<br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictWNCE4Lfc9nhltyBgyqttm4JgNKtvm05wFK4Wwga2M2zxdHnwPw4M7YSdp6FUCFGf_hDBtHp849np8YDiQ8TKB6MBhJ3Num41kqAK-EgATslxRETJtPdd_P5SxRuzDN6_RRCprOzvXo/s1600/L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEictWNCE4Lfc9nhltyBgyqttm4JgNKtvm05wFK4Wwga2M2zxdHnwPw4M7YSdp6FUCFGf_hDBtHp849np8YDiQ8TKB6MBhJ3Num41kqAK-EgATslxRETJtPdd_P5SxRuzDN6_RRCprOzvXo/s1600/L.jpg" height="640" width="480"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oddly patterned common blue violets (<i>Viola sororia</i>) in Shawnee</td></tr>
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Another floral oddity I enjoyed sharing with my group was a particular patch of common blue violets (<i>V. sororia</i>) that always display an interesting color pattern on their flowers. I've witnessed these exact plants for several years running now and they always exhibit this strange, almost leucistic-like phenotype. Definitely a fun twist on an otherwise common and forgettable plant.<br>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTqbFHjiSbQkT8WJ5cOl1_YnzgIxJkqLJmUJJdViIw_ssBg6Vppf-OWeayv2Si2vYqrYzDFO2fB9ANGZvUDbe1s0qaOD5wd_6AFggCyZKlpvcekbSbksNMS9-k4CgN_BbcR1r8cDiIP4/s1600/M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMTqbFHjiSbQkT8WJ5cOl1_YnzgIxJkqLJmUJJdViIw_ssBg6Vppf-OWeayv2Si2vYqrYzDFO2fB9ANGZvUDbe1s0qaOD5wd_6AFggCyZKlpvcekbSbksNMS9-k4CgN_BbcR1r8cDiIP4/s1600/M.jpg" height="640" width="426"></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Your blogger and the current/former* state champion yellow buckeye</td></tr>
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I'll end this post in the same way I ended my memorable weekend down in Shawnee with one impressive specimen of a tree. This particular yellow buckeye (<i>Aesculus flava</i>) has seen many winters melt into spring; so many in fact it was once (and perhaps still is?) the largest known tree for its species in the entire state. Whether or not its title is intact is a bit moot for me. It's a fabulous example of nature's work when given the time and opportunity to grow, grow, grow.<br>
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I can't begin to thank my hike's participants enough for their enthusiasm and thirst for the treasures of the outdoors. Everyone's attitudes remained positive and cheerful during the entire weekend despite the weather. I think it's safe to speak for everyone when I say we all had a great time and I'm already looking forward to future events with the OOS. <br>
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- ALG -</div>
Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-18444080429924190112015-02-22T01:14:00.000-05:002015-02-22T01:14:58.796-05:00A Winter Wonderland in the Hocking HillsEarlier this week Southeast Ohio finally received what felt like its first appreciable snow event of the season. We've had countless dustings and a few passing systems that left an inch or two on the ground but in the end nothing that made you want to throw your snow boots on. So when a fresh five inches fell overnight and draped the world in a picture perfect winter wonderland, I immediately felt the urge to get out and enjoy it. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUOoa-Adh_0vv2PqRUACKorpFuEaQhprj-hMCUYmbA41jtSrss5-46D4Bv8LfUjzZArteShNgeU4nSHGxN62qIlCEcfu1eDzNg8PE2Jv09Q87SLkbftJb9dxIIYZQwRPzIXchKN7a6Y0/s1600/001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUUOoa-Adh_0vv2PqRUACKorpFuEaQhprj-hMCUYmbA41jtSrss5-46D4Bv8LfUjzZArteShNgeU4nSHGxN62qIlCEcfu1eDzNg8PE2Jv09Q87SLkbftJb9dxIIYZQwRPzIXchKN7a6Y0/s1600/001.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quiet, snow-covered trail along Queer Creek in the Hocking Hills</td></tr>
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I decided the best bang for my hiking buck would be to brave the cold and make the short drive to the Hocking Hills for the day. The snow coincided perfectly with a rare day where I had little on the schedule and I was determined to take advantage of it. The road conditions were poor and air temperatures only in the single digits during the drive out but the crisp blue sky and bright sun really made the landscape pop under all the snow.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSAl_EdACszKuFpErPVPhrQE-oSAw9hK3KvWPWqu9Fk3CwqpieYQxs2swPrRlTYUTcHyo3TCRFMZssCtzqRQik98Byx9Y_7yr5b-w4cHBcYiDeosBGZzFOBOVkTxSgVslRFGSw9VVf8Y/s1600/002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSAl_EdACszKuFpErPVPhrQE-oSAw9hK3KvWPWqu9Fk3CwqpieYQxs2swPrRlTYUTcHyo3TCRFMZssCtzqRQik98Byx9Y_7yr5b-w4cHBcYiDeosBGZzFOBOVkTxSgVslRFGSw9VVf8Y/s1600/002.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackhand sandstone is a work of art carved by wind, rain and ice</td></tr>
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I passed hardly any cars during the drive and encountered even fewer people on the trails. In fact, just about everywhere I went my tire and/or foot tracks were the first to tarnish the previously pristine snow. The Hocking Hills is easily one of the state's most popular and heavily visited attractions year-round but I had it more or less entirely to myself for the day and loved every minute of it.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTVyIDW9wOLuqX7KNbxHMcP2ujE_JMgYIFm1FJ2GGr28BC1k4H7J7Jz3h6QlqzYxwYnNDoDqUHESzPzX2VuInefblshJjzbCQVZW6B0_5PUzlwME4FIkrhTBhv6CtxkRP14VP2NoWTiI/s1600/003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWTVyIDW9wOLuqX7KNbxHMcP2ujE_JMgYIFm1FJ2GGr28BC1k4H7J7Jz3h6QlqzYxwYnNDoDqUHESzPzX2VuInefblshJjzbCQVZW6B0_5PUzlwME4FIkrhTBhv6CtxkRP14VP2NoWTiI/s1600/003.jpg" height="640" width="500" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A frozen solid Cedar Falls</td></tr>
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The morning started off with a quick stop by famed Cedar Falls. With subzero temperatures the night before and daily highs well below freezing for days on end, I knew its typically graceful flow would be locked up in a tremendous display of ice. I was not disappointed. The silence of the scene was only broken by a slow trickle of water behind the massive mask of ice.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yDPmSvVfk13pQQPwaV3xbGld97MdUqvbDBmVLBpUHoUyEzkyCToH2pcHcmslA0iNKSigw7AnxQDlDhc_FqlxcQ51rPH7q_QnudZ9LbI49Cyer3g__RDhC0kO0IIPWL_-n-8Ju-X4ePU/s1600/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yDPmSvVfk13pQQPwaV3xbGld97MdUqvbDBmVLBpUHoUyEzkyCToH2pcHcmslA0iNKSigw7AnxQDlDhc_FqlxcQ51rPH7q_QnudZ9LbI49Cyer3g__RDhC0kO0IIPWL_-n-8Ju-X4ePU/s1600/004.jpg" height="262" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wide view of frozen Cedar Falls in the Hocking Hills</td></tr>
