I was at the Catawba wildflower glen on Sunday dodging ticks and poison ivy, sneezing and coughing and yet loving every minute. Why? Well, the wildflowers! This glen is unique for Charlotte because of the abundance of mountain species many miles south of where they normally grow. The stream at the bottom of the glen traces its source to high in the Appalachians. Periodic flooding brings seeds from these plants downstream where they sprout, and on the north-facing slopes of the Catawba glen, flourish and grow just as they do at home.
Catesby's trillium, Trillium catesbaei
Wild ginger flowers on the ground, Hexastylis spp.
Jack-in-the-pulpit, Arisaema triphyllum
Crested Dwarf Iris, Iris cristata
Squawroot a.k.a. Bear corn, Conopholis americana
When I heard about the Green World Picture This photo contest at Gardening Gone Wild, I remembered my fern picture from the glen. I love this little spider hanging out in his green fiddlehead world. Check out the other entries - some really nice ones there.
