My grandson and I spotted these spectacular flowers near the entrance to the Nature Trail at The Schiele Museum of Natural History and Planetarium located in Gastonia, North Carolina when we went there to go hiking this past week.
Helianthus schweinitziiCommon Name: Schweinitz’s sunflowerIt is a member of the sunflower family (Asteraceae).
The Helianthus schweinitzii is a perennial wildflower endemic to the Piedmont physiographic province of North Carolina and South Carolina. It is one of the rarest species of sunflower in the United States. It is common along utility and highway rights-of-way in North Carolina and South Carolina. These particular Schweinitz’s sunflower are located along the Lake Trail at Crowders Mountain State Park.
Like many others I was saddened to hear of Bren’s passing. I couldn’t just pick one flower. Bren loved photographing flowers so much and she loved life. I didn’t know her very long, but still I called her my friend. She liked my posts, made encouraging comments, and I enjoyed participating in her challenges. She was always kind, compassionate, and supportive.
I hope you understand one flower was just not sufficient. It took me awhile to be able to write this post. The day I found out about Bren was the anniversary of my husband’s passing from Cancer. Even though the news made me feel sad inside, i know she’ll live on in are heart’s and memories forever.
Her images of flowers were exquisite and inspirational.
Coleman trekking along the trails at Crowders Mountain State Park Kings Mountain, North Carolina
It was a beautiful day for hiking until the rains came pouring down. Luckily Coleman and I completed our hike and were headed to the car before the rains began pounding down upon us.
Simpson’s grasspink (Calopogon tuberosus var. simpsonii)Coleman on a Curved Tree Duke Kimbrell Trail Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens Belmont, North Carolina
The Weekend Sky changed throughout the day as my Grandson, Coleman, and I were hiking 🥾. By the time we were finishing our hike around the Lake at Crowders Mountain State Park; the gray clouds started rolling across the sky and later the rains 🌧️ began pouring down upon us.
Rubus idaeus ‘Caroline’ (Everbearing Raspberry) is a fall-fruit big cultivar producing high yields of large, highly flavored, red raspberries which are perfect for eating or preserves.
Raspberry plants can fruit on different types of canes, and these are categorized into primocane and floricane. Both primocane (first year) fruiting and floricane (second year) fruiting raspberries have both primocanes and floricanes growing from the plant after the first year.
Primocane fruiting raspberries, commonly called Everbearing raspberries, produce flowers and fruit on first year canes. Primocane varieties will produce a moderate crop in June and a much larger crop from late August until frost.
My any kind of seating involves any seating that Coleman deems acceptable for a place for him to sit. His choices of seating are not always what I would choose, but hey, if he’s happy with his choice of seating who am I to say it’s not his kind of seating.
Seating at the Greenway An Adirondack Chair & a Picnic Table with benches Anne Springs Close Greenway Coleman’s Seating on an Adult Exercise Equipment at Avon and Catawba Creeks Greenway Coleman’s Seating on another piece of Adult Exercise Equipment at Avon and Catawba Creeks GreenwayColeman’s version of Seating along the Green Trail at the Warlick YMCA ( A Rock 🪨 for Seating)Coleman’s Seating On a Bar on Exercise Equipment on the Power Loop of the Styz Trail System at the Warlick YMCAColor Pop Close-Up of Coleman Sitting on the Exercise Bar Warlick YMCA SYTZ Trail System
Hummingbirds, Windmill, & Flowers Artistic Door near the picnic tables Flowers & a Butterfly Along the path towards the children’s gardens Who’s that in the Birdbath looking over the Flowers? Purple & Yellow Flowers with Butterfly 🦋 on Light Blue Door
Artistic Door Inside Daniel Stowe Botanical GardensArtwork Seen Along the Path in the Gardens And Down a Different Path one Finds Interesting Artwork within the Gardens
Playground at Gable Oaks Apartments in Rock Hill, SCPlayground at Gardner Park Elementary School Gastonia, NCPlayground at Schiele Museum Gastonia, NCMy grandson’s preferred “playground” out on a trail. Persimmon Trail Carolina Thread Trail Belmont, North Carolina Chewbacca
Clematis viticella, the Italian leather flower, purple clematis, or Virgin’s bower, is a species of flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to EuropeShades of Purple in a Garden PlanterSalvia officinalis, the common sage or just sage, is a perennial, with blue to purplish flowers. Sisyrinchium angustifolium, commonly known as narrow-leaf blue-eyed-grass Viola × williamsii, known as hybrid horned pansy, tufted pansy, or just horned pansy
This week Cee asks us to share photos of catching people unaware. These photos were taken from the Duke Kimbrell Trail of the Matthews-Belk South Fork River Corridor which is a part of the Carolina Thread Trail network of Greenways, trails, and blueways.