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One of the reasons the Hocking Hills was an easy choice for a snow-laden hike was its year-round presence of color. Most of Ohio over-winters in a variety of depressingly drab shades of brown and gray. The Hocking Hills bucks that trend with a rich display of iron-orange Blackhand sandstone and evergreen hemlocks. I'm especially partial to the color of the uniquely patterned sandstone. It's deserving of its own color in a Crayola crayon box coming soon.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwan4VXV-xAuBgjF0M1lHOZgWJ3TCvR7763hwhY9zxOBzbp15fRVig6DSBq-hE3DyeGEbtgaIQJx5KnhbnMlH785vBWYL7JgfJWdoL0wfLTmUkEWFFbPxSCgyxa4wPg4dKr0EEHGe_I4/s1600/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuwan4VXV-xAuBgjF0M1lHOZgWJ3TCvR7763hwhY9zxOBzbp15fRVig6DSBq-hE3DyeGEbtgaIQJx5KnhbnMlH785vBWYL7JgfJWdoL0wfLTmUkEWFFbPxSCgyxa4wPg4dKr0EEHGe_I4/s1600/005.jpg" height="430" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Appalachian rockcap fern (<i>Polypodium appalachianum</i>) tightly curled in the subfreezing temperatures</td></tr>
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Multiple layers of wool and fleece kept your narrator warm and toasty despite hours spent out in the subfreezing temperatures. The same could not be said for the rest of the plant and animal life trying to survive the winter. The Appalachian rockcap ferns (<i>Polypodium appalachianum</i>) that grace many slump rocks and boulders throughout the region looked especially cold. Their evergreen fronds were all tightly curled inward, as if to shiver off the arctic chill.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjIdtgFim8gfLCwsIqw4MWLKF3Ql0kYWbJIkTNecGgx4RkY7fh3cF-KdzXlCwmtcCiPZItyItOpXKgJ3ci2eh9usx4ut1EgiSsYpaMOVokpC6-VwzU3uIzuumQC_0jAYkK03b7Yi9mlg/s1600/006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjIdtgFim8gfLCwsIqw4MWLKF3Ql0kYWbJIkTNecGgx4RkY7fh3cF-KdzXlCwmtcCiPZItyItOpXKgJ3ci2eh9usx4ut1EgiSsYpaMOVokpC6-VwzU3uIzuumQC_0jAYkK03b7Yi9mlg/s1600/006.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow, sandstone and hemlocks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Leaving Cedar Falls behind, I made for my next stop in a lesser known part of Hocking state forest in Edison Hollow. It's off the beaten path but contains much of the same beauty and features that make the region so popular.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7gKPvqmU3lrnXnUUsuc0M6ZKnZ5fG-t_qPAlp9zv0ZbEcYnBAA4rSob74AUV08sAKrUmw3A72sLMNP1acuEDPwAO5BGk0Na-LBWUHEOHjHasIvyeAqTVHO7JGD09IUF9S55FfQGWH1A/s1600/009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT7gKPvqmU3lrnXnUUsuc0M6ZKnZ5fG-t_qPAlp9zv0ZbEcYnBAA4rSob74AUV08sAKrUmw3A72sLMNP1acuEDPwAO5BGk0Na-LBWUHEOHjHasIvyeAqTVHO7JGD09IUF9S55FfQGWH1A/s1600/009.jpg" height="450" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mature forest within Edison Hollow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Walking back into the bottleneck of the hollow takes you through an impressive forest with a lofty canopy and mature timber. Hemlock, black and yellow birch, beech, tuliptree, red and white oak, sugar maple, black cherry and basswood were all present and combine to make a locally significant forest community. The Hocking Hills rugged and rough topography creates a cool, moist micro climate in its deep hollows which allows for the typically more northern assemblage of trees and plants to persist.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_XolTKSJPiISKry-Zn7ws7NlJFPCB-_InFcVi3EF4Xt4ACTyLOXglzFpnnfNcTMu7UU84bbdz3uCqQOmaptsJPfDG8uxsH_wi7bEZi8qEhjBobaGopxsQ2hFRknwoZ849Et-kmQrbDo/s1600/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7_XolTKSJPiISKry-Zn7ws7NlJFPCB-_InFcVi3EF4Xt4ACTyLOXglzFpnnfNcTMu7UU84bbdz3uCqQOmaptsJPfDG8uxsH_wi7bEZi8qEhjBobaGopxsQ2hFRknwoZ849Et-kmQrbDo/s1600/007.jpg" height="640" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">80'+ waterfall at the back of Edison Hollow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Once I reached the back of the gorge my eyes were met with an impressive straight plunge waterfall over 80 feet tall. Much like Cedar Falls, Edison's was nearly frozen solid and only had a small drip of life to it. The ice pyramid at its base was especially impressive. It dwarfed me when standing next to it at nearly 20 feet in height and emitted a soft greenish-blue glow through its complex layers of ice crystals.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm5MStGv_y973gDBe4nwUtURc4TLYr-5kgXYrRudyydtj4aGqx57tKMyUD6BMMqaFT7qCsIMTE1RhukxiVTh9ggt5ceRIlqIH1y4vorK8MW1e7ngUx7R95U6rWKzrEbTc04A0vup429c/s1600/008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnm5MStGv_y973gDBe4nwUtURc4TLYr-5kgXYrRudyydtj4aGqx57tKMyUD6BMMqaFT7qCsIMTE1RhukxiVTh9ggt5ceRIlqIH1y4vorK8MW1e7ngUx7R95U6rWKzrEbTc04A0vup429c/s1600/008.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow, wind and light combine for a stunning scene</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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My visit to Edison Hollow happened to coincide with the sun positioned behind the falls and illuminating the stand of hemlocks at its precipice. For a few brief moments the wind would pick up and send the hemlock's accumulated snow into the air, creating a heavenly glow of light above the falls. The sunbeams would stream through the haze of ice and dance in waves and ripples.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcLQE9PabhDKZkDHV-iarHAG0uozkd_NAmrMAlWj3YR5As8TA_GLsW18PSlDWEZlZhcbWZb3iv3YT80bk0dmLKMDykISc9DqxFW2RrCpwmpHFmnZ9Fz0XedbLfdfPNxcVUMT1IqcVlpo/s1600/010A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxcLQE9PabhDKZkDHV-iarHAG0uozkd_NAmrMAlWj3YR5As8TA_GLsW18PSlDWEZlZhcbWZb3iv3YT80bk0dmLKMDykISc9DqxFW2RrCpwmpHFmnZ9Fz0XedbLfdfPNxcVUMT1IqcVlpo/s1600/010A.jpg" height="400" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abruptly ending squirrel tracks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilf-s5ajiiYd0Kr_tsp2ooqUhSdJ5jThr7LXT6aN-nOerz7L89M1I2NFFRctP0uUJFavmjazl3CiAjtWK_7jwLcq0MUZylePnwY41X2Lcxqo5bjR4Ss1ySKEgEPb3wuh_ss5eKRVbWizM/s1600/010B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilf-s5ajiiYd0Kr_tsp2ooqUhSdJ5jThr7LXT6aN-nOerz7L89M1I2NFFRctP0uUJFavmjazl3CiAjtWK_7jwLcq0MUZylePnwY41X2Lcxqo5bjR4Ss1ySKEgEPb3wuh_ss5eKRVbWizM/s1600/010B.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greenshield Lichen (<i>Flavoparmelia caperata</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The winter woods has a silence and beauty all its own, even more so after a fresh snowfall. Animal activity was sparse with only a few lines of tracks meandering through the trees. My favorites were the squirrel prints. Their tracks would abruptly end a few feet from a tree as if it was suddenly snatched up in an alien spaceship's tractor beam...instead of just jumping onto and scurrying up the tree.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJf-8OU8iEKFA_3KmuZ57sQBl8E2OwSBmYmY0dy7jKkAtvhMcqNU1Rf6PBt5iGkbvlSjdBGiVS3gMYxrZGPP6lhEqhQMxeg9s6ma_yQ_BA7fHiQuK8zmj3DutYZOJcbTqV7za8AL1XFs/s1600/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGJf-8OU8iEKFA_3KmuZ57sQBl8E2OwSBmYmY0dy7jKkAtvhMcqNU1Rf6PBt5iGkbvlSjdBGiVS3gMYxrZGPP6lhEqhQMxeg9s6ma_yQ_BA7fHiQuK8zmj3DutYZOJcbTqV7za8AL1XFs/s1600/011.jpg" height="218" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overlooking the Queer Creek valley from atop a sandstone rock outcropping</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
After experiencing some impressive upward views in the sandstone gorges and hollows, it was high time to gain some elevation. I chose another secluded and hardly-traveled area in the south-facing ridge line of the Queer Creek valley. The valley contains a number of nice rock outcroppings that show off their views across the rough terrain. Once again the dominant presence of the evergreen hemlocks and their snow-covered branches really magnified the charm of the scene.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUtfleV5KTdaHTkPD9LvAccLLLkohA5Bp0M_53ojBzCEhge_yt67DuOSIsTIfFnist4LJQuaB_pbz3Q0ClzA1WccbxLIEDaGh__-c4tKqy1bvPWqydEf5OXKCPtOkXc14mlsVXP02Ajk/s1600/012A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsUtfleV5KTdaHTkPD9LvAccLLLkohA5Bp0M_53ojBzCEhge_yt67DuOSIsTIfFnist4LJQuaB_pbz3Q0ClzA1WccbxLIEDaGh__-c4tKqy1bvPWqydEf5OXKCPtOkXc14mlsVXP02Ajk/s1600/012A.jpg" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Virginia Pine (<i>Pinus virginiana</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2eXRNYE8ZqQIZQlkkQj8zSTDYT0P_rkXlxVXGVRZtob_0nTXWg9TUnJK6BLGeD3J4E2eF1AL4eXkFokfCN_2giGLdUrDUzTMuuuf3WbX5pHJ2_DQCz94rbK5DBItVv-pwi40PVWVlKg/s1600/012B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy2eXRNYE8ZqQIZQlkkQj8zSTDYT0P_rkXlxVXGVRZtob_0nTXWg9TUnJK6BLGeD3J4E2eF1AL4eXkFokfCN_2giGLdUrDUzTMuuuf3WbX5pHJ2_DQCz94rbK5DBItVv-pwi40PVWVlKg/s1600/012B.jpg" height="400" width="270" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mountain Laurel (<i>Kalmia latifolia</i>)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The hemlocks weren't the only source of seasonal greenery. Stunted Virginia pines and tangles of mountain laurel grew all along the rocky cliff's edges and perimeter. They were right at home with the other dry, acidic condition-loving plants of the ridge tops like chestnut, black and scarlet oaks, downy serviceberry, hillside blueberry, black huckleberry and sourwood.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgASUkJ5ZtevD6ONIYIZ_j1-hmcLMCbAwMniR3v3DioiEShM1oOV76DGsaupckpJdShq0VviVKor2BWvKCN2yZNKSM56PeLbu2vEjHZhppvoA20RCLFluOegTzcrvCzWuPvlsKK7rhpY/s1600/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizgASUkJ5ZtevD6ONIYIZ_j1-hmcLMCbAwMniR3v3DioiEShM1oOV76DGsaupckpJdShq0VviVKor2BWvKCN2yZNKSM56PeLbu2vEjHZhppvoA20RCLFluOegTzcrvCzWuPvlsKK7rhpY/s1600/013.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandstone rock outcrop above Rooty Hollow along the Queer Creek Valley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />This past summer was the first time I'd ever experienced this particular part of the Hocking Hills. These same rocky outcrops and cliff edges above Queer Creek are home to the state endangered cow-wheat (<i>Melampryum lineare</i>) and were the subject of a day's monitoring and surveying back on a hot and humid day in June. The views and off-trail seclusion of it all made an instant impression back then and I knew it had to be equally good come winter.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7CLaDiQzQEoWALKEsePen04OoT3dFIVJG3as0zAnBNO9tRUiI2beMt7SQ8yvC7GcJ4IBTzGi03-AN1zbT8cUg-lJlhMDPkRZE6BnWMzMCoLbe6pf_lj3kvejadIhFDI39L9YEd4S8VU/s1600/014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk7CLaDiQzQEoWALKEsePen04OoT3dFIVJG3as0zAnBNO9tRUiI2beMt7SQ8yvC7GcJ4IBTzGi03-AN1zbT8cUg-lJlhMDPkRZE6BnWMzMCoLbe6pf_lj3kvejadIhFDI39L9YEd4S8VU/s1600/014.jpg" height="298" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking back into the bottleneck of Conkle's Hollow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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No trip to the Hocking Hills for me is ever complete without a stop by Conkle's Hollow. I'm fortunate to have seen and experienced as much of our fine state as I have and even after the years and new places, Conkle's still makes me swoon. Walking back into its deep gorge or walking the rim trails, I never tire of the feel or atmosphere of the preserve.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlAth2zOeQ6DZ429RzCyK1Jgo0Jupmzcad9sSCva-i_8oNtQof_ghQ89XyNeTcPJ7u3aTK7AIGC1PLFqo3z55DG4tpGXwgp-ubJDXFMKln2TYd_acbg-FW8YUJxgDZqsmgVS0IbigMLI/s1600/015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlAth2zOeQ6DZ429RzCyK1Jgo0Jupmzcad9sSCva-i_8oNtQof_ghQ89XyNeTcPJ7u3aTK7AIGC1PLFqo3z55DG4tpGXwgp-ubJDXFMKln2TYd_acbg-FW8YUJxgDZqsmgVS0IbigMLI/s1600/015.jpg" height="640" width="428" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheer sandstone goodness</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Conkle's hollow is one of the deepest in the entire state with depths of over 200 feet. Many people consider Ohio to be flat and featureless. It depends on where you're standing when you say that I suppose, but they'd best not be in the Hocking Hills! Where else in the state do you get sheer walls of rock hundreds of feet tall right in your face?<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Uq0xRcJ0wRN2KI-wXC4c-X8rs2a1hW7n-_ZIsSzMpUUmpxt8mtCn8zlNutBkRAJ2RZ44t2CkifPXHfi6_KL3i5FGcHxoSt0YNDKrD_zs27NHHn-EwX4i5mLqgxW1qDaTqK1KZzIwMN8/s1600/016A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Uq0xRcJ0wRN2KI-wXC4c-X8rs2a1hW7n-_ZIsSzMpUUmpxt8mtCn8zlNutBkRAJ2RZ44t2CkifPXHfi6_KL3i5FGcHxoSt0YNDKrD_zs27NHHn-EwX4i5mLqgxW1qDaTqK1KZzIwMN8/s1600/016A.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow birch roots exposed and growing down rock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonWQJnKkB_RIzDPvdHEnzBIRICPD-b8vEO0o-mqML4fe3tynnYv4_dP1HAmD3XWGrkMltig1Q0sXMlQq9zzgFVxZyctMfkGpBKy3As3tcbyfBobazPG3WQn65F6AcDhyRuvfbnrtulh0/s1600/016B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgonWQJnKkB_RIzDPvdHEnzBIRICPD-b8vEO0o-mqML4fe3tynnYv4_dP1HAmD3XWGrkMltig1Q0sXMlQq9zzgFVxZyctMfkGpBKy3As3tcbyfBobazPG3WQn65F6AcDhyRuvfbnrtulh0/s1600/016B.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hefty hemlock</td></tr>