The people were enjoying a day on Lake Wylie with their families and friends. They were completely unaware that someone hiking along the was taking photos of their activities.
The young girls were enjoying Stand-up Paddle boarding on the waters of Lake Wylie as their family watched and gave any necessary advice and/or assistance.
As you can see one is having fun with stand-up paddle boarding and another chose to sit and kayak along through the water.
This activity may still be fairly new to them as it seemed they didn’t venture too far away their families Pontoon.
Coleman and I had fun to stopping along the trail to watch their activity. Coleman would probably have preferred to be in the water along with them.
This Artistic Door is located inside Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens building This one is located along the Garden pathway.As we walk along we encounter even more artistic doors A lovely painting. Each Artistic Door is accompanied by a card listing the artist.
View from our picnic table Notice the Visitor Shot on Canon while Coleman snacked Eastern Carpenter Bee on Digitalis purpurea ‘Dalmatian Purple’ Foxglove Earliest blooming of all Foxglove.
(Calopogon tuberosus var. simpsonii) This gorgeous wildflower is called grass pink and it is in the Orchid family (Orchidaceae). The genus name “Calopogon” is Greek and means “beautiful beard.” It refers to the hairlike structures on the upper petal. It has a bulb-like corm that resembles a tuber, hence the name “tuberosus.” The slender grass-like leaves give rise to the name “grass pink.” It is a stunning wildflower.
Coleman trying to open the door 🚪Now to try from the Other Side Why won’t it Open? I give up … Let’s go hiking 🥾.
These Artistic Doors 🚪 are all painted by local artisans. They are displayed in various locations throughout and around the Gardens at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens in Belmont, North Carolina. For the next few weeks I’m going to post different Artistic Doors for Thursday Doors.
The Scilla Peruviana is also known as the Portuguese Squill. It is a spring-blooming bulb with striking, lavender-blue flowers. The flower heads can be as large as a softball, with star-like florets that open gradually over a period of 3 weeks or more. The plants have long, strappy leaves similar to a hyacinth, and grow 12-20” tall.
Coleman and I took a 4.3 mile long hike along from the Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens Persimmon Trail connecting to the Carolina Thread Trail on Duke Kimbrell Trail and ending with connecting to Worrells Walk back up to the Gardens.
After the long hike Coleman deserved some . Sprinkler Smashing Stupendous Funtime. Here is a video of showing the Sprinkler Fun he enjoyed.
Photo Credit: Deb L. Waters
Camera: Canon EOS Rebel T3i with Altura Fisheye Macro Lens for Canon.
Common Sunflower Helianthus giganteus, the giant sunflower or tall sunflowerSwamp Sunflower Helianthus angustifoliusI’m Grateful for you crosscards.com
1 Artistic Door 1 Door to Closed Butterfly Garden Door to Wonder
These Artistic Doors 🚪 are displayed in various locations around the gardens at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens. They are painted by local artists. Each door has a tag listing the artist who painted it.
Odontocidium, is the nothogenus comprising intergeneric hybrids of the two orchid genera Odontoglossum and Oncidium. Some refer to this orchid as a “Bacon Orchid.” The petals look similar to hanging bacon.