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The predominate bedrock material of the Hocking Hills was laid down some 340 million years ago during the Mississippian Period. During that time the region was under a warm, shallow sea where several prehistoric waterways deposited their sediment loads over a series of deltaic complexes. Over the eons the sediment layers cemented together to form the Blackhand sandstone we know today. Subsequent geological unrest in the region uplifted and exposed this strata of bedrock to the elements, where millions of years of wind, water and ice has carved out the incredible features we see today.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsNzvCcggfGcqs0FHr1Ou93ARrNhJCxbvEkVewAE9n5QA-zDKbHOr4-SG_6uWV1c_xaZiGjD5L5GaoDFKwKxITFDclWxUpRn75bsyL2JXyO6xxI5KKYBgRXupRJ08o3YzhWd7xix1-60/s1600/017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWsNzvCcggfGcqs0FHr1Ou93ARrNhJCxbvEkVewAE9n5QA-zDKbHOr4-SG_6uWV1c_xaZiGjD5L5GaoDFKwKxITFDclWxUpRn75bsyL2JXyO6xxI5KKYBgRXupRJ08o3YzhWd7xix1-60/s1600/017.jpg" height="640" width="470" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frozen ice pillars at the back of Conkle's Hollow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Conkle's Hollow is supremely one of Father time and Mother nature's best works of erosion and patience in the state. It's fun to think about what the preserve and hollow will look like hundreds of thousands of years into the future. We live in such a brief flash of geologic time it's hard to comprehend the changes that have happened and will continue happening over the millions and billions of years.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiv1BncaKjow5z4xrShMwR_nfDT9-fqtQcmOfbpU5axWAc0m5BCTzQ3F9XG31Uos8e4HDWgDJ7Qfzy1xpE419hR4VWDyIsCuQFIxaihblt2lzsF8__cTDeNOFHwqtszauz2AENkbP5iwY/s1600/018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiv1BncaKjow5z4xrShMwR_nfDT9-fqtQcmOfbpU5axWAc0m5BCTzQ3F9XG31Uos8e4HDWgDJ7Qfzy1xpE419hR4VWDyIsCuQFIxaihblt2lzsF8__cTDeNOFHwqtszauz2AENkbP5iwY/s1600/018.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking back into the bottleneck of Conkle's Hollow from the east rim trail</td></tr>
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As the Blackhand sandstone was laid down, the sediments conglomerated into layers of varying erosion resistance. The bottom and topmost layers are course-grained and firmly cemented, thus being very resistant to weathering. These layers make up the basements of the region's hollows and their respective rims and tops of waterfalls. The middle strata is comprised of a much finer grained sand that was crossbedded and weakly cemented, leaving it vulnerable to erosion. This layer is where you see your recesses, caves and rock shelters. Conkle's Hollow and the countless others in the Hocking Hills came to exist when a massive crack or fault in the previously more or less solid block of bedrock occurred and was gradually eaten away until it met more resilient rock. Over millions of years it's gotten as far as what you see in the photo above. It all comes back to time and the Earth has had a lot of it to work with.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxQrR8q0a4mfCXSP6sLqFDrLMs2-jO_RCOcGimJDgyQEo3Lt2uzeVDOZCvQgoXPSffp8wgPjnslFuzVxPsjN_mW1a2ZHtmU40bRhhmTbsT-9QCkY7FfeDmqofNWeIvo1A4Z7_wCayCec/s1600/019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxQrR8q0a4mfCXSP6sLqFDrLMs2-jO_RCOcGimJDgyQEo3Lt2uzeVDOZCvQgoXPSffp8wgPjnslFuzVxPsjN_mW1a2ZHtmU40bRhhmTbsT-9QCkY7FfeDmqofNWeIvo1A4Z7_wCayCec/s1600/019.jpg" height="424" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south out of Conkle's Hollow</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_kXyLKe4GbqoCWg4IQ8vXKglfxmtjQWqJ1MfyICkHEAfjRuphnN3vHcqEy2Yscjv-bX6RbrB1VFTLt6lHPFLbrzB3sXCpd6IW9V58vfMrQcej-hp4K6nrV1zqyOw8siBKnEx3E0LFIc/s1600/020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj_kXyLKe4GbqoCWg4IQ8vXKglfxmtjQWqJ1MfyICkHEAfjRuphnN3vHcqEy2Yscjv-bX6RbrB1VFTLt6lHPFLbrzB3sXCpd6IW9V58vfMrQcej-hp4K6nrV1zqyOw8siBKnEx3E0LFIc/s1600/020.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This view just never gets old or boring, no matter how many times you've seen it</td></tr>
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The afternoon skies had clouded up and a brisk wind was beginning to stir by the time I got to the eastern rim trail. Temperatures had warmed into the low 20's but that new wind cut like a knife. Still, it wasn't enough to dull the experience of the rim. I've soaked in this view dozens of times and taken the same photo dozens more but it never, ever gets even one iota old.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XMg2CCidhvDF096LQNTswx5ZDimqeIstx3eGHKwR0xyKIiCMyHdWmvcbVuHPskQTwuVvwvv5Hf4fNOSEFfcPIJMulvvQHDWTvf3f_3YXbYWgTArmITNFQJsExVbwLg9cBGRdFF17WDY/s1600/021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XMg2CCidhvDF096LQNTswx5ZDimqeIstx3eGHKwR0xyKIiCMyHdWmvcbVuHPskQTwuVvwvv5Hf4fNOSEFfcPIJMulvvQHDWTvf3f_3YXbYWgTArmITNFQJsExVbwLg9cBGRdFF17WDY/s1600/021.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The state-rare resurrection fern (<i>Pleopeltis polypodioides</i>)</td></tr>
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I capped off my all-day Hocking Hills hiking extravaganza with a quick stop by a particular hunk of rock to see how one of our hardiest ferns was dealing with the harsh winter conditions. Just as I expected, the state-rare resurrection fern (<i>Pleopeltis polypodioides</i>) looked just about dead. But not to fear, it's just playing possum and will be back good as new with time. This species gets its common name from its ability to dry and shrivel to a near-crisp during times of cold and/or arid conditions and snap right back to a lush, green state after getting a drink. A fern that can come back from the "dead". Resurrection, indeed.<br /><br />I certainly got my wish for a good snowfall at some point this winter but it could be noted that you should always be careful what you wish for. Another six-seven inches has fallen today to leave a solid foot of the white stuff on the ground. That can only mean it's time to get out and do some more winter wonderland exploration, right?<br /><br />~ ALG ~<br />
<span id="goog_226454783"></span><span id="goog_226454784"></span>Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-16833295615031123682015-02-05T00:23:00.002-05:002018-01-18T19:37:47.739-05:00Top Ten Life Plants of 2014Ah. It's good to hear the clack of the keyboard again. I'd like to apologize for the lack of activity on here the past few months. Lately too many things have come together to steal my attention and free time but rest assured your blogger is alive and well. I'm still as busy as ever but hope to manage and keep a presence on here until the less burdened summer months return. Regardless, it's nice to get something fresh out there for those who have anxiously awaited a new post. In a perfect world I would have had this post written and published around the turn of the new year but better late than never, right?<br />
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The 2014 field season was one to remember for your narrator. There's never enough time to see and do everything on your list during a calendar year but then that's what makes each and every new experience you do have all the more enduring. For a botanist, or at least this botanist, one of the most rewarding tasks at the conclusion of a growing season is updating the life list. As time goes on and I become more and more acquainted with my local and regional flora, the frequencies of making new floral friends decreases. This makes each additional life species marked off the list feel just a bit more gratifying than the last.</div>
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With that being said, I'd like to reminisce on my personal top ten favorite "lifers" from 2014's botanical forays. It was not an easy task to achieve, believe me. Many worthy contenders just couldn't make the last cut. All ten plants were species I'd never had the pleasure of seeing in the flesh before; many only dreamily through a computer monitor. Some I specifically set out to see, others I came across by complete chance. If you're a regular reader of my blog, you might recognize a number of the forthcoming plants; some just deserve their own separate 15 minutes of fame at the time.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4svfz2gxCorS1beizQRwLJwzDgOxHWRosXKrkmOpZj-IhwSZ1dYksc0ybDaFOsEeKdyet5nFZlJJ0PCB-0zFJqXQJP2OyWm91MQHZ3TVDCxXHNvTxO4vVjReJ84L2R8CDkQWjq44Tet4/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4svfz2gxCorS1beizQRwLJwzDgOxHWRosXKrkmOpZj-IhwSZ1dYksc0ybDaFOsEeKdyet5nFZlJJ0PCB-0zFJqXQJP2OyWm91MQHZ3TVDCxXHNvTxO4vVjReJ84L2R8CDkQWjq44Tet4/s1600/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#10 - Long Beech Fern (<i>Phegopteris connectilis</i>)</td></tr>
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Number ten takes me back to the Hocking Hills this past June. As a field botanist for the Ohio Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, my job sees me work with hundreds of our state's rare plant species. Surveying, monitoring and managing their occurrences is a large component of that work and is what had me finally face to face with the state-rare long beech fern (<i>Phegopteris connectilis</i>). Typically found further to the north, it manages to persist in a rather disjunct fashion in the Hocking Hill's more secluded cool, moist hollows. It looks strikingly similar to its close relative (and much more common) broad beech fern (<i>P. hexagonoptera</i>). Looking at the bottom pair of pinnae helps separate the two: long beech's rachis between the bottom two pairs of pinnae lacks any wings; while broad beech's rachis is winged between every pair of pinnae. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2puU-cpS3DE_FSsb-rGJ2QO6-Ae7TVGF3sspgWM5x0Aw_cn-hhXekNYaNgWrtvsuuVbP2nFoXFKm29WAdeHkMIB47LZh7JkjCOKDSCMWHVo_LfAFVeiQ_a7acZvj83khfMimLVwAu9s/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2puU-cpS3DE_FSsb-rGJ2QO6-Ae7TVGF3sspgWM5x0Aw_cn-hhXekNYaNgWrtvsuuVbP2nFoXFKm29WAdeHkMIB47LZh7JkjCOKDSCMWHVo_LfAFVeiQ_a7acZvj83khfMimLVwAu9s/s1600/2.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#9 - Catesby's Trillium (<i>Trillium catesbaei</i>)</td></tr>
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The mountains of northern Georgia produced dozens of new lifers during my visit in mid May, and I don't think much of anything impressed more than the trillium. If I had to play favorites of the four-five new species I encountered, Catesby's trillium (<i>T. catesbaei</i>) will do nicely. To see and read more on the other lifers from this trip you can <a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2014/05/botanizing-chattahoochee-national-forest.html">check out this link right here</a>. There's still more to come on this list from Georgia though.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviLWtiDPJOLtFVfDM2cspREQGq-15Z2y_6EaBlboIv48W9X_jSycorI_0dmEdsMqnbxh5m_wx8BKvMSZSofFXvlWw_p-fQUG6X0VZsEase5Nt1ZUEQuQs7FqDxpnwcMWetEZQhV2mr3Y/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgviLWtiDPJOLtFVfDM2cspREQGq-15Z2y_6EaBlboIv48W9X_jSycorI_0dmEdsMqnbxh5m_wx8BKvMSZSofFXvlWw_p-fQUG6X0VZsEase5Nt1ZUEQuQs7FqDxpnwcMWetEZQhV2mr3Y/s1600/3.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#8 - Limestone Adder's Tongue Fern (<i>Ophioglossum engelmannii</i>)</td></tr>
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If you didn't already know what you were looking at, number eight might have you thinking little green ogres had been buried up to their ears. This alien-looking organism is actually a species of fern known as limestone adder's tongue (<i>Ophioglossum engelmannii</i>) and is quite rare in our state. In fact, it's only known to occur in a handful of limestone barrens and glades in Adams county and that's it. The spore-containing fertile frond was thought to resemble a snake's tongue, hence the common name of adder's tongue fern for this genus.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqOtJAOz1mZ_EkrIjqLRWrMTT6muPK1ZjRAJ_xJ8kvWYwitT0SxOH9KlpodTs2HwZ9lYSMXRVvMiL9lon8_Mg4FnQOh0EkPIlalPGXozSmnoeNdxCWdx3XUNQFUQZYsqcNXnSktPlKgU/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEqOtJAOz1mZ_EkrIjqLRWrMTT6muPK1ZjRAJ_xJ8kvWYwitT0SxOH9KlpodTs2HwZ9lYSMXRVvMiL9lon8_Mg4FnQOh0EkPIlalPGXozSmnoeNdxCWdx3XUNQFUQZYsqcNXnSktPlKgU/s1600/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#7 - Rough Boneset (<i>Eupatorium pilosum</i>)</td></tr>
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Lifer number seven has the distinction of being a very, very new lifer for any Ohio botanist, well their state list anyway. Rough boneset (<i>Eupatorium pilosum</i>) was never known from our state until late summer 2013, when exceptional field botanist and good friend, Brian Riley discovered it growing (apparently) wild in Athens county. Come August 2014, Brian led your blogger and a few other distinguished Ohio botanists to the sites to discuss its native status. After weighing and debating the topic we concluded it was very likely a natural occurrence and not an intentional (or accidental) introduction. Just another excellent find by Brian! For a more detailed account on our day with the rough boneset, you can <a href="http://jimmccormac.blogspot.com/search/label/eupatorium%20pilosum">check out Jim McCormac's post here</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDw-Meq6aMkEXEXQqUX30uCMbWdmUSWaFryPD0CJE8qNgBt0NdiHNpOSpGcRKHQpXMh2evJcNTVHqMs63J4McknaXvRZaz4QgjxeIbxDmbvbnOPwR490yef3_3zB5P9GUWIRes2iTV9g/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWDw-Meq6aMkEXEXQqUX30uCMbWdmUSWaFryPD0CJE8qNgBt0NdiHNpOSpGcRKHQpXMh2evJcNTVHqMs63J4McknaXvRZaz4QgjxeIbxDmbvbnOPwR490yef3_3zB5P9GUWIRes2iTV9g/s1600/5.jpg" width="432" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#6 - Bradley's Spleenwort (<i>Asplenium bradleyi</i>)</td></tr>
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Here we are halfway through the countdown and we're on fern species number three. Needless to say, they've recently become a bit of a hot topic for me and one I put more focus into studying during the 2014 field season. Bradley's spleenwort (<i>Asplenium bradleyi</i>) is one I'm quite pleased to finally have a check mark next to as it's arguably one of Ohio's rarest pteridophytes. Listed as endangered, it's only known to occur in a handful of sites in southeastern Ohio, often on sheer, inaccessible sandstone rock faces. That type of habitat niche made getting a photo of even a single fertile frond or two difficult and involved a bit of free hand rock climbing.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9M-Q91cIzSLi8fZBhQy3wGXZatx_OYJx0BKbO5f9Xf0mLIys6xrZzj_W0wod-LctKoCVdCTc__a4VjdRbAHrVTeMktJHPqfENsAFc3ydJ4SOQxlQGPS9525TkUsT66KVsY_aBAzdzLRE/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9M-Q91cIzSLi8fZBhQy3wGXZatx_OYJx0BKbO5f9Xf0mLIys6xrZzj_W0wod-LctKoCVdCTc__a4VjdRbAHrVTeMktJHPqfENsAFc3ydJ4SOQxlQGPS9525TkUsT66KVsY_aBAzdzLRE/s1600/6.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#5 - Swamp Valerian (<i>Valeriana uliginosa</i>)</td></tr>
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As I alluded to earlier, some great plant finds come out of nowhere and catch you by complete surprise. Those are the ones that are even harder to forget. Enter life plant number five in the absolutely stunning swamp valerian (<i>Valeriana uliginosa</i>). While wading through a sprawling fen meadow in southeast Michigan last June, my botanical cohorts and I came across a scattering of these snow white-capped flowers and despite never seeing them before it clicked almost instantly what they were. Swamp valerian was a plant I'd only ever dreamed of seeing and wasn't sure where, if or when I'd ever get to mark it off the list. It was only known from a single site in northeast Ohio and hasn't been seen since the end of the 19th century. For more on this species and the other botanical goodies within its remarkable fen,<a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2014/06/gone-fennin-in-southeast-michigan.html"> you can check out this link here</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYJGgkCAj6lVZcGNFY5l7dOkOY6ouEUuCGaTkTuVKsi4K9Zkx5YO602p0JbG-o80ADPiltieHg3TrvkPsGEPaPgwkxo_PUEXvbseYNCQTIdA3cyU1pnIKWC-9qO8QcW6G7-uwKDY9PZs/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEYJGgkCAj6lVZcGNFY5l7dOkOY6ouEUuCGaTkTuVKsi4K9Zkx5YO602p0JbG-o80ADPiltieHg3TrvkPsGEPaPgwkxo_PUEXvbseYNCQTIdA3cyU1pnIKWC-9qO8QcW6G7-uwKDY9PZs/s1600/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#4 - Venus Flytrap (<i>Dionaea muscipula</i>)</td></tr>
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In terms of new species added to the life list in 2014, nothing came close to my time on the Florida panhandle. I could have just as easily made this entire list out of Florida flora but I did my best to refrain from such a biased approach. Of the hundreds of lifers I encountered in the swamps and pine lands of the panhandle, the fabled Venus fly trap (<i>Dionaea muscipula</i>) was the most anticipated. The plants were admittedly planted at the site I knew about decades ago and have persisted in the boggy habitat but that did little to take away from the experience. For more photos of the fly traps and their other bog associate denizens <a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2014/07/botanizing-florida-panhandle-venus-fly.html">you can check out this link here</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Q7vQAEuMzbZ5sKwv3gGEip_-0xHWf2BwpWyoQHiJvpUMNNyRPVuHwRYYEVfBzIeFokx1RDk2k0XYRpRRBIeH4YaMXYszcMkXbXG5rCKwpv6dn_H8b_8-0uyBCPZYbhNrR7hiFcX_Xwc/s1600/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Q7vQAEuMzbZ5sKwv3gGEip_-0xHWf2BwpWyoQHiJvpUMNNyRPVuHwRYYEVfBzIeFokx1RDk2k0XYRpRRBIeH4YaMXYszcMkXbXG5rCKwpv6dn_H8b_8-0uyBCPZYbhNrR7hiFcX_Xwc/s1600/8.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#3 - Sweet Pinesap (<i>Monotropsis odorata</i>)</td></tr>
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Most wildflowers people remember with their sense of vision. The same could be said for lifer number three but I personally will always recall them most fondly with my olfactories. Sweet pinesap (<i>Monotropsis odorata</i>) was the target of a late April excursion to the Red River Gorge of Kentucky, with the motto being, "follow your nose!". Sweet pinesap gets its name from the intoxicating aroma emitted from its perfectly purple flowers. I've never smelled anything more enchanting than these oddities and in fact smelled their presence before visually locating them. For more photos and info on this trip and these odorous wonders <a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2014/04/sweet-pinesap-in-red-river-gorge.html">you can follow this link</a>.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#2 - Pine Lily (<i>Lilium catesbaei</i>)</td></tr>
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We're down to the two biggest plant finds of my 2014 and it's back to the hot and steamy confines of the Florida panhandle. After my time with the Venus fly traps, I decided to explore the nearby depths of Apalachicola National Forest's longleaf pine savannas. <a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2014/07/botanizing-florida-panhandle.html">Gazing out across their open expanses of graminoids and pitcher plants</a> invoked feelings of nirvana and utter tranquility. The cherry on top of the savanna sundae was stumbling across lifer number two dotting the seas of green with their fire orange-red tepals. I adore lilies but had no idea just how much until the pine lily (<i>Lilium catesbaei</i>). Much like the aforementioned swamp valerian, I hadn't even considered encountering such a remarkable wildflower but am overjoyed that I did. There wasn't much else to compare the feeling of their discovery to except for the last species left.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IXAtz1xHMdWdOMkjPGZttGh5eu4rcWlJlVfxh13ASOxJuoCd84j-voyvnJOvqn4dtC9qjwYjUZfpjYhWaJv_3vetNdMXPn4ax0yLJF-G50_YjE9LWItO2VB5sT2YIOMyYsK0rzIzN9k/s1600/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5IXAtz1xHMdWdOMkjPGZttGh5eu4rcWlJlVfxh13ASOxJuoCd84j-voyvnJOvqn4dtC9qjwYjUZfpjYhWaJv_3vetNdMXPn4ax0yLJF-G50_YjE9LWItO2VB5sT2YIOMyYsK0rzIzN9k/s1600/10.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">#1 - Small Whorled Pogonia (<i>Isotria medeoloides</i>)</td></tr>
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If you know me and you read this blog, it probably isn't hard to surmise that my number one life plant from 2014 was hands down, no contest, how-could-it-not-be the federally threatened small whorled pogonia (<i>Isotria medeoloides</i>). I made the 500+ mile trek to Chattahoochee National Forest in the mountains of northern Georgia last May to specifically see this most elusive orchid. Many might wonder why a small, bland and green "if you can even call it a flower" would illicit such a strong reaction from me, and honestly I might ask myself the same. Its genuine distribution-wide rarity, sporadic and poorly understood life cycle, and mythic nature all combine to make it an arduous chase. I could go on and on about this particular experience and plant but I'll leave that up to you. <a href="http://floraofohio.blogspot.com/2014/05/the-hunt-for-small-whorled-pogonia-one.html">An entire post dedicated to this little green blob can be found here</a>.</div>
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I hope you enjoyed this retrospective look at my favorite field finds of 2014. Perhaps one of these made your life list last year? Maybe one of these will be a target for your 2015? I look forward to bringing you more botanical forays and treatments in 2015 and know I have a lot of catching up to do from years past. So stay warm and dream of spring! The snow trillium and hepaticas will be out before we know it.<br />
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~ALG~</div>
Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-50972986575916664432014-11-23T00:57:00.000-05:002014-11-23T00:57:33.773-05:00The Buckeye Botanist: New Name, Same BlogFor the last four plus years I've had the pleasure of keeping this nature blog to journal my travels, thoughts and passions. I may not publish as often as I'd like or intend but each and every post has been worth the time and effort. I thoroughly enjoy bringing my readers along for each ride but I'd be lying if I said I didn't keep this blog up and going for anyone more than myself. Each one's experiences and/or information has led to me being the botanist and naturalist I am today and a fun barometer of how my views, knowledge and outlook on our natural world has evolved and matured. I find myself going back and rereading old posts often and reliving the details and places within. Having said all that, I think it's time for a change...<div>
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Not to worry, I have no plans to stop or ween myself off this blog and have every intention of seeing it go forward into the near and distant future. The interest and drive is still there and while it certainly waxes and wanes, I find it refreshes itself more readily as time goes on. The change I speak of is the name of this blog. Ever since the conception of <i>The Natural Treasures of Ohio</i> in the autumn of 2010, I've never fully settled and been overly content with the name. It was honestly the hardest part about starting a blog. I've frequently found myself struggling with the battle of changing it more and more. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Each red dot represents an area and/or site a post on this blog has focused on over the last four years</td></tr>
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I have built up a good following (a special and hearty thank you to all my readers and fans, you're the best!) and don't want to throw a wrench into the gears. But I've found myself traveling more and more outside Ohio's borders and taking this blog along for the ride. Not to mention being a botanist it was naturally heavily favored to take a botanical bias as it was. The map above represents all the states (green) and areas/sites (red dots) I have blogged about. Far from being the natural treasures of Ohio only, eh? I plan to fill in this map with more of my previous travels in due time but for now I think it's not too shabby looking.</div>
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At the end of things I didn't think the old name was an accurate representation of myself or this blog anymore and the change was made to: <i>The Buckeye Botanist</i>. It has a nice ring to it, I think. I'm proud to have called the Buckeye state home my whole life and will continue to focus on its treasures and diversity but give a nod as well to my botanical forays all over our amazing continent. I'd really appreciate any feedback, comments or opinions on the matter. Perhaps I should adhere to the old name for recognition and brand purposes? Or in the long run it won't matter and people will catch on pretty quickly? I'd love to hear from you! I won't change the name officially on Blogger for a bit but baring any setbacks or overwhelmingly poor reviews, I think the future of <i>The Buckeye Botanist</i> is bright and filled with even more rare plants, fascinating ecosystems and of course wild orchids. Thanks again to all who help make this possible and keep stoking the fire of interest inside my brain and fingers. I may have fibbed earlier on after all...it wouldn't be as much fun or rewarding if I didn't have a viewership and faithful readers to please and keep updated!<br /><br />- Andrew</div>
Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022216829037318291.post-14122182692359243782014-10-23T01:35:00.000-04:002014-10-23T17:38:04.594-04:00Autumn Color at Conkle's Hollow State Nature PreserveFall coming to southeast Ohio is a moment I look forward to all year long. It's a bittersweet moment at its core as another growing season has come to its inevitable end but the brief flux of color across the region's rolling, contiguously forested landscape makes winter's impending return seem not so rough. Since moving down to the Athens area over five years ago, I've made sure to make the most out of living in such a spectacular part of the state. In order to accomplish that there is one pilgrimage that must be made each and every October to a particular sandstone gorge in the renowned Hocking Hills region.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01r0zky7HOlZRIfQnPp9DH6d3C9EmUa82RNSM8uWx1xrsMHi30IkC5N61cjIgtkz98h7cGbXQ9pd-dCPZJOxFfV4e99YDX4NVf0nW0PsDxnqk7keqFxfH8d1_b74IA1issgA2MU73Vcc/s1600/A.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01r0zky7HOlZRIfQnPp9DH6d3C9EmUa82RNSM8uWx1xrsMHi30IkC5N61cjIgtkz98h7cGbXQ9pd-dCPZJOxFfV4e99YDX4NVf0nW0PsDxnqk7keqFxfH8d1_b74IA1issgA2MU73Vcc/s1600/A.jpg" height="418" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking into the bottleneck of Conkle's Hollow from the eastern gorge rim trail</td></tr>
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If I've visited Conkle's Hollow state nature preserve once, I've visited it a dozen and a half times at just about every time of the year. Its sheer sandstone cliff faces and bluffs rise precipitously from the cool, lush hemlock hollow below and is rimmed by an acidic mixed oak and pine forest community. The views from the gorge rim trail are breathtaking no matter the season but let's not kid ourselves, nothing can best autumn's scene.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XwtPCXgG4e0wgeP-iQzdPMPfh5JJD6MIF673debqEkyl-LmhyphenhyphenCsvkxFILuN1dxIVmUQ0Eo5PdFzetIMevR6aHbupdVcPsAaVl7FBJ69oR1egJkERPVwN0Qu7z1JJ6up0jGeDhYYTYYA/s1600/B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0XwtPCXgG4e0wgeP-iQzdPMPfh5JJD6MIF673debqEkyl-LmhyphenhyphenCsvkxFILuN1dxIVmUQ0Eo5PdFzetIMevR6aHbupdVcPsAaVl7FBJ69oR1egJkERPVwN0Qu7z1JJ6up0jGeDhYYTYYA/s1600/B.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Incredible autumn color from all direcitons</td></tr>
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The exposed layer of bedrock at Conkle's Hollow and the rest of the region is known as Black Hand sandstone and was laid down over 350 million years ago when an immense, warm shallow sea covered what is current-day Ohio. The fine sand grains and rock particles that settled at the ocean's river deltas compacted under an ever-increasing amount of pressure and weight from the younger layers of sediment on top. As the tectonic plates continued to shift and move over the Earth's surface, the eastern edge of the North American continent was forced up as the Appalachians formed, leaving Ohio high and dry and exposed to the elements. Over the following hundreds of millions of years the softer surrounding bedrock material has been weathered away by the forces of water, ice and wind to reveal the resistant Black Hand sandstone. Despite its heightened resiliency even it is not immune to the forces of time and erosion and has slowly but surely been carved out into the unique and fascinating gorges, promontories and rock houses we see today.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAvhIJ8760RREU8YUHHBS4XSvv6Tcns65-C0jBpYnnd7_QEnaszuSlmY0H36nTLe9MOMaeCEEfKwgn7wKLvyaCQIVnbHuKQofbWa0dwWSAfCdmAKm5BBLknUQ_k2IzpkRSRcNjchgwWs/s1600/C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBAvhIJ8760RREU8YUHHBS4XSvv6Tcns65-C0jBpYnnd7_QEnaszuSlmY0H36nTLe9MOMaeCEEfKwgn7wKLvyaCQIVnbHuKQofbWa0dwWSAfCdmAKm5BBLknUQ_k2IzpkRSRcNjchgwWs/s1600/C.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stunted and gnarled Virginia pine along the very edges of the sandstone cliff edges and rock faces</td></tr>
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When delving into the botanical aspect of any habitat or ecosystem it's important to know the geologic history and background for the corresponding area. Geology and botany are intimately tied together and produce predictable results depending on the conditions present. Conkle's Hollow's gorge rim is a harsh and acidic environment with very shallow, fast-draining soils and exposed bedrock with plant associations pretty similar to the Dolly Sods heath barrens I blogged about in the post prior to this. Tree species such as chestnut/white/scarlet/post oaks, hemlock, Virginia pine, sourwood and serviceberry dominate with a shrub/herbaceous layer comprised of xeric acidophiles like mountain laurel (<i>Kalmia latifolia</i>), huckleberry (<i>Gaylussacia baccata</i>), hillside blueberry (<i>Vaccinium pallidum</i>), teaberry (<i>Gaultheria procumbens</i>), trailing arbutus (<i>Epigaea repens</i>), striped wintergreen (<i>Chimaphila maculata</i>), partridgeberry (<i>Mitchella repens</i>) and sawbrier (<i>Smilax rotundifolia</i>).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unbeatable fall colors at Conkle's Hollow</td></tr>
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As the story goes, Conkle's Hollow got its name from an inscription once visible on the western wall of the gorge that read -W.J. Conkle 1797-. I can't imagine trying to rappel my way down the rock faces of the hollow with the technology and advancements of today, let alone over 200 years ago. Whomever Conkle was, they certainly had more guts and adventure than I do; no way would I have been able to do such a task. One wrong move and you're leaving your bones behind at the bottom of the hollow instead of your name!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sheer sandstone cliffs rising nearly 200 feet above the valley floor</td></tr>
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The sandstone cliffs look as imposing as they are impressive and boast vertical heights of nearly 200 feet, making it arguably the deepest hollow in the entire state. The small creek that gently flows on the valley floor will continue to deepen the hollow millimeter by millimeter as time marches on and only add to its impressive physical relief statistics. The mixture of evergreen hemlocks and bright yellow birch and tulip poplar at the bottom contrast nicely against the scarlet and orange of the oaks above the pale sandstone during the fall season.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking south out of the mouth of Conkle's Hollow and across the Hocking Hills</td></tr>
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The fall foliage show has been exceptionally good this year with cool temperatures and wet weather sticking around for most of the month. The leaves were nearing the end of their peak earlier this week during my visit but there's still time to get out there and see the views and scenery for yourself before it's done and gone for another year. The view above is one I've admired and soaked in on numerous occasions and one that seems to get better upon each renewed visit. No roads, no buildings, no powerlines, just ridge after ridge of contiguous forest ensconced in autumn's perfection.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Close up of one of Conkle's most prolific sandstone promontories </td></tr>
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I often tend to favor posts that take the reader places they've rarely, if ever been or perhaps never even heard of but sometimes it's hard to resist sharing a location that just about everyone is familiar with. Conkle's Hollow is well-known, well-loved and certainly well-visited, as I can't recall a time when the parking lot hasn't had a majority of its spaces filled. I'm thankful such a timeless and quintessential landscape for the region is preserved and protected as a state nature preserve and open for the public's enjoyment. I highly encourage anyone reading to get out and visit for yourselves before winter clinches its cold and icy grip over Ohio; whether it's just one of a long string of visits or your first time!Andrew Lane Gibsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01555125434346996812noreply@blogger.com2